Reduce your risk of getting an STI
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is a risk that can be reduced. While the only way to completely prevent STIs is sexual abstinence, many adult women are sexually active, and a healthy sex life is important to many. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns want you to know the facts to better protect yourself from STIs.
Facts to Help You Reduce Your Risk
- An STI is spread in several different ways.
It’s important to understand how you can get an STI. Most of you know that having vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom spreads STIs if you or your partner, male or female, has an infection. But to reduce your risk of getting an STI, you need to know that simply touching an infected person’s genitals can spread herpes. In addition women can spread an STI to their baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Certain factors increase your risk
Having more than one sexual partner or having a partner who has had more than one partner increases your risk, as does having sex with an infected person or a person with a history of STIs. Using intravenous drugs yourself or having a partner who uses them is another risk factor.
- Sexually active adults can reduce their risk of getting an STI.
Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns offer the following tips to reduce your risk of getting an STI.
- The best way to reduce your risk is to use a condom every time you have sex – it is the only birth control method that will protect you from STIs. If you are in a monogamous relationship in which you know your partner’s history, it is not necessary to use a condom.
- Know your partner’s sexual history and get tested for STIs.
- Limit your sexual partners.
- Avoid sexual practices that may tear or break your skin.
- If you are age 26 or younger, get the vaccination that protects you against HPV and hepatitis B.
Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns are always open and available for frank discussions about how to reduce your risk of getting an STI. Contact us today for an appointment.
HPV: The Most Common STI
HPV or human papillomavirus is the most common STI. Ninety percent of HPV infections clear up naturally within two years, but the remainder do not, and, left untreated and unmonitored, the virus can lead to serious health issues.
–Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/sti-estimates-fact-sheet-feb-2013.pdf
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