sexreeducated:

Myth:If I get the HPV shot, I’m completely protected from cervical cancer

False! 30% of Cervical cancers are not protected by any vaccine.

Gardasil and Cervarix are cervical cancer vaccines that block the two types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that most frequently cause cervical cancer. Gardasil also protects against two types that cause the majority of genital warts. But about 30% of cervical cancers will not be prevented by these vaccines, so it’s important for all women, whether they’ve gotten the shot or not, to continue having regular Pap tests.

Gardasil was approved for boys and men in 2009 to reduce the risk of developing genital warts. This may also help prevent the spread of cancer-causing HPV to their female partners.

sexreeducated:

Myth:If I get the HPV shot, I’m completely protected from cervical cancer

False! 30% of Cervical cancers are not protected by any vaccine.

Gardasil and Cervarix are cervical cancer vaccines that block the two types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that most frequently cause cervical cancer. Gardasil also protects against two types that cause the majority of genital warts. But about 30% of cervical cancers will not be prevented by these vaccines, so it’s important for all women, whether they’ve gotten the shot or not, to continue having regular Pap tests.

Gardasil was approved for boys and men in 2009 to reduce the risk of developing genital warts. This may also help prevent the spread of cancer-causing HPV to their female partners.

sexreeducated:

• There are no reliable tests for Herpes. So whenever you go in to get a screening, know that unless you are actively having an outbreak there isn’t anything to test
• No HPV screening exists for men. Unless there is a visual inspection or a biopsy of the wart.
• Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Herpes can have no symptoms. That’s why screening is incredibly important.
• Gonorrhea, Herpes, HPV and Chlamydia can all be transmitted orally.  Oral sex is still sex and Safe Sex rules apply (Condoms and Dental dams)
• The best contraception money can buy is open sexual dialogue. Open honest conversation with your partners is invaluable. It’s your biggest weapon when it comes to safe sex.
• Glyde Dams are kind of awesome. Glyde Dams are safe barriers intended for sexual use, unlike dental dams. They’re weird when you first look at them and seem so unnatural, but the best motto is ‘Better Safe than Sorry!’ 
• Wearing gloves when fingering someone is totally okay. Speaking from experience, sometimes nails have a mind of their own and can cause discomfort. Additionally, though most people shower before they have sex at some point, we don’t usually wash our hands right before foreplay. This opens us up to a host of bacteria that gets introduced directly into a mucus membrane. So if you want to glove up, please don’t be ashamed to do so.

When you go to the doctor, not everyone screens you for STD’s, even if you’re sexually active- So make sure to ask. You should always ask what screening tests your doctor has performed, and don’t hesitate to ask for additional tests if you think they are appropriate. Never hesitate to be your own advocate.

sexreeducated:

Sex Fact:

Every day in America, 12,000 teenagers contract a sexually transmitted disease.

sexreeducated:

• There are no reliable tests for Herpes. So whenever you go in to get a screening, know that unless you are actively having an outbreak there isn’t anything to test
• No HPV screening exists for men. Unless there is a visual inspection or a biopsy of the wart.
• Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Herpes can have no symptoms. That’s why screening is incredibly important.
• Gonorrhea, Herpes, HPV and Chlamydia can all be transmitted orally.  Oral sex is still sex and Safe Sex rules apply (Condoms and Dental dams)
• The best contraception money can buy is open sexual dialogue. Open honest conversation with your partners is invaluable. It’s your biggest weapon when it comes to safe sex.
• Glyde Dams are kind of awesome. Glyde Dams are safe barriers intended for sexual use, unlike dental dams. They’re weird when you first look at them and seem so unnatural, but the best motto is ‘Better Safe than Sorry!’ 
• Wearing gloves when fingering someone is totally okay. Speaking from experience, sometimes nails have a mind of their own and can cause discomfort. Additionally, though most people shower before they have sex at some point, we don’t usually wash our hands right before foreplay. This opens us up to a host of bacteria that gets introduced directly into a mucus membrane. So if you want to glove up, please don’t be ashamed to do so.

