Unfortunately, in this day and age, there is no generation that can neglect condoms and other modes of protection. Consider the following tips to ensure your sexual health:

Realize the risk. The truth is that there is not a 100% foolproof way to protect against STDs—except for abstinence. Of course, for most couples, going without sex isn’t a long-term option, yet all the same, it is important to remember that there is no such thing as safe sex. There is only safer sex, meaning that while condoms and dental dams can cut down on your risk, STDs such as HPV and herpes can still spread.

Limit your partners. Since there is no such thing as safe sex, one of the best ways to decrease your risk is to limit your number of partners. The more partners you have, the more you will expose yourself to potential new infections. You can still enjoy your sexuality and have fun, but remember to put your health first.

Get tested with your partner. It’s important to know your sexual health status and to monitor it throughout the years. Getting tested once is great, but it won’t protect you for years into the future. Get tested regularly and always inquire about your partner’s last test. You can visit www.SexualHealth.com and get tested together.

Wrap up for oral sex. Many couples tend to go without protection during oral sex, yet STDs can be spread during this activity. It is just as risky as unprotected intercourse, so always use condoms when performing oral sex on a male partner, or dental dams when performing oral sex on a female partner. Dental dams are thin sheets of rubber that can be placed over the vagina and/or anus during oral sex to help decrease the risk of STDs. They do not interfere with a woman’s pleasure and they can be easily found almost anywhere that condoms are sold. Some even come in delicious flavors!

No latex, no problem. If you have a latex allergy, there are a number of condom options available to you. Check out brands like Durex Avanti Bare Non-Latex Condoms or Lifestyles SKYN, Premium Non-Latex Condoms. However, take note, that lambskin (also known as sheepskin, or colloquially known as “skin”) condoms DO NOT prevent the transmission of STDs, but rather, are used by monogamous couples looking for pregnancy prevention. There are also non-latex dental dams available (if your drugstore doesn’t carry them, you can easily buy some online). 

Remember, the best sex is safer sex!

Talk about scary. The good news is that you can work to decrease your risk by getting all the facts. It’s time to clear up the misconceptions and increase awareness. Read on:

Know the difference between Herpes 1 and Herpes 2. Known as HSV-1 and HSV-2, there are two separate types of herpes. The first is better known as the cold sore. Also called oral herpes, 58% of Americans have HSV-1. Oral herpes causes painful sores on the lips as well as in and around the mouth, and they are most commonly contracted during childhood.

HSV-2 is better known as genital herpes. Symptoms of HSV-2 are similar to HSV-1, and these include blister-like sores that are often very painful or uncomfortable. They may also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms (such as fever, achy joints, nausea) and burning in the affected area. In women, sores may appear on the inside and outside of the vagina; in men, the sores show up on the penis.

However, it is very important to note that even if your partner seems symptom-free, there is no way to know if someone has an STD simply by looking at them. Symptoms can lie dormant and some people carry the virus without ever having a breakout. Yet they can still pass it on to partners!

Be aware of the relationship between HSV-1 and HSV-2. Don’t be fooled by the term “oral” herpes. The virus can still be transmitted to the genitals during oral sex. This is not an uncommon way for people to become infected with herpes, primarily because most people don’t realize that they must protect themselves during oral sex just the same way they do during intercourse. By using a condom or a dental dam (this is an apparatus easily bought at the drugstore to protect a woman’s genitals during oral sex), you can greatly decrease your risk of contracting or spreading herpes.

But, remember, there is no such thing as 100% safe sex, which is why it is so important to monitor your own sexual health. If you or your partner haven’t been tested in a while, you can visit http://www.SexualHealth.com/ to learn about easy, affordable and private STD testing.

Lastly, while there is medication that can help treat herpes and diminish symptoms, there is no cure for herpes. And, remember, just because you don’t see sores or visible signs of herpes on your partner, this doesn’t mean that the sex is risk-free. Get tested and always use protection.

Consider the top five tips:

Self-stimulate. When you self-stimulate, you improve blood flow to the genitals and you increase your sexual desire. And, the more you fantasize and touch yourself, the more uninhibited and free you will become in the bedroom. Self-stimulation is of particular importance for women, because if you don’t know how to give yourself pleasure, how can he?

Ask for what you want. Sounds simple, but so many people expect their partners to be mind readers. Don’t just assume that your partner knows the right way to pleasure you. Everyone has different needs and desires, so don’t be afraid to speak up and let your partner know what you need.

Use protection. We all know to use condoms during intercourse, but did you know you should also use them during oral sex? Many STDs can spread with the exchange of fluids during oral sex, so it is important to always use a condom or dental dam when performing on your partner. (These are available at most drugstores and simple to use).

