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Affinity Health Talks About The Importance of Safe Sex

Affinity Health, leading providers of affordable medical cover, highlights how to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).

 

The month of love has arrived, and coincidentally Valentine’s Day also correlates with STI / Condom Week. STI/Condom Week is a health awareness event held between the 9th and 15th of February each year. It serves to highlight the importance of condom usage and encourage everyone to practice safe sex.

 

STIs are among the most common infectious diseases and constitute a significant global public health burden. In 2020, The World Health Organization estimated 374 million new infections with one of four STIs: chlamydia (129 million), gonorrhoea (82 million), syphilis (7.1 million) and trichomoniasis (156 million).

What are the Health Risks of STIs?

Beyond the acute impact of the infection, STIs can have dangerous implications.

  • STIs such as herpes, gonorrhoea, and syphilis can increase the risk of HIV acquisition.
  • STI transfer from mother to child can cause stillbirth, neonatal death, low birth weight and preterm, sepsis, pneumonia, neonatal conjunctivitis, and congenital abnormalities.
  • Cervical cancer is caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV) – the most common STI. Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent malignancy among women worldwide, with about 570 000 new cases in 2018 and more than 311 000 deaths each year.
  • Hepatitis B, which spreads when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected, caused about 820 000 deaths in 2019.
  • STIs such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia are primary causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women.
Condoms in the Fight Against STIs

Barrier techniques such as condoms or “dams” are still regarded as one of the greatest ways to engage in safe sex. Barriers protect you and your partner from body fluids and some skin-to-skin contact, both of which can spread STDs. They’re simple to obtain and available in various brands and prices, so there’s no reason not to use protection.

When using a condom, always use a water-based lubricant because many lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, baby oil, body lotions, massage oils, butter, or margarine, will degrade the condom’s latex.

The Importance of Knowing Your Status

Not knowing your own HIV status is not only dangerous to others but to your own health, too. AIDS has infected 40 million individuals worldwide. Around 2.1 million of them are under the age of 15.

Knowing your HIV status gives you vital information to help you take steps to keep you and your partner(s) healthy and, if you test positive, you can take medicine to treat HIV.

Aside from STIs, there are legions of protozoan parasites that are transmitted through sexual activity, including pubic lice, scabies and trichomoniasis, to name just a few.

What are the Signs & Symptoms of STIs?

While STIs can present with some symptoms (pain when urinating, genital lesions, unusual vaginal bleeding, or genital itching), many STIs don’t show evidence of illness until months after infection. Testing is the only method to know whether someone has an STD.

 

“If you’re concerned about your wellbeing, your health care provides can offer you private, professional HIV counselling as well as HIV/STD testing,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health. “There are also over-the-counter STD kits available to help you understand your sexual health and obtain the treatment you need to be healthy and avoid spreading it to others.”

Don’t Wait For Testing and Treatment

If you’re worried that you’ve picked up an STI, you must immediately book an appointment at a health clinic. Vaccines are available for hepatitis B and HPV, which can cause genital warts. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an emergency drug that can be given as a last resort to people at high risk of contracting HIV (e.g., if a condom breaks). Some bacterial STIs can be treated with antibiotics (such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhoea), while symptoms of viral STIs can be managed with medication.

Learn More: Protect Your Sexual Wellbeing

About Affinity Health

Affinity Health is South Africa’s leading provider of health insurance, offering you a range of options at affordable rates including access to the widest national provider network. We understand the importance of having medical insurance that meets your needs, your budget, and your lifestyle. Our range of healthcare products are designed to protect you and your family when it matters the most. We strive to give our clients peace of mind and the highest standard of service at all times. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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