When you go to the doctor, not everyone screens you for STD’s, even if you’re sexually active- So make sure to ask. You should always ask what screening tests your doctor has performed, and don’t hesitate to ask for additional tests if you think they are appropriate. Never hesitate to be your own advocate.

shafp:

April is STD Awareness Month! This is a very exciting time for me. :)

All month long, I’ll be sharing links to quality information on various sexually transmitted infections and methods for prevention. Stay tuned!

From the CDC:

Learn more about STDs, STD Awareness Month, and where you can find the nearest STD testing site in your area:

• CDC Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• CDC Podcasts- Be Smart Be Well: STD Videos
• STD Health Equity
• STD Awareness Month
• STD Prevention on Twitter
• GYT: Get Yourself Tested
• CDC Facebook
• STD Awareness Month PSA [PODCAST – 0:30 Seconds]

thesexuneducated:

mckenken said: I’ve never heard that the 2 strains of HPV with genital warts are completely incurable. Where did you get this info?

The CDC says the following regarding HPV strands 6 and 11, that cause Genital Warts:

Available therapies for genital warts likely reduce, but probably do not eradicate, HPV infectivity.

You can be find the quote on this Genital Warts document. In addition, The Cleveland Clinic says quite explicitly:

There is no cure for the virus.

This can be found on this HPV document as well.

Lastly, the American Social Health Association says the following on their Genital Warts page: 

While there is no medical cure for HPV, there are several treatment options available for genital warts.

There are over 40 strands of HPV, most of which people can fight off. Unfortunately, the strands that cause Genital Warts do not have a cure. The reason I am using several sources to back this claim is because there is a great deal of misconception regarding STD’s; whether they’re curable, contagious or treatable. It is important to know the correct information, particularly when the sources that should be providing people with comprehensive information continually fail to do so. Just because someone is diagnosed with Genital Warts does not mean they cannot live a healthy, happy life and have an equally healthy and happy sex life. Precautions should be taken and when the symptoms of an expression occur, knowing the steps to take to take care of the situation will make health and happiness much more maintainable. 

sexreeducated:

• There are no reliable tests for Herpes. So whenever you go in to get a screening, know that unless you are actively having an outbreak there isn’t anything to test
• No HPV screening exists for men. Unless there is a visual inspection or a biopsy of the wart.
• Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Herpes can have no symptoms. That’s why screening is incredibly important.
• Gonorrhea, Herpes, HPV and Chlamydia can all be transmitted orally.  Oral sex is still sex and Safe Sex rules apply (Condoms and Dental dams)
• The best contraception money can buy is open sexual dialogue. Open honest conversation with your partners is invaluable. It’s your biggest weapon when it comes to safe sex.
• Glyde Dams are kind of awesome. Glyde Dams are safe barriers intended for sexual use, unlike dental dams. They’re weird when you first look at them and seem so unnatural, but the best motto is ‘Better Safe than Sorry!’ 
• Wearing gloves when fingering someone is totally okay. Speaking from experience, sometimes nails have a mind of their own and can cause discomfort. Additionally, though most people shower before they have sex at some point, we don’t usually wash our hands right before foreplay. This opens us up to a host of bacteria that gets introduced directly into a mucus membrane. So if you want to glove up, please don’t be ashamed to do so.

When you go to the doctor, not everyone screens you for STD’s, even if you’re sexually active- So make sure ask. You should always ask what screening tests your doctor has performed, and don’t hesitate to ask for additional tests if you think they are appropriate. Never hesitate to be your own advocate.

queersexed:

“I get really upset about the ways that HIV/AIDS transmission is discussed in terms of sex between women (namely that we are less likely to contract HIV/AIDS.) To me it shows cissexist assumptions about queer women’s anatomies and the sexual acts that are performed. Could you speak to some tips about safer sex methods, and queer (cis and/or trans*) women organizing around HIV/AIDS.”   —  withrevolutionarycries

I agree, most of the available information on HIV/AIDS is geared toward gay cismen and heterosexual cispeople.  Sexually active people of all genders and sexual orientations can contract HIV just as easily, and do.