Get moving. It can be hard to feel sexy on the inside if you don’t like the way you look on the outside. The good news is that you can increase your confidence and reclaim your inner sex god or goddess in no time. Do so by staying active and working out regularly (physical health and sexual health go hand-in-hand, not to mention exercise improves circulation and ups your body image). Find an exercise you enjoy so that you know you will stick it, or join a gym with a buddy who will keep you in check.

Get tested. You can’t enjoy yourself in the bedroom if you are worried about STDs- be it your own status or if you are in the dark about your partner’s. Visit  www.SexualHealth.com to learn how to get tested, and ask your partner to do the same. Remember, the best sex is safer sex!

Drug resistance is a common evolutionary mechanism seen occurring in all bacteria. When one therapy no longer treats or cures an infection, a stronger antibiotic agent simply replaces it until no medical therapy is strong enough. Gonorrhea is almost past that tipping point. Currently, gonorrhea is treated using an antibiotic regimen consisting of Cefixime or Ceftriaxone and Azithromyocin; Yet, gonococcal strains are growing increasingly resistant to Cefixime, and fast. The issue at hand, the CDC explains, is that the aforementioned therapy is the last line of defense. Gonorrhea has a history of resistance to sulfanilamide in the 1940s, to penicillins and tetracyclines in the 1980s, to fluoroquinolones by 2007, and now, increasingly to Cephalosporins.

So who’s most at risk and what can be done to prevent and/or treat gonorrhea?

High-risk groups include men who have sex with men (MSM), and according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), MSM’s on the West Coast or in Hawaii are especially at high risk. However, any sexually active individual is at risk of contracting gonorrhea. Thus, some of the most effective tools for prevention are…

Partner notification, for those infected by gonorrhea or any other STD, helps slow the spread of the resistant strains. If infected, seek treatment immediately and postpone sexual activity. In the event you are experiencing any symptoms of gonorrhea, do not engage in sexual activity and schedule a test with a Care Advisor (855.SEX.HEALTH) or visit www.SexualHealth.Com. Naturally, the best tool for prevention of STD infection is the practice of…

Safer sex is using latex condoms when engaging in vaginal, anal or oral sex and dental dams or condoms when engaging in oral sex. Through communication with your sexual partner(s) and the practice of safer sex, your chances of contracting gonorrhea are significantly lower. As engaging in sexual activity always carries a risk, that risk can be lowered by simply lowering the number of partners you have over time.

Testing, treatment, and retesting are important for high-risk groups to ensure the gonorrhea strain has not resisted treatment. It is recommended that a test of cure with a culture or a nucleic acid-amplification test be performed one week after treatment. In MSM’s where higher rates of treatment failure have been observed, the CDC recommends retesting in three months to rule out reinfection (a subsequent exposure to gonorrhea). The CDC  also recommends that strains that have been retested positive are treated with dual therapy in which a combination of Cephalosporin Cefixime, Azithromyocin, and a shot of ceftriaxone (Rocephin) are used.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact a Care Advisor at 855.SEX.HEALTH today.

Fortunately, there are a few simple tricks that can help to ensure that your relationship stays strong. Consider the following:

Communication is a must. We all know that sharing our feelings with our partner is important, but sometimes we tend to share only the negative feelings. For example, it’s almost second nature to communicate to your partner that you hate his lack of punctuality, but when is the last time that you communicated something positive? Make an effort to share appreciation with your partner at least once a day, even if it is something small such as, “Thank you for making the bed this morning.”

Establish trust. You can’t have a happy relationship without trust, yet sometimes it is hard to open up and take down those barriers, especially if you have been hurt in the past. Along with communication, you can help to establish trust by discovering your sexual health status. If you haven’t been tested in a while—or ever—it is never too late to start. Nothing beats peace of mind when it comes to intimacy, so consider undergoing the process as a couple to help improve your trust. You can visit www.SexualHealth.com or call 855.SEX.HEALTH (855.739.4325).

Talk about the future. It’s important to make sure that you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to your life goals. For example, do you plan on taking your relationship to the next level, or do you have different feelings on marriage and children? The discussion of the future and family planning is always important, but don’t forget you can also have some fun with your talks. You can plan a vacation together for the future or create a couple’s bucket list of things you want to accomplish as a pair.

Commit to monogamy. There is no such thing as “safe” sex other than abstinence, which often isn’t an option for most couples. While safer sex measures such as condoms and dental dams can decrease your risk of STDs, there is always a chance that something could go wrong. In order to further decrease your risk and secure your sexual health, make a commitment to monogamy and agree not to have multiple partners. Your health is worth it.

