How to have safe sex: myths and truth about STDs

There is no risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases among women.

FALSE

Direct contact with vaginal secretions, secretions or blood, as well as sharing unprotected sex toys, can lead to the transmission of infections such as HPV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and HIV. To reduce risk, it is important to use protective barriers such as latex face shields or condoms, regardless of gender or relationship type.

People with stable, monogamous partners do not become infected with HIV.

FALSE

Although it may be hard to believe, statistics show that most heterosexual women who become infected with HIV acquire HIV through their regular sexual partners, and many find out during pregnancy. Having a stable partner doesn’t mean that your partner is 100% monogamous or that they take care of themselves during their “slips”, so be honest about these risks and constantly checking in on them to take care of yourself and each other.

People with HIV always end up infecting their partners

FALSE

Many people don’t know that this is no longer the case. When a person with HIV undergoes treatment for a certain time and it is successful, he reaches a state called “undetectable”, which means that the virus not only does not spread in his body, but also loses its ability to infect, i.e. , it becomes indescribable. This means that if they wanted and agreed with their partners, they could have sex again without using a condom. Obviously this will make them both vulnerable to all other STDs.

There are vaccines for some STDs

true

Human papillomavirus vaccines protect against some of the most common types, especially those associated with cervical, anal, throat and genital cancers, and genital warts. The HPV vaccine was introduced in 2011 to all 11-year-old girls born after 2000 and was later extended to all 11-year-old boys. In any case, it can be given individually at any age (there are three doses). There is also a vaccine against hepatitis B and A. The latter is not strictly an STD, but can be transmitted this way.