7 ways women can protect themselves from STDs

The pleasure and satisfaction derived from sex are good for our health. sex is a great way to reduce levels of emotional stress and also a bonding experience that helps to strengthen relationships.

It’s a very fun activity. However, sex has its risks. For instance, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can cause emotional, physical and mental irritation. They can also lead to serious medical problems such as infertility.

The chronic pelvic pain STDs cause can affect the way you enjoy not only sex, but life in general on a daily basis. Not being able to enjoy sex can make you see sexual intercourse as a task rather than a pleasurable act. Having a healthy sex life requires a lot of work. Most of the time ensuring that your sexual health is okay makes it worth the effort. If you’re a sexually active woman, you’re at risk for STDs. The more partners you have, the greater the risk. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get an STD if you rarely have sex, since you’re not even completely safe even the first time.

But there are ways to always protect yourself from STDs. Not all of them are the perfect solution, but they reduce the risk.

Below are the ways you can protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases

1. Get Vaccinated

There are currently two types of STDs that can be prevented with a vaccine: human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis.

There are two vaccines that prevent HPV: Cervarix and Gardasil. Cervarix protects against HPV 16 and 18 which usually cause most cases of cervical cancer. Meanwhile, Gardasil protects against the two types of HPV mentioned above as well as others that cause the majority of genital warts.

Both vaccines are most effective when given to women who just have started having sex. Another vaccine that we can’t forget is the one for hepatitis B.

2. Practice Safe sex

Safe sex has been proven to be the most effective way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases that spread through infected secretions.

Even though using a condom is less effective with diseases transmitted through skin contact, it does reduce the risk. Safe sex will always be an advantage to protect you. The constant use of protection, such as condoms, reduces the transmission of diseases during sexual acts such as anal, oral and vaginal sex.

Diseases like syphilis, HPV, and herpes can even be transmitted during oral sex.

3. Get Tested

Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases can reduce the long-term consequences of an infection. For example, bacterial diseases such as gonorrhea can lead to serious consequences such as infertility.

Making an appointment to get yourself tested with your new partner before starting a sexual relationship is a better idea than you think. In this way, both of you will make sure that you’re not putting each other at risk. Getting tested from time to time will allow you to maintain control in this very relevant area.

STDs can affect people at any age. Even if you’ve had a monogamous marriage or if you’re an elderly person, there’s always the risk of getting an STD if you’re with a new partner.

4. Get A Pap Smear Regularly

This should be a routine part of your health checkup. This test detects signs of cervical cancer. Precancerous changes can be treated before they become a serious problem.

Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV. Therefore, safe sex and getting vaccinated can help you reduce this risk. There are several types of HPV that cause cancer and not all of them are covered by vaccines. That’s why pap smears important even if you’ve been given HPV vaccinations. Moreover, cervical cancer can be very invasive and treatments to counteract it can have very negative effects on your sex life and fertility.

It’s best that you know what cervical changes have occurred in your body in time. Don’t wait for irreversible damage.

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