Create a shared interest. Nothing bonds a couple together like shared interests. If you don’t yet see eye-to-eye on the way you spend your Friday nights, consider discovering a shared interest together. Maybe you could join an intramural sports team or a trivia group at your favorite bar. Or, you could sign up for a salsa dance class or maybe even a stand-up comedy class! The sky is the limit, and with so many options, you are sure to find something that is right for you and your partner.

Here’s to healthy, happy love!

Here are some tips that can make the process a little easier for you and your partner:

Don’t wait until it is too late. STD testing can be an awkward topic, but waiting until you are already undressed will only make it twice as awkward. Take the bull by the horns and address the topic before you have sex, preferably at a neutral time and place where you can both talk openly. Say something like, “I feel like this is really going somewhere and I am excited to take things to the next level. However, before we do, I think we should talk about safer sex a little bit.”

Share your history. When discussing your past, you don’t need to go into vivid details like “I once had a threesome” or “I am part of the Mile High Club.” Instead, be honest and open about your sexual past as it pertains to your health and STD history. If you’ve had an STD (or if you have an incurable STD like herpes or HPV), be upfront about your status. You can then do some research as a couple or talk to one of our doctors or care advisors (855.SEX.HEALTH or 855.739.4325) to find out ways to make sure that you both stay safe sexually.

Get tested together. If you haven’t been tested in a while, or if your partner hasn’t, make a commitment to get tested together. Doing it as a couple will make it less nerve-wracking, and as part of our commitment to safer sex, we are offering couples $50 off their STD testing. Saving money and staying healthy? A win-win!

If you’re single, Valentine’s Day can often bring a sense of dread as well as the desire to curl up in bed and give up on love altogether. Yet Valentine’s Day offers a whole host of fun activities for single folks, not to mention, it’s a great time to simply enjoy doing whatever you want, no guilt or expensive gifts required:

Take a Class or Hit the Gym: This Valentine’s Day, amp up your endorphins at thegym and add some spice to your life with a new adventurous exercise class. Not only will you burn calories and feel good about yourself, you may just make new friends for some fun in and outside of the gym.

For ladies that are looking to feel the burn and release their inner vixen, try a fun dance class or even a burlesque class. You will not only tone your muscles, but you will also increase your confidence and learn to strut with no inhibitions.

Get Creative in the Kitchen: Now that your endorphins are pumping, introduce a little experimentation in the kitchen and cook up a meal that is both healthy and delicious. Whole Foods in Lincoln Park is a Mecca for creative chefs looking to fuse organic ingredients and a number of international cuisines. Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to try a new Indian curry, Spanish paella, or a classically low-calorie German Strawberry Schaum Torte.

Know Your Sexual Health Status: Living a healthy life doesn’t stop at hitting the gym and cooking a healthy meal. Knowing your sexual health status is an incredibly important matter for yourself, your partner(s) and your family.  Manage your sexual health today by taking the first step with easy STD testing from www.sexualhealth.com.

And, most importantly of all, don’t forget to spread the love. You might not be coupled up, but there are still plenty of people in your life that are in need of love and affection. Give your best friend a call, make a handmade Valentine for your mom, or bake some brownies for your elderly neighbor. Remember, the more love you give, the more you get in return.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Researchers are taking another look at the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, and some new clues indicate that herpes (specifically HSV-1) may play a role.

How did scientists make the connection between Alzheimer’s and herpes? It wasn’t a clear-cut path, but it started decades ago. When Alzheimer’s researchers found that the brains of Alzheimer’s patients tend to have a large amount of a specific protein called beta amyloid, they assumed a simple connection ⎼ that beta amyloid was a cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

But new research indicates that beta amyloid may not be the problem at all. In 2010, the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced that its experimental drug, semagacestant, didn’t work. While it did succeed in the goal of reducing the body’s production of beta amyloid, it didn’t help patients’ symptoms.

In fact, removal of beta amyloid actually caused Alzheimer’s patients’ dementia to worsen significantly.

So, what is beta amyloid, and why is it found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients? Harvard researcher Dr. Stephanie Soscia and her colleagues think beta amyloid accumulates because it’s actually helping the brain protect itself from infections. And they think that herpes simplex virus type 1 (or HSV-1, a common cause of cold sores as well as some genital herpes infections) may be at the root of the problem.

It turns out that HSV-1 is particularly high in Alzheimer’s patients. Because of this and other evidence, some Alzheimer’s researchers are beginning to think that HSV-1 may be a cause of Alzheimer’s ⎼ not beta amyloid.

