How STD's Spread?

One reason STD's spread is because people think they can only be infected if they have sexual intercourse. That'a wrong. A person can get some STD's, like herpes or genital warts, through skin-to-skin contacts with an infected area or sore.

Another myth about STD's i s that you can't get them if you have oral or anal sex. That's also wrong because the viruses or bacteria that cause STD's can enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth and anus, as well as the genitals.

STD's also spread easily because you can't tell whether someone has an infection. In fact, some people with STD's don't even know that they have them. These people are in danger of passing an infection on to their sex partners without even realizing it.

Some of the things increase a person's chances of getting an STD are:

• Sexual activity at young age. The younger a person starts having sex, the greater his or her chances of becoming infected with an STD.
• Lots of sex partners. People who have sexual contact-not just intercourse, but any form of intimate activity with many different partners are more at risk than those who stays with same partners.
• Unprotected sex. Latex condoms are the only form of birth control that reduces your risk of getting an STD, and must be used every time. Spermicides, diaphragms, and other birth control methods may help prevent pregnancy, but they don't protect a person against STD's.

• Create one graphic organizer that will show the cause and effect of committing premarital sex.