STD Myths vs. Facts

At Options for Women Pregnancy Help Clinic, we lovingly provide support for women who are facing unplanned pregnancies. We are also committed to helping both women and men make healthy, informed decisions about their health. There are many misconceptions and myths surrounding sexually transmitted diseases. Let’s dispel 5 STD myths vs. facts so that you can be on the right track towards happy AND healthy relationships.

MYTH 1:

I can’t get an STD if I only have sex with one person.

FACT:

One in two people will contract an STD by the age of 25. You may have only had sex with one person, but if he or she has had sex with other people, you are susceptible to anything your partner has been exposed to. Knowing your partner’s sexual history, is beneficial to protect your sexual health.

MYTH 2:

STDs cannot be transmitted through oral sex.

FACT:

Skin-to-skin contact or the transfer of bodily fluids, including through either genital to genital or mouth to genital contact, can result in the transmission of an STD.

MYTH 3:

Birth control pills can protect against STDs.

FACT:

This is not true – birth control pills or other methods of hormonal birth control do not protect against STDs.

MYTH 4:

Condoms can protect against STDs.

FACT:

Condoms, when used properly and every time, can prevent the transmission of some STDs. However, if your skin comes into contact with genital warts or herpes sores that are not covered by the condom, then you could become infected.

MYTH 5:

My partner would tell me if he or she has an STD.

FACT:

This is not necessarily true, and not because you necessarily need to worry that your partner is hiding it from you. In many cases, infected people may not even know they have an STD. Many STDs, including

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, often do not have any physical signs of infection. This is a big reason why STDs spread quickly.

We hope these 5 STD myths vs. facts have been helpful. If you believe you may be at risk for STDs and have not been tested, call Options for Women today. Our free STD tests are available to women and men at our Lakeland and Bartow clinics.