some type of HPV due to sex.
The next two most common STDs in America are chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you aren’t getting STD screenings and pap smears but are having sex often with multiple or new people, you could be living with one of these common and symptom-less STDs.
Why It’s Important To Use Protection Even If You Are Undetected
Even if you are not showing any signs or symptoms, it’s always important to use protection. This is because sometimes STDs don’t show symptoms or the symptoms show months or even years later after you’ve been living with it for some time. Protection is key, and this goes for everyone, even for people who are living with illnesses that are managed well like HIV.
Thanks to technology, you can be living with HIV and have undetected levels of it due to the new medications that are on the market that lower your HIV levels to basically nothing. As great and life-changing as that is, it’s still important to use protection when having sex and taking this new medication. This is because you won’t know your levels every day, so what if they happen to change between the times you go and check with your doctor? What if your medicine is no longer working with your body and your levels raise but you’ve been having unprotected sex with someone? Unfortunately, this can still happen, so it’s important to always use protection even if you’re undetected to stop the spread and to protect yourself as well.
RELATED: 5 STDs You Can Get While Using A Condom
Different Forms Of Protection You Should Know About
There are many different forms of contraceptives for you to choose from to practice safe sex. The most common two are condoms, which help prevent STDs/STIs and birth control.
These are two great options to use but there are also different types of condoms many don’t know of. For example, there are vaginal and oral condoms for women, men and non-binaries to use as protection with partners. There are forms of sterilization such as vasectomies for men and tubal ligation for women (tubes tied/burned), used to prevent pregnancy. Also there are different forms of birth control such as IUDs, pills and shots (prevention of pregnancy).
Sex is natural and common for humans, so to deny yourself that isn’t needed. Just make sure you are practicing safe and consensual sex, you are able to enjoy it, and remember just because it’s undetected, that doesn’t mean you should go in unprotected… no matter how good it may feel.