STDs in the City

Recharge your sex life with the pill of abstinence and honesty

By: Alexis Mack

Posted: 2/23/10

According to Psychology Today, "nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended." Along with unexpected pregnancies comes the possibility of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Relationships alone can be complicated, but adding to the stress of having to explain to your partner that you are carrying something that could be potentially dangerous to them, can only creating more stress in your relationship.

Being honest with your partner about any past sexual occurrences or relationships is the first step to protecting you and your partner. Sometimes it is hard to offer up this information, but in the end, this is what will be the foundation for honesty in your relationship, as well as it will also keep both of you healthy.

If you or your partner have had a past intimate relation, both of you should be tested for any STD's before entering in to a sexually active relationship. There are several health facilities in Jacksonville that offer free or very reasonably discounted rates to people who need to be tested.

If you or your partner has incurred a sexually transmitted disease, educating yourself on the effects, treatments and prevention methods is strongly encouraged. The best way to protect both you and your partner is to make yourself aware of signs and symptoms and all safety precautions that are possible to keep both of you safe.

Limiting your number of partners is above all the safest way to not pass along sexually transmitted diseases. Many people these days take monogamy for granted and think that having multiple partners is fun, but many times, it only results in heart aches and health issues. Always ask yourself, "Is my body and well being worth it?"

Responsible sexual behavior can prevent these situations from occurring in your life. By practicing abstinence or using protection, the only aids you will have to worry about would be financial. A healthy dose of tokophobia, which is the fear of pregnancy, should also do the trick.

No one's body is worth dying over, so make sure to take necessary precautions to prevent unwanted diseases.