The Dangers of Having Unprotected Anal Sex

When people think about sexual wellness issues, such as STIs and STDs, they usually think about issues related to their wellbeing following on from vaginal intercourse or oral sex. It is true that most STDs are transmitted in this way, but there are some that can be transmitted via anal sex. This can be a devastating blow to people who choose to have anal sex as a way of avoiding the risks of unprotected sex.

 

In actual fact, some studies have now shown that STDs are more easily transmitted through anal sex rather than vaginal sex, because the skin of the anus is thinner than the skin of the vagina. The anus also offers no natural lubrication and therefore the skin is more prone to tears. These open tears or sores give any STDs (especially those like hepatitis or HIV) a direct route inside the human body.

 

Anal sex causes a certain level of trauma to the human body, and that can be a difficulty, especially when it comes to HIV.

 

You can catch every type of sexually transmitted disease that exists through having anal sex – including HIV, HPV (genital warts), herpes, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and hepatitis B. Not only can all of these STDs be easily transmitted through the thin skin that surrounds the anus, but the partner who penetrates the other during anal sex is at risk of getting a disease too, as the anus is a prime area where bacteria can propagate. Even if a condom is used, the risk remains because the sores of diseases such as genital warts and herpes can be present inside and outside of the anal opening, which makes contact with the infection far more likely. Anal herpes can even be transmitted when there are no active sores present.

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The American Epidemic: 20 Million STI Cases

It is considered the oldest form of modern protection in the book, but for the sexually active individual, a condom may be the best method of preventing a sexually transmitted disease.

Practice safe sex: This is the message broadcast by researchers that estimated that almost 20 million Americans are suffering from a sexually transmitted disease. Young people between the ages of 15 to 24 make up 20 percent of overall cases, both new and old.

Out of all of these strains, 72 percent of people were affected by the human papillomavirus (HPV) – also known as genital warts. Alongside this disease, the remaining that also sat commonly with other cases were infections such as hepatitis B, HIV, trichomoniasis (genital inflammation), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and herpes.

The lead researcher of these new findings, Catherine Lindsey Satterwhite, told NBC News that the United States has an, “ongoing, severe, STI epidemic.”

What was problematic about the discovery was that the number of STIs were higher in the year 2008 than they were in 2000. In 2008, there were 19.7 million new cases as opposed to the 18.8 million new cases in 2000. Researchers are wary however, as the data from the year 2000 was not necessarily from the same source as the data in 2008.

For those in the UK, the strain is not necessarily something to be ignored, as people across the country – young and old – are annually affected by STDs across the country.

Whilst some contraceptives will prevent pregnancy, the best way to lower the risk of sexually transmitted disease is to slip on a condom during sex. You may not believe that you are at any risk, but bearing in mind that STDs do not necessarily have to be transferred by sexual contact; it never hurts to be cautious whilst maintaining a good, healthy and happy relationship.

The American Epidemic: 20 Million STI Cases

Categories: cases, Disease, Epidemic, HIV, million, sexually, sexually transmitted, sexually transmitted infections, sexually-transmitted disease, STDs, transmitted, transmitted disease, warts