HIV/AIDS summary:   HIV can be contracted from someone who is HIV+ through an exchange of bodily fluids, most commonly by blood, semen, or vaginal secretions.  The virus enters the bloodstream and begins attacking T-cells, which are major components of our immune system.  HIV destroys the T-cells and replicates.  Lower T-cell counts lead to a suppressed immune system, which inhibits the body’s ability to fight off infection.  You’ll notice no one ever dies from HIV/AIDS; people die from complications. Complications include anything from cancer, to pneumonia, to influenza.  Even something as simple as the common cold can cause serious problems for someone with HIV/AIDS. 

Myth #1: Oral/manual sex will keep me from contracting the virus.
—NOT TRUE.  Tiny cuts or lesions on your hands or in your mouth that come into contact with fluids (i.e. semen, vaginal secretions, blood) are gateways for the virus to enter your body.  The key factor is exposure to the bloodstream.  

Myth #2: If they pull out, I can’t contract the virus.
—NOT TRUE. PIV*, PIA*, and manual sex can cause tearing in the walls of the vagina and rectum.  These tears are also viral gateways to your bloodstream.  HIV concentrations in pre-cum are lower, but the risk is still there.

Myth #3: I can’t get HIV from breast milk.
—NOT TRUE.  Breast milk has been shown to have similar viral counts to semen and vaginal secretions.  If it comes into contact with any lesions, you are risking infection.

How to prevent transmission: Latex barriers (or comparable non-latex barriers) are excellent ways to reduce virus transmission.  Barriers include gloves, condoms (“male”/”female”), and dental dams.  All protect the user from contact with genital secretions, which contain the highest virus concentration.  

Fact #1: Diaphragms DO NOT protect against HIV, as they are only intended to protect the uterus from sperm entering through the cervix.

Fact #2: Spermicide (nonoxynol-9) DOES NOT kill HIV, it only kills sperm cells.  Excessive use can actually increase the risk of infection, as nonoxynol-9 irritates mucus membranes (do not get it in you’re eye, you will be soooooo sorry.)

When it comes to organizations or groups organizing around HIV/AIDS, I am still rather in the dark.  I know that March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and that LGBT organizations in various cities have HIV/AIDS prevention programming.  The extent to which they include queer (trans*)women, however, varies from program to program.  If I find anything in my searches, I will certainly post it.

For more information on HIV/AIDS, you may want to check out fight-hiv-aids right here on Tumblr.  

fuckyeahsexeducation:

Because I’ve been so busy with this blog, I’ve really neglected my Sexually Transmitted Disease Tumblr which I feel really bad about because I think it’s such an important blog. The aim is to offer a supportive and non biased education on STDs/STIs. As someone who has genital herpes and who sees herpes jokes all the time I can tell you that it is so hurtful whenever someone uses a disease that you have to deal with as a punchline. There’s so much misinformation, even in sex education. They use scare tactics and make STDs and STIs sound so scary. They show pictures that are of people who’ve never gotten treatment or who have the worst case possible as apposed to the most typical type of breakout. I really want to show people that having an STD/STI won’t ruin your life and show that people who have STDs and STIs shouldn’t be treated like second class citizens while also offering correct education about it. I really want people to submit photos of their breakouts to show what a typical one looks like. I want people to submit stories and personal experiences. I think this is so important but I just can’t give it the attention it deserves. Could someone (preferable someone who either has an STD/STI or is involved in the medical community who understands the importance of supporting and defending people with STDs and STIs and providing correct information) adopt this blog from me and give it the attention it deserves? 

reblogging this again in case someone sees it and wants to adopt this blog.