AM I AT RISK?

Reasons you may at risk are listed below.

Unprotected Sex

Condoms could not guarantee 100% STD-preventive, but nevertheless, they are the best way to avoid STD infections. Even STDs, such as HPV, that condoms cannot entirely prevent from spreading, have shown reduced transmission rates when condoms are used. Aside from abstinence, consistent condom use is the best way of avoiding STDs. Consistency in condom use means that you use condom every time you have sex with every partner that you have. Let's make condom usage enough of a habit, and it will definitely be inconceivable to have sex without them, one of these days.

Multiple Partners

Simply stated – the more partners you have, the more likely it is to be exposed to an STD. Furthermore, people with multiple partners is likely to choose partners with multiple partners also, thus each individual you are having sex with is more likely to have an infection than someone with whom you would choose to be monogamous.

Being under 25 years old/ early age of sexual onset

Young people are far more prone to be infected with STDs than older people. This is for several reasons. First, a biological reason – young women tend to be more susceptible to STDs than older women because their bodies are smaller, thus more likely to experience tearing during intercourse. Further, their cervixes aren't fully developed yet, as compared to older women, making it more prone to chlamudia, gonorrhea, and other STDs. Younger people are also more sexually active than older women, participating in multiple sexual partners. They're also more likely to engage in risky sexual intercourse, specifically under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol Use

Alcohol consumption is bad in many different ways. It lowers inhibitions, clouds your judgment, making you less discriminating about your choosing of sexual partner. It may also hinder in condom negotiation or the proper use of condom with your partner.

Illegal Drug Use

People under the influence of illegal drugs are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors: e.g. sex without a condom. It hampers decision making; and some may use this as an advantage over you to engage in sexual behaviors you yourself would not choose to participate. Furthermore, a person who particularly injects drugs is associated with increased risk of blood-borne diseases that can also be transmitted during sex – such as HIV and Hepatitis. Therefore, drug injecting or having sexual intercourse with a person who injects drugs, is a double whammy of risk for these serious illnesses.

Trading Sex for Money / Drugs

People who trade sex for money and/or drugs are at very high risks for acquiring STDs. Further, sexual partners acquired in this manner are far more likely to be infected with STDs than people in the general population.

Living in Community with a High Prevalence of STDs

Stated matter-of-factly, anyone who lives in a community with a high prevalence of STDs is more likely to be exposed to an STD any time they choose to have sex.

Serial Monogamy

A person who practices serial monogamy is someone who dates one person at a time, but still date a large number of people each year. The danger in this kind of relationship practice is when every time he/she is involved in an “exclusive” sexual relationship, they are less likely to use safe sex precautions. But it is only monogamy which is considered a very effective way in STD prevention in long term relationships where both the male and the female have been tested. Since some tests are not reliable until you've been infected for some time, many serially monogamous relationships don't last long enough for that to even be a viable option.

Having an STD

In other words, if you have had experience with an STD infection, you are more predisposed to be infected by other kinds of STDs. Having a history of STD is also viewed as an indirect reflection of risks for new infections. Since you were exposed once previously, it suggests that other factors in your lifestyle may be putting you at risk.

Using Birth Control Pills As Your Sole Form of Contraception

At the very least, for most people, their worry when it comes to sexual interaction is not about acquiring STDs. They rather fret about being pregnant. Because of this, many couples chose to use birth control pills as their primary form of contraception. Once safe from their biggest worry, they tend to be reluctant in using condoms anymore. One probable reason can be because of its implication, that their partner has a disease, or because some people simply don't like using it. But dual protection, using both control pills and condoms, it the best option – particularly since pills can reduce your risk of PID. However, it is an option not often taken.