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Partners of individuals with HPV may not have an increased risk of oral infection
Date: 2013-06-04 00:00:00

All sexually active individuals should make sure that they do not have any sexually transmitted diseases by regularly utilizing STD testing services, but there are some populations that need to go out of their way to make sure they are tested regularly. For example, individuals who have a sexual partner that has tested positive for an STD need to be tested to ensure that they have not contracted the infection themselves.

However, there was recently good news for people who have a partner with the human papillomavirus. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, partners of people with HPV-related oral cancers appear to have no increased risk of oral HPV infection themselves. Regardless of these findings, the researchers stressed that this does not mean individuals who have a partner with HPV-related oral cancer should assume they don't have any risk of HPV.

"While we can't guarantee that the partners of patients will not develop oral HPV infections or cancers, we can reassure them that our study found they had no increased prevalence of oral infections, which suggests their risk of HPV-related oral cancer remains low," said researcher Gypsyamber D'Souza, Ph.D., M.P.H.

A concerning rise... Full Story

Study shows promiscuous women may face social stigma
Date: 2013-06-05 00:00:00

In the battle against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, there are many weapons. For example, people can abstain from sex or practice safe sex and regularly use STD testing services to help eliminate or reduce their risk of contracting or transmitting an STD on to others.

For years now, researchers have been working to determine the best ways to encourage young people to be responsible when it comes to engaging in sexual activity, but it has been a commonly held belief that in order to do this, healthcare officials have to first combat a culture that encourages kids to have promiscuous sex in order to be popular. However, a recent study conducted by scientists from Cornell University has found that among young adults, having multiple sex partners may leave people searching for friends.

It's not cool to sleep around... Full Story

Examining the connection between HPV and throat cancer
Date: 2013-06-06 00:00:00

All sexually active individuals should protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases by practicing safe sex and utilizing STD testing services, since not even the rich and famous can avoid the consequences of these infections once they contract one. For example, actor Michael Douglas recently battled throat cancer, and he has been quoted by news sources as saying that he believes he developed the disease after contracting the human papillomavirus.

The "Behind the Candelabra" star told the British newspaper The Guardian that he does not believe that his throat cancer was caused by smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, but rather the HPV he contracted was through performing oral sex.

"Because without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV, which actually comes about from cunnilingus," said Douglas, quoted by the newspaper. "I did worry if the stress caused by my son's incarceration didn't help trigger it. But yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer."

After this article was published, representatives for the actor claimed that he had been misquoted, and that he hadn't in fact said that cunnilingus was the cause of his throat cancer, but that oral sex is a suspected cause of certain types of cancers, according to CBS News.

Is it true?... Full Story

Students in LA learn how to check their STD status
Date: 2013-06-10 00:00:00

A few months ago, a website was launched called Qpid.me, which was designed to help take some of the awkwardness out of asking someone if they have any sexually transmitted diseases, and when the last time they used STD testing services was. The way that this website works is that each person who signs up for Qpid.me gives the website access to his or her STD testing records and is then given a code. That code can then be given to a new sexual partner, who can look him or her up and see when the last time he or she was tested and the results.

Recently, CNN reported that this website has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District - the second largest in the U.S. - to teach students in the seventh grade and up how to check their STD status, show a potential partner and ask a partner for his or her own results.

A problem in LA ... Full Story

Should STD laws be repealed?
Date: 2013-06-12 00:00:00

Sexually transmitted diseases are dangerous, which is why people need to utilize STD testing services for the sake of not just their own health, but of their future sexual partners as well. If they do not, they may spread a potentially life-threatening infection or virus on to others. Furthermore, people who pass on an STD to a sexual partner may have more than their wellbeing and that of the person they had sex with to worry about, they may find themselves facing legal ramifications as well.

For example, The Huffington Post reported an adult film actor was recently sentenced to jail for exposing two co-stars to syphilis. This was a controversial move that shone light on the STD laws that exist in the U.S. The news source explained that criminal prosecution of people who spread HIV has been around for more than 20 years, and many people are calling for these laws to be overturned.

"The law in most states is that a person with an STD must disclose that to their partner before engaging [in sexual activity]," attorney Matthew Blit, who specializes in discrimination suits and sexually transmitted disease law, told the news source. "Most of our clients go the civil route. But it's a very tricky area because it has to do with the disclosure of medical records and we can face a very big challenge. They are very difficult to win. The facts need to align perfectly."

Controversial laws... Full Story

Alaska's STD rates are rising once again
Date: 2013-06-13 00:00:00

Almost every part of the U.S. has experienced rises and falls in sexually transmitted disease rates at some point in time. However, some groups experience more STD swings than others, and people who live in these areas need to be sure to use STD testing services often to make sure that they have not contracted an infection during an upswing in infections. Residents of Alaska are among the population of people who should get tested often, since this state has had many troubles with STDs in the past.

For example, a 2011 article published by Anchorage Daily News stated that Alaska had the highest chlamydia rate in the entire country, and the second-highest gonorrhea rate. While health officials had believed that they had gotten these numbers under control, recent research suggests otherwise.

According to a recent article published by Alaska CBS affiliate KTVA 11, state epidemiologists are finding a rise in chlamydia and gonorrhea rates, despite a two-year decline.

Back on an uptick ... Full Story

College students, in particular, need STD testing services
Date: 2013-06-17 00:00:00

All sexually active people should use STD testing services to regularly get screened for sexually transmitted diseases. However, college students, in particular, should regularly use these services. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, college-aged teens and young adults are among the age demographic that has the highest STD rates in the U.S., which is why students under the age of 24 should get checked often.

The Dartmouth, a Dartmouth University news source, published an article about the importance of staying safe while engaging in sexual activity and getting tested for STDs. According to the news source, the small number of students who utilize STD testing services in the school is concerning. These individuals may be concerned about being seen in the student health center because of the stigma that often surrounds STDs, especially on a small college campus. This is why it is important for there to be regular discussions about STDs in colleges and for students to know that there are ways to get tested that do not involve having to go to the health center or even their family doctor.

STDs and college campuses... Full Story

What influences college students' sexual decisions?
Date: 2013-06-19 00:00:00

While researchers have been working for decades to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases across the nation, a great deal of focus has been placed on lowering STD rates among college students. Nearly half of all new STD cases in the U.S. occur in people ages of 15 through 24, and since many college students fall in that age range , they may have a high risk of contracting these infections and should regularly utilize STD testing services.

One reason why STD rates may be so high among this age demographic is that some people in college tend to embrace the "hookup" culture, which encourages casual sex with multiple partners. Recently, researchers from The Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine set out to determine what influences students to engage in these sexual behaviors, especially when they can come with the potential of serious consequences.

What plays a role? ... Full Story

Look out for STDs in the summer
Date: 2013-06-27 00:00:00

The summer is here, and as people head out to enjoy all of their fun warm-weather activities, it is important that they do not forget about their health. Just because individuals are enjoying time in their beach houses does not mean that they should not use STD testing services and take precautions to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, people should be even more vigilant about getting tested for STDs now that the summer has arrived, especially if they are college-aged.

According to a recent article published in the University Daily Kansan, a University of Kansas at Lawrence news source, research from the New Mexico Department of Health has shown that there is increased sexual activity among people between the ages of 15 and 24 during the summer months. Since this age group has the highest rate of STDs, this suggests that the prevalence of these infections may also increase as the warmer months go on.

The threat is real... Full Story