Straight talk on STDs
Worried about the repercussions of an unsafe sex escapade? Well, there’s more than just pregnancy and HIV to worry about. There are chances that you might contract STDs as well which may be very harmful to your health.
STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are on the rise. Western countries have a good knowledge of the term and its consequences but many developing countries are still far behind when it comes to adequate knowledge about unsafe sex and STDs.
STDs can be quite fatal to the body in the long run and can cause several health and reproductive related issues. Here are a few ‘need to know’ facts about STDs.
Sexual Contact: It doesn’t necessarily require sexual contact between two individuals for STDs to be transmitted. Even an oral act of KISSING can put an individual at risk of contracting STDs.
Oral sex: You can get infected from oral sex of all sorts. Penetration isnt the only act that gives you a first class trip to STD heaven. Open sores in the private areas can easily spread STDs if they come in contact with the mouth or any other part of the body for that matter. For example, STDs like herpes can spread even when the infected area comes in contact with other parts of the body. It is best to refrain from all kinds of sexual contact and activities, including foreplay until the infection is cured.
No physical signs: STDs DO NOT show on peoples faces (well, unless a herpes sore on the lips). So Guys/Ladies, when next you are checking out that HOT Girl/Guy in a bar/club..or wherever..remember..you just might be taking home free trial samples of STDs..No return policy here mate!
Virgins: Like mentioned before, intercourse is not the only way STDs can be transmitted. Oral and physical contact with the infected areas can result in the infection spreading to the other person and if you think you won’t be able to contract any such symptoms just because you have not engaged in intercourse then you are terribly wrong. Also having sex just ONCE with an infected person is all it takes.
Using Condoms: Condoms can prevent the transmission of sexual diseases like HIV and STDs to a great extent. However, they are not 100% safe and can cause unfortunate accidents (for example, the condom breaks when inside the body of the partner). Nevertheless, it is always considered better to use a condom for sexual intercourse, be it physical or oral.
Catching Symptoms: Many individuals feel that they have less chances of contracting STDs if they fail to notice the symptoms immediately. In contrast to this popular belief, there are certain STDs that show no signs or symptoms until they reach an advanced stage or not at all. In some of these cases, the disease can be incurable. Some STD’s have been known to cause infertility.
The best way to clear your doubts about having contracted an STD would be to get tested immediately. By being ignorant you could cause serious harm to your body and to your partner’s body as well. The saying “ignorance is bliss” certainly doesn’t apply here.
Curable STDs: While most STDs are curable, you need to make sure to treat them in time to avoid complications at a later stage. Some STDs like herpes cannot be cured though, therefore, it is completely necessary that you take the issue seriously and get yourself checked for infections if you have previously indulged in unsafe sex.
Recurring STDs: There are strong chances for STDs to recur. This may be attributed to several reasons, the most common being neglect and callous attitude towards the necessary treatment.
Accordingly, some individuals start to skip their medications or treatment sessions once they notice the symptoms disappearing. However, what one needs to know in these cases is that the medication needs to be completed properly in order to avoid relapses.
Post Diagnosis Stage: If you have been diagnosed with a STD or see symptoms of the same appearing on your body, consult a doctor or a medical specialist immediately. Refrain from all kinds of sexual contact at all costs until you get cured.
On the other hand, if you suspect your partner is infected, advice him/her to seek medical help immediately before he/she risks the chance of passing the infection on to you.
STDs can have temporary and permanent affects on the body. The only way to stay away from them is to practice safe sex. It is better to indulge in sex with one trusted partner rather than enjoying sexual escapades with multiple partners —> Players and Playettes take note
Remember to play safe and use condoms. Never wait for the infections to disappear on their own, should you get infected. Get medical help as soon as possible to avoid complications later in life.
Must have vitamins for women
Poor nutrition increases a woman’s risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Healthy eating is the most important thing a woman can do to meet the minimum daily vitamin requirements essential for good health.Some women go on diet so there are often gaping holes in their nutrition while some others work very long hours and might not be able to eat 3 square(balanced) meals a day. whatever the case, supplements can help you get the required daily nutrients. Here are a list of essential vitamins every woman in the menstruating age needs.
