Not to be too terribly controversial...

Contributor: emiliaa emiliaa
HAHA! I kid, I'll be as damn controversial as I feel like.

I think the STD terror that everyone has is babyish and based on taboos and rumours over facts. yes, some STD's are very harmful, but with proper treatment AIDS is the ONLY one that can kill you or do serious damage. Herpes is one of the most feared STD's, and in reality, it is almost harmless--it causes quite an irritation here and there, but certain medications can make it as infrequent as once a year or less.

Yes, safe sex is very important, it's retarded not to wrap it up when you're with a new partner. But humans are so filthy and covered in disease, that even without ever having unprotected sex I came along with HPV. It's nearly undetectable! Only reason I could have possibly known I had it was because I had the warts, and now they're gone, it caused all of a week or two of mild irritation. (Wouldn't even call it suffering.)

I think that people are way too whacked out about STD's, honestly. They have been around for as long as humans have, and we as a species have still survived, as debaucherous and promiscuous as we have been through the ages.

So I hate that people look at me like a goddamned Ebola victim because I have a harmless STD.

TLDR; I DO support safe sex, condoms, honesty about infection, etc. But I think that peoples' reactions to STD's are overblown beyond belief.
12/20/2011
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Contributor: Cherrylane Cherrylane
True statement.

However, safe sex is extremely important.

The thing is, the taboo about stds isn't making people think it's more important to wrap it up. It's putting them in denial about treatment and what they might have and who they might sleep with that could have something. They say, well it must be absolutely horrifying. I could tell the type of person who would have that. I can't have this or that, i don't sleep with that type of person. I'm not that type of person. This little bump? that can't be a big deal. No I don't need to get tested. Only people who take a lot of sexual risks have stds.

That's the problem.

You can't get proper treatment and proper safety measures taken unless people accent that stds are not icky heathen sex demons. They are viruses and bacterial infections just like you can get anywhere else in every other way, they just happen to be transmitted best in that particular way.

That said, the thing with HPV is not really about the warts. It's about how it's related to cancer. And it also counts for the few people who get it extremely bad. Same with herpes. For *most* people it's just an outbreak here or there, often once. For some, though, it can be nearly disfiguring and affect their lives and comfort dramatically. That is a problem. Several stds can cause infertility in women and that's even when you get it treated promptly. They are a big deal. Not an icky sex heathen omg my life will end big deal. But they are a big deal.
12/20/2011
Contributor: UnknownGirl UnknownGirl
AIDS is not the only STD that can kill you or do "serious damage." Do some research before making a post like this and making yourself look ignorant.
12/20/2011
Contributor: Tori Rebel Tori Rebel
Quote:
Originally posted by UnknownGirl
AIDS is not the only STD that can kill you or do "serious damage." Do some research before making a post like this and making yourself look ignorant.
This. Syphilis can cause infertility, brain damage, and death if not treated and while you don't hear much about it, it is still out there. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia can also cause severe and long-term issues if not promptly treated.

In addition, Herpes while usually just an annoyance can become a real problem in certain circumstances. There are complications associated with the disease that while rare, are still very serious and very scary.

link
12/20/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
I agree with almost everything you have to say, though I will have to correct you about other STDs not causing serious damage; if untreated, there's a lot of diseases that can turn into potential killers, including your genital warts, which are linked to causing cervical cancer (again, if untreated).

If people were tested more often and took more of an interest in caring for their bodies, then STDs really aren't as bad as society makes them out to be. Most STDs are curable and all of them are treatable.

Yes, it can be frustrating but I find that as living with my own STD, I can educate others about how I take care of myself. What I find sad is that though I have an STD, i'm probably the healthiest person I know because it has made me take better care of myself.

And on a unrelated note, please don't use the word retarded unless you are actually talking about an individual with mental retardation. It's incredibly disrespectful and you're taking the word out of context.
12/20/2011
Contributor: lalapetitee lalapetitee
I personally take ANY std very seriously. Its way to easy to to protect yourself these days. I'm sure mistakes happen even after protection happens but treatment is always important.
12/20/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
Safe sex is extremely important, especially for women. Like you mentioned, you contracted HPV even without "having unsafe sex." That is because if the thin, sensitive skin of the inside of your vagina comes in contact with any fluids (or even skin, sometimes) of an infected partner, you can get the disease. Unfortunately, people think that condoms are the be-all, end-all of safe sex.

As has been mentioned before, many STDs can cause you harm, even if they don't outright kill you in three weeks. Sure, humans have survived STDs and will continue to, but the question isn't about survival, it's about quality of life.
12/20/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by emiliaa
HAHA! I kid, I'll be as damn controversial as I feel like.

