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5 Myths About STD’s by AlphaCenter
There are tons of STD myths floating around, but are they actually true? Below, you’ll find some of the most common myths about STDs. The only way to know if you have an STD for sure is to get tested, and the Alpha Center (located east of campus) is here to help you – at no cost to you! Request an appointment online at www.thealphacenter.org.
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Myth #1: I can get an STD from sitting on a toilet.
There is no scientific evidence that proves that sitting on a toilet seat will give you an STD. Sexually transmitted diseases are contracted by sexual contact (at least generally speaking). Bacteria and viruses that cause STDs typically do not live outside the body for very long. No study shows that urine or fecal matter from a toilet seat has been the cause of an STD.
Myth #2: I have only slept with one partner, I can’t have an STD.
False. Having sex with only one partner does not eliminate you from contracting an STD. Even if you yourself have only had one partner, it is still important to consider your significant other’s past sexual experiences. The only way to be 100 percent sure that you and your partner do not have an STD is to get tested.
Myth #3: I can tell if someone has an STD.
Really? Many STDs do not have telltale signs or symptoms and can on occasion, go completely unnoticed. STDs such as chlamydia and HPV show very few symptoms and can cause health-related problems if left untreated. As always, your best bet is to get tested and not assume you, someone you know is STD-free based on how well groomed, clean, or attractive he or she may appear.
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Myth #4: If my partner pulls out, I will not get an STD.
STDs/STIs like those that Human Papillomavirus and Molluscum Contagiosum carry can be contracted by genital contact, so pulling out will not protect you against certain infections.
Myth #5: I can only get herpes if my partner has an outbreak.
This myth is false. A herpes infection can have very few symptoms so many people can be unaware that they have it. Fever blisters, genital burning or itching, or swollen glands are recognizable symptoms, but in many cases, it is unclear that someone may be infected.
