Hot, burning, everlasting …sounds good right?  Well not when you are talking about sexually transmitted diseases (also known as STDs and once called venereal diseases or VD).  If you really want to be all proper and such you might refer to it as Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) which is another name for STD. The name STI is now becoming the preferred acronym because there are a few STDs, such as chlamydia, that can infect a person without causing any actual disease (i.e. unpleasant symptoms).  Just because someone without symptoms may not think of themselves as having a disease, they may still have an infection that needs treating.

Let us play a game.  We’ll ask a couple of questions and you answer.  Ready?!?

Question: What is a surefire way to find out if you have an STD?

• Answer:  Go to the doctor and get checked out! 

Question (the most asked question on this site!):  How do you find out if a partner has an STD? 

• Answer:  Send them to the doctor to get checked out!

If you don't go to the doctor, you may never find out if either you or your partner has an STD.  Sure some sexual transmitted diseases sport an obvious below-the-belt bump/ lesion, or is oozing nasty liquids, but others show no signs or symptoms.  The only way to know for sure is to be tested.

Here is a list of the most common STD/STI and their symptoms. Remember, if you are sexually active you should get tested for chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV and HPV type specific, every six months. If you don't you are putting both you and your partner at risk. AND ALWAYS USE A CONDOM!  However, no protective method is 100 percent effective, and condom use is not a guarantee against any STD. While we on the subject, condoms lubricated with spermicides are no more effective than other condoms in protecting against the transmission of HIV and other STDs.