Avoiding STDs in the LGBTQ College-Aged Community

STDcheck.com gives us the run down on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and how to avoid them.

Did you know that nearly half of all STDs diagnosed yearly in the United States are among individuals aged 15-24? Much of the college crowd falls into this range, and certain STDs have even higher rates among not only this age group, but in members of the LGBT community and racial minorities.

STDs can be contracted from oral, vaginal or anal sex, and some are spread by genital skin-to-skin contact. Sexually transmitted diseases or infections are easily spread because many of them go unnoticed since they do not always display symptoms. Anyone, regardless of their sexuality should be tested at least yearly if they are sexually active, but to further lessen your chances of getting an STD, you should get tested after any sexual experience with a new partner (especially if they have other sex partners). Read more on how soon to get tested after sex here.

Some STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis are curable with antibiotics, but can cause serious health issues if left untreated. Other STDs like HIV, herpes, Human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A, B and C are viral and currently have no cures, but their symptoms can be managed with medications.

There are things that you can do to help prevent getting an STD regardless of your gender or sexual preferences:

• Correctly use condoms (or dental dams for oral sex) every time you have sex
• Get vaccinated for Hepatitis A, B and C, as well as HPV
• Limit your sexual partners to one person who you have sex with who only has sex with you
• Talk about STDs with your partner before engaging in sexual activities, you can even go get tested together first
• Avoid using recreational drugs and/or alcohol before sex since they can inhibit decision-making skills and result in poor decisions like forgetting to use a condom

Knowing your sexual health status can help you stop the spread of STDs.

At STDcheck.com, we’re giving you control over your sexual health and taking out all of the awkward moments of STD testing. We’ve eliminated the embarrassment and hassle of conventional STD testing while giving you access to the same FDA-approved testing used by doctors and hospitals. Once you place your order, you can visit any of our 4,000+ testing centers across the nation without an appointment, even the same day as your purchase. Your results are delivered to you only, andnothing is reported to your insurance or placed on your medical records. Most importantly, at STDcheck we provide guidance and support every step of the way, no matter what your results are.

Reprinted with permission from STDcheck.com.