Whether you call them STIs or STDs, they?re scary and concerning. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or diseases (STDs) have been around for a while, and protecting yourself against them is key. There?s a lot of information out there surrounding these, but can you trust everything you read" We?re debunking a few commonly held STI myths so you know what you have to worry about and what you don?t.
What Is an STI"
Before we dive into the debunking, let?s learn more about what sexually transmitted infections are. They are illnesses that impact your sexual and reproductive well-being and have negative health effects. As reported by the World Health Organization, over one million new STIs are transmitted each day. With that being said, these diseases are pretty common and, thus, important to educate yourself on. Myth #1: You Can Visually Spot an STI
Many people have the idea that you can visually spot an STI on your partner. With that mindset, people think if they don?t see anything, they must be in the clear. It?s dangerous to believe that as it?s just not true. Common symptoms of various STIs include vaginal discharge, sores on genitals, painful intercourse, and itchiness. While those may be outward symptoms, many infections may have no outward symptoms at all. In fact, some individuals may not even know they?re afflicted with the disease for that reason. So, don?t assume you?ll see an issue if one exists and use that method as protection.
Myth #2: STIs Clear...