• Calcium: A woman typically needs 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily, depending on her age. You can reach this daily requirement by eating or drinking dairy and soy products (preferably fat-free) or pure orange juice that’s been fortified with calcium, or by taking calcium supplements. As women age, their bone mass decreases. At this point, women need to be at the upper end of the daily calcium requirement to lower their risk of osteoporosis.
• Vitamin D:Sunlight triggers the development of vitamin D in your body, but as women get older they lose some of their ability to convert sunlight into vitamin D; without vitamin D your body can’t use calcium. Also, protecting yourself from skin cancer with sunscreen means shutting out the vitamin D you’d get from the sun. To compensate for this loss, women should consider taking a multivitamin containing both vitamin D and calcium.
• Iron:If you’re still menstruating, you need to be sure you’re getting an adequate amount of iron in order to prevent anaemia. You’ll find iron in meat, poultry, beans, eggs, and tofu. It’s important to pair your iron-rich meals with foods that contain vitamin C, like orange juice or citrus fruits, because vitamin C helps increase iron absorption.
• Folic acid: Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant need to get more folic acid. it has been shown that low levels of this B vitamin can lead to birth defects in the baby affecting the brain and spinal cord. In addition to supplements, folic acid can be found in orange juice, beans, and green vegetables, and in foods such as breads and flour that have been fortified with it.
• Beta-carotene: antioxidants — cancer-fighting substances like beta-carotene and vitamin C — help defend your body against cell damage. Food sources best for beta-carotene include carrots, apricots, papaya, cantaloupe, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and mangoes.
• B6 and B12: Vitamin B6 helps with red-blood cell formation and vitamin B12 helps with nerve-cell and red-blood cell development. For example, you can get a day’s supply of vitamin B12 by eating one chicken breast, one hard-boiled egg, a cup of plain low-fat yogurt or one cup of milk, plus one cup of raisin bran.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: These acids have been shown to act like natural anti-inflammatory substances in the body. They may also be important in helping to keep your heart healthy. As a woman gets older, her levels of estrogen decline, and that puts her at greater risk for heart disease. Fatty fish, like salmon and tuna, is a great source of omega-3 fats, and pure orange juice is often fortified with omega-3. alternatively you can take fish oil capsules.
In general experts believe taking multivitamins is a good idea. Clearly when it comes to calcium and vitamin D we all need additional supplementation. We can only eat so much dairy or fortified foods in a day. For the rest, a multivitamin may help to fill in the gaps when your diet cant.
Don’t lose your hair like Naomi
Naomi Campbell has worn straight extensions over her naturally kinky hair for several years. Experts say this may have permanently damaged her natural follicles. Marilyn Sherlock, from the Institute of Trichologists, which represents hair loss specialists, added: ‘It looks like Traction Alopecia, hair loss caused by the use of extensions.’
Traction Alopecia occurs when the extensions pull on the natural hair causing it to break. It usually affects the hairline just above the forehead or the sides, where the hair is weaker. It can take between three months to a year for hair to grow back in moderate cases, but if the pulling continues the hair will never grow back and the only option is a hair transplant.
Traction Alopecia damages the dermal papilla and hair follicle by constant pulling or tension over a long period. It often occurs in persons who wears tight braids, especially “cornrows”, weaves and other styles that lead to high tension, pulling and breakage of hair.
This condition is most common in black women and men who braid their hair too tightly. It can be reversible if diagnosed early, but may lead to permanent hair loss if it is left untreated for a protracted period. Hair loss is often in the frontal and temporal regions, but also depends on the hair style. With those who wear cornrows, the area most commonly affected is that adjacent to the region that is braided.
Traction Alopecia can also occur due to overprocessing of the hair. Chemical treatment of hair with dyes, bleaches, relaxers or straighteners disrupt the keratin structure in a manner that reduces hairs tensile strength. The hair can become fragile and heavy fall out can occur with brushing or combing.
