It’s a common belief that you’d be able to tell if you had an STD because there’d be symptoms, but this isn’t always the case. STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases (also known as STIs or sexually transmitted infections) can present with no symptoms, and can still be passed on to other people. That’s why you can’t trust feeling fine means that everything is fine.
People tend to think of STDs as easily treatable, but that isn’t completely true either: not all of them are curable. STDs like herpes and HPV infections causing genital warts can stay with you permanently, even though the symptoms can be treated.
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No symptoms does not necessarily mean no infection
STDs can be passed on to others even if you don’t know you have them. This is why merely watching out for symptoms isn’t enough to protect your partner or partners.
It’s good to have yourself tested for STDs, but tests aren’t a substitute for using protection. Testing will tell you if you already have an infection, but condoms and dental dams help prevent infection in the first place.
Do not forget to use protection
Not using protection can happen both intentionally and unintentionally. Sometimes failure to use protection is caused by alcohol or other substances affecting your judgement and making you more prone to making impulsive decisions. Other times you may choose to stop using protection if your partner tells you they’ve been tested. In this case, the testing needs to have been very recent to reliably confirm the absence of infection
Herpes is more than a momentary problem
A lot of the same misconceptions involving all STDs are often also associated with herpes. One of them is that you can’t pass herpes to other people if you don’t have visible symptoms. Herpes isn’t curable, either, regardless of what many people might think. Even though the symptoms can be treated, you’ll carry the virus permanently.
Genital herpes can cause symptoms in the genital area, whereas oral herpes usually presents around the mouth. A genital herpes infection requires genital contact.
Be prepared for oral sex, too!
STDs aren’t only transmitted through intercourse. Many of the diseases that can cause symptoms in the genital area can also cause symptoms in the mouth. Some
papillomaviruses (HPVs) even increase the risk of throat cancer if your oral mucosa comes into contact with infected genitals.
That’s why it’s recommended to use a protective barrier during oral sex. The barrier needs to be large enough to cover the vulva completely. You can buy these barriers, called dental dams, at the store, but you can also easily make one by cutting open a regular condom.
The easiest decision is made ahead of time
You’re more likely to use protection if you don’t leave the decision to the last minute. Buying condoms and other forms of protection before you need them and keeping them with you makes it easier to make safer choices.
Protection doesn’t only mean looking after your own health. It can also be an expression of caring about your partner. Often it can also make sex more relaxed and enjoyable since you have to worry less about contracting or transmitting an STD.
STDs are more than physical symptoms
STDs can often cause worry, guilt and fear of passing the infection to others. It’s also common to wonder about how the infection might affect your health or fertility in the future.
This is why it’s important to use protection even in the absence of symptoms.
You have a say in what you pass on
STDs don’t always cause physical symptoms. This means the safest option is to use protection against STDs – condoms or dental dams – every time you have sex.
Make the decision to use protection before you’re actually about to have sex. This way you’ll be looking after your and your partner’s health. Sex should be something to be happy about, and you have a say in what you do or don’t pass on. Using protection is a small act with a big impact.