4 Common STD Myths Debunked

4 Common STD Myths Debunked

STDs freak people out; there’s no other way to put it. STDs cause such fear and revulsion among the populous that they’ve developed a mythology of their own. Much like anything that unduly frightens people, stories are bound to crop up that exaggerate or dilute the truth. As such, drawing the line between fact and fiction with STDs has become increasingly difficult, precisely because there is so much information available on the subject. The good news is, we’re here to put an end to several wide-spread rumors and beliefs about STDs that just plain aren’t true. Here are four STD myths you should never believe:

You Can Get AIDS from a Toilet Seat

Ah, an old classic from when AIDS swept the nation into a panic in the 1980s and most people didn’t know a thing about STDs. There’s so much wrong with this idea that you can get AIDS from a drinking fountain, toilet seat, or even interacting with other people in day-to-day life, that it’s difficult to confront it seriously. First, HIV (not AIDS) can’t be transferred from person-to-person like the flu; rather, HIV can only pass from one person to another through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, or breast milk. HIV doesn’t function like the common cold.

You Can’t Get an STD from Oral Sex

Sorry guys, but you can still get an STD from oral sex. True, oral sex carries a lower risk than anal or vaginal sex in regard to the spread of certain STDs. But to think that you can avoid STDs by engaging solely in oral sex is not only wrong, but irresponsible.

You can Tell When Someone Has an STD

If it weren’t such a serious issue, this blunder would almost be laughable. Of all the STD myths though, this may be the most dangerous. That’s because while almost all STDs do have certain trademark signs or symptoms that manifest themselves, plenty of STDs will remain dormant, or asymptomatic, for weeks if not months. Indeed, it’s not only impossible to tell if your partner has an STD –– it’s impossible to say if you have one yourself without receiving a proper STD test! And not recognizing that you or a partner has an STD can 1) increase the risk of spreading that disease, and 2) cause possible long-term health issues that could otherwise be dealt with. The lesson to learn here: when it doubt, get tested.

No STDs Have Cures

In general, bacterial STDs (such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) can be cured completely with antibiotics. The key here is to receive treatment for a bacterial STD as early as possible. Otherwise, those diseases can cause major health issues including infertility, blindness, paralysis, or even death if left untreated. Viral STDs however, such as herpes and HIV have no definitive cure –– however, again, the earlier the STD is recognized the sooner treatment can begin. And when it comes to STDs like HIV, identifying it and treating it early in its development can make a huge difference.