The use of thermal or chemical hair straightening, and hair braiding or weaving are examples of styling techniques that place black women at high risk for various “traumatic” alopecias.
Studies show one in seven children and a third of women who have these hairstyles suffer hair loss caused by Traction Alopecia.
The key to stopping Traction Alopecia is detecting it early. Hair styles that put unnecessary strain on the hair root must be changed for “looser, more gentle hair style. Women who suspect they may be vulnerable to Traction Alopecia should take action immediately to change their hair style and see a trichologist.
Unfortunately, no medical treatment is available to reverse late-stage Traction Alopecia. Hair grafts have been identified as the only practical solution.
So ladies, we need to think of the health of our natural hair while wearing extensions, give your hair a break…let it breathe..let your natural hair out…after all its all yours.
Bacterial Vaginosis
When bacterial vaginosis infects a woman, a number of symptoms will manifest themselves. One of the most apparent symptoms of this condition is a fishy smell, an intense odor that is associated with the disease. Since the intensity of this odor is overwhelming, it is likely to affect the woman concerned emotionally as the condition will lower her self-esteem.
But it should be understood by the affected woman that the odor is not necessarily due to bad hygiene, although that is one of the causes for bacterial vaginosis to manifest itself, but rather it is the infection which is causing the bad smell.
As mentioned earlier, this smell can cause serious psychological problems to the woman concerned. Because of the bad smell she may suffer from depression and would refuse to socialize with people. At such times we have to reassure the concerned woman that hers is not an isolated case, as many women suffer from this condition. This is a common symptom with a huge number of women suffering from it annually.
The other symptoms of this condition include itching and a burning sensation in the vaginal and vulva region of the affected woman. Though the burning sensation and itching in themselves do not necessarily indicate the vaginosis, these are usually associated with the condition. Sometimes a detailed medical study may be required to arrive at the conclusion that she is suffering from this condition, though when the horrible smell is present along with itching and burning sensation, it is highly indicative of the infection
The Silent STD
What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It’s a bacterial infection, which is found in semen and vaginal fluids.
Causes and risk factors:
Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another during vaginal, oral or anal sex, or by sharing sex toys. It can live inside cells of the cervix, urethra, rectum and sometimes in the throat and eyes.
Chlamydia can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby.
Symptoms:
Chlamydia is often referred to as the ‘silent infection’, as most men and women don’t have any obvious signs or symptoms, or they’re so mild they’re not noticed.
Symptoms can appear one to three weeks after you’ve come into contact with chlamydia, or many months later, or not until the infection spreads to other parts of your body.
Women might notice:
Unusual vaginal discharge.
Bleeding between periods or during or after sex.
Pain with sex or when passing urine.
Lower abdominal pain.
Men might notice:
White/cloudy, watery discharge from the tip of the penis.
Pain when passing urine or painful testicles.
If the infection is in the eye or rectum, you may experience discomfort, pain or discharge.
Treatment and recovery:
Chlamydia is easy to treat with antibiotics, either as a single dose or longer course for up to two weeks.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you’re pregnant, or think you might be, or you’re breastfeeding – this might affect the type of antibiotic you’re given. The antibiotics used to treat chlamydia interact with the combined oral contraceptive pill and the contraceptive patch, making them less effective, so check this with the doctor or nurse.
To avoid reinfection, any sexual partners should be treated too. Every time you have a new sexual partner you need to be tested. If complications occur, another treatment might be needed.
Without treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body causing damage and long-term health problems, including infertility.
In women, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This can lead to:
Ectopic pregnancy (when a pregnancy develops outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tube).
Blocked fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the egg from ovary to womb).
Long-term pelvic pain.
In men, chlamydia can lead to painful infection in the testicles and possibly reduced fertility.
Rarely, chlamydia can lead to inflammation of the joints in both men and women. This is known as reactive arthritis. When this involves the urethra and the eyes, it is known as Reiter’s syndrome.