STD Test Express

Since the Institute of Medicine produced it's summary report on STDs while meeting in Washington D.C. in 1997, STDs have often been called "hidden epidemics of enormous health and economic consequences". As the study indicated, there is a steady reluctance to talk about them openly, just as there is with any type of sexual health issue. As one can imagine, the disastrous results of any issue with enormous consequences can only be magnified when there are so many people who refuse to even acknowledge it as an issue. If efforts to quell the rising tide of STD infections are going to succeed, then a many-sided approach will be necessary, starting with a prefatory understanding of the many issues in play.

Who is affected by STDs? - One of the reasons why STD prevention is not a popular topic is due to the fact that most people think of it as an individual issue. They firmly believe that only those people engaging in risky behaviors or those who are already infected need to be concerned. What they don't realize is that an indirect affect upon the community already exists, regardless of whether or not we or someone we know is infected. Chronic medical conditions, complications with pregnancies, and increasing demands upon our medical system are just a few of the ways that all of us are under this epidemic's effect.

Why is this considered a "hidden" issue? - As discussed in the opening paragraph, our society, for one reason or another, continues to resist the need to discuss any topics that touch upon sexual health and openness. It can be an uneasy topic to touch upon as a social issue, and it may also be that our biological makeup creates a natural inhibition. However, another reason for its hidden nature is the behavior of STDs themselves.

It is common for most STD infections that no symptoms or signs are apparent at all. Chlamydia, for example, can be completely free of any signs in half of infected men, and that figure goes up to a staggering seventy-five percent for infected women. HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS, can lie dormant for years depending upon a person's immune system, and those infected with genital herpes may only have sporadic outbreaks. When an STD does show signs, far too often those symptoms are the same as many common illnesses, such as a flu or common cold. Syphilis has often referred to as "the great imitator" for this very reason. In a society that has become used to performing self diagnosis using the internet, it's easy to convince ourselves that no action is necessary since no problems are evident.

What can be done to help? - The keys to successfully prevent the spread of STDs are open dialogue and communication. We must be willing to acknowledge this increasing threat to our society, and we must refrain from applying common stereotypes and stigmas to those who are trying to seek information and help. Regular STD testing and HIV testing should become a common part of anyone's sexual health plan if they are sexually active, and those responsible actions need to be supported by those who may not be active themselves. Instead of frowning upon someone seeking out an STD testing center, we should applaud and support them for helping stem the tide of what surely affects us all. Whether we like it or not, we are all affected by other people's actions, and in this case, inactions as well.

STD Test Express

STD Testing

Want to read more from Andrew M. Gibson? You can find him on facebook, or check out his blog at www.stdtestingservices.com. There you can also learn more about std testing and how to find std testing centers.

STD Test Express: STD Test Express

This article, the best article ever, kindly provided by UberArticles.com