I think the STD terror that everyone has is babyish and based on taboos and rumours over facts. yes, some STD's are very harmful, but with proper treatment AIDS is the ONLY one ... more
AND herpes looks really gross. that's the main reason no one wants it. I know that sounds rude, and overly blunt, but its the truth!
12/20/2011
Contributor: Tori Rebel Tori Rebel
Quote:
Originally posted by Cherry21
AND herpes looks really gross. that's the main reason no one wants it. I know that sounds rude, and overly blunt, but its the truth!
And from what I've heard from a friend that's infected, while some people describe it as 'irritating' or 'uncomfortable' she couldn't walk right the first time she had an outbreak. And this woman has given birth, broken bones, etc. and just trying to move around made her cry in pain.
12/20/2011
Contributor: Chirple Chirple
I have asthma. Do I really want another disease that's with me 24/7 ? No.

Humans survived much worse conditions than today in all areas. I've lived without electricity or running water - not signing up to do it again.

I don't think it's possible to be too uptight about something that could potentially effect your physical vessel indefinitely.

And for the ones that can be cured... they can be cured - so they can wait to have sex. Even if I really, really liked that person - I could wait until they were treated.

It's like, if they had any other illness spread by close contact, not necessarily an "STD". I can wait.
12/20/2011
Contributor: emiliaa emiliaa
Quote:
Originally posted by Cherrylane
True statement.

However, safe sex is extremely important.

The thing is, the taboo about stds isn't making people think it's more important to wrap it up. It's putting them in denial about treatment and what they might have ... more
You are uninformed about Genital Warts. They are caused by a different strain of HPV than cervical cancer. I am at no risk for cervical cancer unless I happen to have another strain they have not diagnosed yet.
12/23/2011
Contributor: emiliaa emiliaa
Yes, many of these STDS cause huge problems if untreated. But if you visit your doctor regularly and make sure to get treated if you have something, it's EXTREMELY unlikely anything life threatening will occur. And Herpes may be very bad in certain cases, but can be greatly alleviated with viral-suppressant drugs.
12/23/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Tori Rebel
This. Syphilis can cause infertility, brain damage, and death if not treated and while you don't hear much about it, it is still out there. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia can also cause severe and long-term issues if not promptly treated.

In ... more
It's also worth noting that MANY people have the "harmless" STIs and show few if any symptoms. This means the infections can wreak havoc on your body for years before you ever know - and when you finally figure it out you have serious and sometimes fatal health problems. Every single STD/STI has serious health risks involved. Just because they can often be easily treated if caught early doesn't mean they will be. STIs/STDs can also be far more risky for those with weakened immune systems or pre-existing conditions. So...this whole post...is just really ill-informed and extremely irresponsible. Every person has the right to make their own decisions about safer sex, but it's pretty dangerous to advocate unprotected sex with the defense that "STIs aren't that serious."
12/23/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Cherry21
AND herpes looks really gross. that's the main reason no one wants it. I know that sounds rude, and overly blunt, but its the truth!
You're right, that does sound rude, and it's probably really hurtful to many people in this forum that have herpes. You're entitled to feel this way, but you really don't have to say it in that way. Really, you don't have to say it at all. It's just extremely hurtful and unnecessary. There is already so much shame surrounding STIs and STDs, and it's one of the biggest reasons that these continue to spread so rapidly; people are afraid to get tested and are afraid to disclose their status to partners. Statements like yours contribute to an environment where people are afraid or ashamed to talk about these health issues. This does nothing positive for the general sexual health of the public. People with STIs and STDs are people. Period. They deserve dignity and respect. They have a medical condition. Like the person above that has asthma and has to deal with that indefinitely, herpes is simply a long term medical condition.
12/23/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
It's also worth noting that MANY people have the "harmless" STIs and show few if any symptoms. This means the infections can wreak havoc on your body for years before you ever know - and when you finally figure it out you have serious ... more
Ah, I actually didn't read your tl;dr - I realize you're not advocating unprotected sex. I withdraw that last sentence.
12/23/2011
Contributor: toxie m toxie m
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
You're right, that does sound rude, and it's probably really hurtful to many people in this forum that have herpes. You're entitled to feel this way, but you really don't have to say it in that way. Really, you don't have to say ... more
Thank you, Owl Identified.

And, herpes doesn't have to even look gross, or look like much at all. Any outbreaks I've ever had have just been a little red bump or two - less gross than a pimple. The first one was the worst, and I thought it was a pimple. Yeah, you can look up horrible Google images of horrific outbreaks, but don't assume that the worst case scenario is how it always is.
12/23/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by emiliaa
HAHA! I kid, I'll be as damn controversial as I feel like.

