The Truth About SEX

1. The Truth About SEX

2. What is Sex? Sex is defined as: Sexually motivated phenomenon or behavior. Behaviors can include: Intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, kissing, touching, or petting

3. What are the benefits of sex? • Fun and Exciting • Pleasurable • A way to Express Love • Reproduction

4. What are the consequences of sex? • Unwanted pregnancy • Sexually Transmitted Diseases • Stress on Relationships • Emotional Stress

5. STD: What in the world is that? An STD is a sexually transmitted disease. Sometimes they are called sexually transmitted infections. They are contracted by intimate contact with another person. An STD is serious health condition that needs treatment as soon as possible.

6. How are STDs contracted? • Genital to Genital contact • Mouth to Genital contact • Mouth to Anal contact • Skin to Skin contact Having un-protected anal sex, oral sex or intercourse increases your chances of STD infection.

7. Herpes • Genital herpes is a STD caused by the herpes simplex viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2. • Most individuals have minimal signs or symptoms when infected. • When you do have signs, they appear as 1 or more painful blisters on the genitals or rectum. • Herpes is treatable but not curable. Once you have attracted this virus you will have it for the rest of your life.

8. Herpes • Herpes can be contracted by skin-to-skin contact with a person who is having an outbreak (has sores). • They can also be infected by a person who doesn’t have sores either but has the virus. • More common outbreaks occur on the lips (cold sores).

9. Herpes • Herpes is extremely painful physically and emotionally and can forever change your life.

10. Chlamydia • Chlamydia is an STD caused by the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis. • Most symptoms are mild or absent • Chlamydia is one of the most common infections worldwide. • It is estimated that 1 million people in the U.S. are infected with chlamydia.

11. Chlamydia • Chlamydia is known as the "Silent Epidemic" because in women, it may not cause any symptoms in 75% of cases, and can linger for months or years before being discovered. • In men, chlamydia shows symptoms of infectious urethritis(inflammation of the urethra) in about 50% of cases. • Chlamydia can be cured with treatment of anti-biotics.

12. Chlamydia • Chlamydia can be contracted through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Even though it can be cured, Chlamydia is extremely painful.

13. Gonorrhea • Gonorrhea is a common infection that is caused by the bacterium Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. • Half of women with gonorrhea don’t show any symptoms while others have vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, and pain from intercourse. • Men with gonorrhea experience burning with urination and discharge from the penis. Some develop urethritis.

14. Gonorrhea • The infection is spread through anal, oral, and vaginal sex. • If left un-treated Gonorrhea may last for weeks and create major complications. • Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics but the rates of antibiotic resistance are growing.

15. Gonorrhea • Gonorrhea can be cured but can be very painful but sometimes won’t show any symptoms at all.

16. Crab Louse (Crabs) • The crab louse is also known as the pubic louse and is an insect that is an obligate ectoparasite of humans. • Crabs can be contracted by coming in contact with an infected person, most likely during sexual intercourse. • The main symptoms of infection with crabs are itching and burning of the pubic area.

17. Crab Louse (Crabs) • Extensive itching can lead to skin injuries and even lead to bacteria infection. • Treatment of crabs include over the counter products that can be applied to the infected area. • In severe cases, infected persons may need to see a doctor for treatment.

18. Crab Louse (Crabs) • Although crabs can be cured, it can be extremely painful and highly contagious, it can also spread to other areas of the body.

19. Syphilis • Syphilis is caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium. • Syphilis has been called “the great imitator” because it can be misdiagnosed with other diseases. • Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore.

20. Syphilis • Sores occur mainly on the external genitals but can also occur on the mouth. • Syphilis has 4 main stages and if left untreated can cause death, blindness, heart failure, or mental disturbance. • Syphilis can be treated with penicillin G but can be extremely painful and dangerous if left untreated.

21. Syphilis • Although syphilis can be cured, it does not mean that a cured person cannot get infected again.

22. HIV/AIDS • HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency virus. • This virus affects human beings by weakening the immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. • This virus can reproduce itself by invading your bodies important immune system cells, makes more copies of themselves, and then completely destroys the cells.

23. HIV/AIDS • Over time, HIV can destroy so many of your important immune system cells that your body cannot fight infections or diseases anymore. When this happens you can develop AIDS. • AIDS is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. • AIDS is the final stage of the HIV infection which leaves people with badly damaged immune systems and has a wide range of complex symptoms.

24. HIV/AIDS • HIV lives and reproduces in blood and other body fluids such as blood, semen, breast milk, vaginal fluids and rectal mucous. • In order to contract HIV you must have direct contact with any of these fluids. • There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS and can lead to many serious illnesses, diseases and even death.

25. Genital Warts • Genital Warts are caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). • The HPV virus has been increasing so rapidly in both sexes that it has reached epidemic proportions. • HPV is transmitted through vaginal, oral, anal, or oral-genital interaction. • Most people who have HPV don’t see any symptoms at all.

26. Genital Warts • Visible warts may appear within weeks or months after the initial contact with an infected person. • HPV can also cause other serious complications including cancer, especially cervical cancer. • There is not a single treatment that has been effective in removing warts or preventing them from coming back.

27. Genital Warts • There is a vaccine for HPV called Gardasil that protects recipients from the “high-risk” strains of HPV.

28. Hepatitis • Hepatitis is a disease where liver function is impaired by a viral infection. • The 3 mains types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. • Although all three types can be transmitted sexually, A and B are more likely to be transmitted through sexual contact.

29. Hepatitis • Symptoms of viral hepatitis can be nonexistent or could have mild flulike symptoms. • Hepatitis could also have very painful symptoms like vomiting, high fever, and sever abdominal pain. • Chronic infections with the B or C types are a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and cancer of the liver.

30. Hepatitis • No specific treatment is known to be effective against hepatitis, generally bed-rest and fluid intake will allow it to run its course. In more progressive cases, the patient must be hospitalized. • Hepatitis C causes half of all liver cancers and is the most prevalent reason for liver transplants. • Vaccinations are available for A and B types, but not C.

31. How do you protect yourself? • The best way to protect yourself from STDs, if you’re going to have sex, is using latex condoms for vaginal, anal and oral sex. • The female condom can also help prevent STDs. • The very best and most effective way to prevent STDs is to practice abstinence.

32. Talk about Sex • Talk to any partner about their previous sexual experiences, whether they have been screened for STDs, and using condoms. • Talk to your health-care provider about your sex history. • Talk to your parents or someone you trust if you suspect that you might have an STD or could have been exposed to one.

33. Sex Resources • Planned Parenthood: An organization dedicated to sexual education for millions of people worldwide. www.plannedparenthood.org • Avert: Website dedicated to sex education and STD prevention. http://www.avert.org/teens.htm