Another research study spearheaded by Professor Ruth Itzhaki, also supports this claim. She found HSV-1 DNA within beta amyloid plaques when she looked at the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

So what’s next for Alzheimer’s research? Doctors urge caution in interpreting these results ⎼ more than half of Americans have HSV-1 and only a small percentage develop Alzheimer’s ⎼ so there is still a lot to learn. But the seeming connection between HSV-1 and Alzheimer’s disease could mean improved prevention and treatment down the road. According to researchers, preventing Alzheimer’s for some may be as simple as taking antiviral medications for HSV-1 ⎼ like those already used to treat herpes outbreaks. And if so, Alzheimer’s treatment may begin with a simple herpes test.

Photo: Flickr user  by DerrickT, CC 2.0

The truth about STDs among people with disabilities

Perhaps despite perception, having a disability doesn’t mean you’re immune to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In fact, people with disabilities are more likely to get HIV or other STDs than the general population. The sexual experiences of people with disabilities also differ in other ways from non-disabled comparison groups.

For example, based on the analysis of national survey data ⎼ including the National Survey of Family Growth, the National Health Interview Survey, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ⎼ people with disabilities experience more sexual abuse; have sex with more partners; and are more likely to have sex with someone of the same gender.

Specifically, women with disabilities are raped at greater than twice the rate of women without disabilities; and men with disabilities are forced to have anal or oral sex against their will at nearly twice the rate of men without disabilities. And both men and women with disabilities are significantly more likely to engage in same-sex behavior and to self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or something other than heterosexual. These factors, most notably forced sexual intercourse, play a role at putting disabled people at risk.

If disability status is not protective and, in fact, a risk factor contributing to sexual health disparities, what needs to be done? We can start by acknowledging that people with disabilities ⎼ whether physical, mental, sensory or other ⎼ are sexually active. From there flows the prescription for a “cure,” including:

1. Easy access to sexual healthcare for people with disabilities, including screening, testing, treatment, care and counseling for HIV and other STDs
2. Greater access to sexual health education and information for people with disabilities
3. Education on sexuality and disabilities for physicians and other healthcare workers
4. Acknowledgement of people with disabilities as a sexual health disparities population, and including them in all public health programs related to sexual activity and reproduction.

Bottom line: ignorance and neglect are unacceptable. What are your ideas to protect the sexual health of people with disabilities?

Related info:

• American Journal of Preventive Medicine: Sexual Violence Victimization Against Men with Disabilities

Photo: Flickr user mrhayata, CC 2.0

When it comes to managing HIV, medical treatments keep getting better…but prevention is still the best medicine. That’s why researchers are working hard to bring us new ways to prevent HIV.

One method that might work? Using common HIV meds to reduce the risk of getting HIV in the first place. Researchers are now experimenting with two different applications (a gel and a pill) of an HIV drug called tenofovir to see how it works.

As a gel, tenofovir may be used as a topical application in the vagina or rectum. And last year, researchers conducted a placebo-controlled trial in South Africa that returned promising results: women who used the gel before and after sex had a 39% reduced risk of getting HIV compared to women who used the placebo.

More recently, researchers started to investigate whether the gel would also work for reducing HIV risk from anal sex…and those results look good, too. In a small study that examined rectal tissue biopsies of HIV-negative men and women, researchers found that the gel seemed to work as expected. But more trials are in the works to confirm these findings.

Using tenofovir gel may have another useful side-effect: it’s even better at preventing genital herpes. When using the gel, women also had a 51% reduced risk of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). Why? The researchers say that the gel stops the herpes virus from being able to replicate within a woman’s vaginal cells.

Other recent research indicates that tenofovir may also be taken as a pill for HIV prevention. This treatment is called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. In one trial, taking a once-daily tablet containing tenofovir reduced the risk of getting an HIV infection by about 63% in heterosexual men and women. In a previous study, the pill provided an average of 44% additional protection against HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM).

Although the results of these and similar trials are encouraging, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still urge doctors to use caution before prescribing a PrEP regimen to some patients. And the tenofovir gel isn’t yet approved for use in the United States…so if you’re in a high risk group for HIV, talk to your doctor about the best ways to protect yourself.

Even with these precautions, these HIV prevention breakthroughs are exciting. For now, it’s still a good idea to get tested for HIV and ask about the HIV status of your sexual partner(s) before you have sex. Using condoms can help prevent the transmission of HIV, too. But it’s great to know that we’re on our way to more HIV prevention choices.

Photo: Flickr user takacsi75, CC 2.0