I think the STD terror that everyone has is babyish and based on taboos and rumours over facts. yes, some STD's are very harmful, but with proper treatment AIDS is the ONLY one ... more
they may be, but what if i get one that I have to live with forever? then my hubby gets it too, and possibly my children, which means their spouses and children as well. That's not over reacting, its real friggin life. And I don't want my lineage to have to deal with something like that because of me.
12/23/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by Tori Rebel
And from what I've heard from a friend that's infected, while some people describe it as 'irritating' or 'uncomfortable' she couldn't walk right the first time she had an outbreak. And this woman has given birth, broken ... more
exactly, its a life changing thing. not something simple!! I'm not trying to hurt anyone feelings, but I'm just giving my honest opinion as well.
12/23/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
You're right, that does sound rude, and it's probably really hurtful to many people in this forum that have herpes. You're entitled to feel this way, but you really don't have to say it in that way. Really, you don't have to say ... more
It may be hurtful, be to many people getting a STD because didn't someone disclose info is also rude and very hurtful. If they're insecure enough to act so selfish and keep the fact that they have an STD (a life changing thing) to themselves, then maybe they should be afraid or ashamed. If I did ever contract an STD, I would tell every person I ever planned on being with. It would be a part of me, just as me being a redhead is part of me!
12/23/2011
Contributor: LilLostLenore LilLostLenore
about 80% of people get some strand of hpv it is very common and most strands of hpv have no syptoms. some strands of hpv can go away on their own some can lead to genital warts it can be given to you from birth (having a parent infected w hpv) or it can be gotten through sexual intercorse. I myself have had hpv when i was 19 but went away. I no longer have it thank god.
12/23/2011
Contributor: eeep eeep
The reason there is such STD 'terror' is because many of them go without symptoms for up to 2 years. This gives a person with one a lot of time to unknowingly infect others.
Also, while a lot of them have treatment options, many of them are lifetime diseases which can have complications. One thing a lot of people fail to consider is that the medications for such diseases often can interfere with other medications. Most people develop other illnesses throughout life, and I don't mean just the flu or a cold. Diabetes, lupus, cancer, high blood pressure, etc. Not to mention the side effects of medicines. Hell cancer, diabetes, and problems related to high blood pressure are 4 of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. already, and are a lot more difficult to avoid developing (impossible in some cases) than STDs.
I think people should be scared of getting one, fear is often a motivator for action - in this case safe sex.
However, I don't think that people should be as discriminatory against people who have STDs as they often are. They are just normal people.
12/24/2011
Contributor: EnChAnTiNg EnChAnTiNg
I don't really think there is an STD "terror". I think its parents and doctors trying to protect people from having to deal with a disease that can be avoided. Also, no one wants an STD epidemic, because many times the person carrying the disease does not find out until after they have already infected other individuals.

And yes, HIV/AIDS may be the only deadly std, but that would be enough to make me preach to my children about safe sex. And also.. certain strains of HPV have been linked to cervical cancer. And other STD's can possibly affect a woman's ability to conceive.

So once again, I do not think people are trying to scare the younger generation into having safe sex, they are just trying to prevent something that is extremely preventable!
01/15/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
As someone who actually has HPV---the strain that causes cervical cancer, I feel I need to speak out here.

First, I had genital warts. Cauliflower-like growths on my labia and just on the inside of the vaginal canal. I required laser surgery to remove them. It was painful and the healing time was obnoxious and the salve to keep the area clear of unwanted bacteria smelled like death in a tube.

After that procedure, I was then screened every six months for changes in my cervical tissue. Lo and behold, I had changes that were pre-cancerous. So, I had a procedure to remove those. Again, painful and the healing process sucked.

A year and a half later? Yeah, you guessed it---rinse and repeat. And that's when I stopped counting. I was having a procedure to cut off parts of my cervix at least once every year and a half until I turned twenty-five. It wasn't until I was 27 that I finally got a pap smear back that was "normal".

So, in no uncertain terms, genital warts does have the potential to become a danger to one's health in terms of causing cervical cancer. I know because I've been there. No one tested my strain. I spread my legs and the doc said "yep you've got warts and it's one of the worst cases I've seen in a long time".

HPV transmits through skin to skin contact, regardless of the use of condoms. That's a little fun fact no one bothers to tell girls when they're reaching maturity. They also don't bother to tell you that there isn't a test for men for HPV.

Your case of genital warts marked you as lucky, because many woman aren't nearly as fortunate to learn that it's the "non-cancer causing" strain of the virus, of which there are about thirty different types altogether and more are being discovered every year.
01/15/2012