Preventing and monitoring sexually transmitted infections

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis — oh my.

Sex is good — or at least can be good.

Burning, itchiness and open sores after sex — not so good.

These days, it may seem as though all of the hype surrounding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is conservative America’s attempt to push an abstinence-only approach to sex, but STIs really are a reason for concern.

Approximately one in five sexually active Americans — or about 45 million people — has herpes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Nearly 80 percent of those people don’t know they have it.

According to Planned Parenthood’s Web site, about 75 percent of all people will have some form of human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their life — but most are unaware of it.

Practicing safe sex is the first step in protecting against unwanted STIs.

The easiest way to prevent an uncomfortable discharge is to use a condom every time, particularly for those who aren’t in a monogamous relationship.

While condom use can help prevent diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HPV, they are not 100 percent effective.

Some STIs cannot be avoided even with the use of a condom. Crabs, or pubic lice, is contracted by means of hair-to-hair contact or touching fabrics, such as towels or sheets, that have been exposed.

Prevention through safe sex should be the first defense in dealing with STIs, but if you do find yourself with some sort of irritation in your nether-lands, don’t hesitate to get it checked out by a health professional.

For those sexually active with more than one partner, it is cruical to get tested every six months, said Sharon Aliza, manager of the University Heath Education Leadership Program (UHELP).

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can all be cured with antibiotics if caught soon enough.

The most common symptom of an STI is no symptom at all, said Marci Reichert, a health educator for Planned Parenthood.

Seventy-five percent of women and 50 percent of men who have chlamydia do not show any symptoms.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is not communicating well with their partners, Reichert said. It may be hard to talk about getting tested but it’s an important aspect of healthy sexuality.

Key elements in preventing STIs are open communication with your partner, and more importantly, with your doctor.

“It’s really important to be open with your health care provider — they can tell you what to screen for and what you’re at risk for,” Aliza said.

Another precaution available for defense against STIs, in collaboration with a health care provider, is vaccination.

Gardasil, a vaccine for HPV, is availabe for women between the ages of 9 and 26.

Typically, an HPV infection will get rid of itself in about a year, but it can cause cervical cancer in women and can lead to anal cancer in men.

It is crucial for women to have yearly pap smears; the American Cancer Society suggests a woman should get her first pap smear three years after becoming sexually active, or by age 21.

As seventh grade sex-education counselors teach, abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent STIs. But for those who choose to become sexually active, it is very plausible and easy to be safe.

Sexual safety requires knowing the facts and a willingness to communicate with a partner and health care provider.

With these resources, you can enjoy your sexual health well into the future without any burning, itchiness or open sores.