Black To Life… For A Healthier You

Resolve to protect yourself

BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES

With the holidays upon us and the year drawing to a close, I want to issue a reminder about one of the best gifts you can give to yourself: Steering clear of sexually-transmitted diseases.

It is not the most comfortable or pleasant topic, but there are ways to avoid — and, if necessary, detect and treat — some of the most common STDs: gonorrhea, hepatitis, syphilis, chlamydia and crabs.

Protection and avoidance begins with condom use. Condoms are not just for young people; they are vital to anyone who needs to protection during sexual activity, particularly with casual partners.

Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria that attacks a female’s cervix or a male’s urethra. Symptoms can range from a sore throat to a burning sensation during urination and a yellowish discharge. Chlamydia affects the same part of the anatomy, but with symptoms — pain during intercourse, thick, discolored discharge from the vagina or penis — that  might not show up for months or even years.

Hepatitis afflicts more than 1.25 million individuals. If left untreated, the Hepatitis B infection will scar and damage the liver. Symptoms of hepatitis might include muscle pain, fatigue, yellowish color (jaundice) in the eye, nausea and a distended stomach.

Syphilis is a disease of the genital tract. This disease marked by small, painless sores on the mouth, rectum, and vagina and areas around the genitals that are not protected by latex condoms.

Then there are crabs, which produce a creepy-crawly, itching sensation in the genitals. Crabs show themselves as visible eggs or lice in the coarse hair of the genital region, and can also be passed through contact with infected linens and clothing.

My best advice, particularly for those not in a monogamous relationship, is to go to medical providers for STD screenings. I would also recommend that both parties undergo a screening prior to starting sexual activity, so that everyone knows what is being brought into the relationship.

Remember, you can keep yourself safe and healthy all year long, by making wise and informed decisions to protect your sexual health.

For additional information, contact Las Vegas All Women’s Care at (702) 522-9640. You can also visit our offices at 700 Shadow Lane, Suite 165 (first floor), Las Vegas, NV 89106.