Recognizing World Sexual Health Day

Everyone is aware of STIs. But, what most people don’t realize, is how prevalent these diseases are all over the world. According to the CDC, there were 26 million new STI cases diagnosed in the United States in 2018 alone. What’s even more concerning is the fact that almost half of these cases were among youth aged 15-24.

In the less developed parts of the world where STI treatments and preventive methods are not as readily available, STIs are an even bigger issue. In 2021, AIDS-related illnesses alone claimed approximately 650,000 lives, and this is a number that is actually down substantially from the 2004 peak of 2 million deaths.

Awareness and education can go a long way toward preventing STIs. For this reason, September 4th has been designated as “world sexual health day“.

Along with offering swift and reliable STI testing, St. Jude Labs is striving to reduce the frequency and impact of STIs by helping raise awareness and educate people on safe sexual practices. That’s why we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of world sexual health day and discuss proven methods for preventing the transmission of STIs.

The Goal of World Sexual Health Day

One of the big issues preventing people from accessing the information they need to protect themselves from STIs is the social and cultural taboos surrounding sex and STIs. These are uncomfortable topics for a lot of people, but an unwillingness to discuss them has left many people in the dark regarding how to keep themselves safe while still enjoying a fulfilling sex life.

The goal of world sexual health day, therefore, is to bring topics regarding sexual health and STI prevention out into the light and break down the cultural barriers that are compounding the issue. Via social media, educational programs, cultural activities, engagement with media outlets, and political activism, the organizations leading world sexual health day hope to both make vital information on STI prevention more available as well as get people more comfortable discussing the topic.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

The reason why it’s so important to raise awareness about STIs and sexual health is the fact that all STIs can be prevented with safe sexual practices. When it comes to STI prevention, the only thing more effective than condoms is abstinence. Since abstinence isn’t a viable option for the vast majority of people, condoms are the next best bet.

Condoms prevent skin-to-skin contact and are thus 98% effective at protecting against most STIs. STIs may be dreadful little bugs, but they aren’t capable of penetrating latex. The only instances where a condom would not be able to protect both parties involved from STIs is the cases when the condom breaks. When used properly, though, this is exceedingly rare.

Along with condoms, STI testing is another highly important tool for preventing the spread of STIs. In addition to helping those who are concerned they might have contracted an STI receive diagnosis and treatment, STI testing also provides assurances and peace of mind for couples in a committed relationship. Before engaging in unprotected sex, it is essential for both parties to undergo STI testing. So long as both people have a clean bill of health with no STIs, engaging in unprotected sex with one another will not transmit any STIs. Engaging in unprotected sex with others who are untested, though, reopens the door for STI transmission, making it essential to form a strong degree of trust with someone before engaging in unprotected sex.

Schedule STI Testing From St. Jude Labs

Whether you are experiencing STI symptoms or you simply want to ensure that you and your partner(s) are STI free before engaging in unprotected sex, you can count on St. Jude Labs to provide swift, comfortable, and reliable STI testing. At our state-of-the-art Maryland facility, we at St. Jude Labs are able to provide on-site STI testing that is able to detect all sexually transmitted infections. To schedule an appointment for STI testing from St. Jude Labs, be sure to contact us today.

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