About STDs - Commonly Asked Questions

What is an STD?

STD stands for “Sexually Transmitted Disease.” These infections are passed from person to person during sexual activity (vaginal, oral or anal intercourse). Some infections are curable, while others are not. Some STDs can cause serious health problems including blindness, heart disease, mental illness, joint damage and even death. It is estimated that more than 15 million new cases of STDs occur in the U.S. each year. Nearly one-fourth of the new cases occur among teenagers.

Who can get an STD?

Anyone who engages in sexual activity.

How do I know if I have an STD?

Since many STDS do not have any obvious symptoms, the only sure way to know is by having a medical exam and lab tests.

Do latex condoms protect you from getting an STD?

For sexually active people, the most effective strategy for reducing the risk of STDS and preventing HIV/AIDS is correct and consistent use of latex condoms. However, research shows that condoms may not provide as much protections against some STDs such as HPV (genital warts).

How can I prevent an STD?

Abstinence (not having vaginal, anal or oral sex) is the best and only 100 percent effective way to prevent getting a sexually transmitted disease. Only having sex with one person who has been tested and shown not to have STDs is the next best way to prevent getting HIV/AIDS and other STDS.

If I am taking birth control pills, can I still get an STD?

Yes! Birth control pills only protect against pregnancy, not STDs.

What should I do if I think I have an STD?

If you think you have been exposed to an STD, you should go to your doctor as soon as possible to be tested and treated.

When should I have a checkup?

All sexually active teens should be seen by a health provider to be screened for STDs. Teens who have had sex with more than one person are at greater risk of getting an STD or HIV/AIDS.

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Chlamydia – can cause pain while urinating. May also cause a yellowish discharge from the penis or vagina.
Genital herpes – can cause painful blisters or open sores in the genital area.
Genital warts – first appear as small, hard bumps in the vaginal area, on the penis or around the anus.
Gonorrhea – can cause pain while urinating and a discharge from the penis or vagina.
Syphilis – symptom is usually a painless open sore on the penis or vagina. It can also occur near the mouth, anus or on the hands.

Hayden’s Rule for Teen Drivers

When a teen driver crossed a double yellow line to pass a car in February 2003, and hit a pregnant driver head on, who knew that accident could now affect you?

As a result of that accident, the teen driver died, and Hayden Maples was born prematurely by emergency surgery. In honor of Hayden, the Tennessee Department of Safety began Hayden’s Rule March, 2006, to help prevent injuries and save lives.

The new rule requires teen drivers who get too many points on their driving records to be in the Driver Improvement Program. Here is how it works:

Drivers under age 18 who have three points on their driving records within a year must:

• Attend a mandatory hearing with a parent or legal guardian to talk about the points.
• Attend an eight-hour defensive driving class

The driver may or may not lose driving rights. 

In addition to going to the hearing and driving class, teens who have seven or more points will lose driving privileges for six months. After serving the suspension time, these drivers will have to pay a fee. They must also file proof of Financial Responsibility (SR-22) coverage, which is higher priced insurance.

For more information on Hayden’s Rule, see www.tennessee.gov/safety

Depression and Suicide

Warning Signs

If you are thinking of hurting yourself or someone else, GET help NOW! Prevent depression and suicide. Warning signs of depression and suicide:

• Sadness that won’t go away
• Losing interest in what used to be fun
• No longer hanging with your friends
• Thoughts of harming or killing yourself
• Anger or rage
• Suicide threats
• Talking about death or feeling helpless
• Giving away things you valued
• Poems, essays, and drawings that refer to death
• Change in eating or sleeping patterns
• Severe drop in school performance

For emergencies, dial 911 and/or call:

The Crisis Information Line (toll free) at 1-800-809-9957

Vaccinate before You Graduate

“Vaccinate before you graduate.” That’s the message to teens from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If you think vaccines are just for babies and kids, you are wrong. The CDC says there are five vaccines that you may need if you are not caught up. They are:

• Hepatitis B
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) – It is important to get a booster every 10 years, even as an adult.
• Chicken pox (Varicella) – Any teen who has not had this disease and has not been already vaccinated needs to do so. This protection is crucial because swelling of the brain, pneumonia and even death are a far greater risk for teens and adults.
• Meningococcal (MCV4) – You should get this vaccine if you are:
  • 11 to 12 years old
  • entering high school or 15 years old
  • entering college and plan to live in the dorm

A new vaccine is now available for girls and women ages 9 to 26. It helps protect women from Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – viruses that cause genital warts and cervical cancer.

Get your shots and checkup at your local Health Department or your Primary Care Provider (PCP).

You may be thinking, “I’m feeling fine. Why do I need to see my doctor?” It’s simple. You want to keep feeling that way, don’t you? Even if you feel on top of the world, you need a health checkup once a year. Checkups let your doctor find health problems early – when they can be treated easily. And your doctor can make sure you are current on your vaccines.

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New Vaccine for Girls

The FDA has approved a new vaccine for girls and women ages 9 to 26. The vaccine helps protect women from Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – a group of viruses that causes genital warts and cervical cancers. To learn more about the HPV vaccine, talk to your doctor.
The vaccine is given through a series of three shots over a six-month period. It’s best to get the shots before becoming sexually active. Women who are already sexually active may also benefit from the vaccine.
What makes HPV so dangerous is that many people don’t know thy have it. The virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact during any kind of sexual activity, not just intercourse. Both men and women can get HPV and pass it on without knowing it.

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Mike the Myth Slayer

Myth: I can’t get a disease from having oral sex.
Mike: Wrong. During oral sex, there is skin-to-skin contact and there can be body fluid exchange.