STD stigma

[Emma_08]

I was just wondering why there is still such a stigma associated with sexually transmitted diseases.  Bacteria and viruses are a part of life, as is sex.  I find it especially aggrivating when somebody says that they are "not the type of person" that gets an STD.  What type of person is that??  Most people have sex - some will get infections, some won't...why is it that STDs are seen as so unforgivable?    Anyway, I was just curious what everybody thought.
Emma

[Emma_08]

I appreciate your posts :)

AJ - I was just thinking about media messages in regards to sex today after seeing a Lifetime movie (haha, yeah, I'll admit - those movies are a guilty pleasure).  Anyway, it really is everywhere, yet when people (especially girls) have sex, it is as if they have committed some horrible crime.  I think the part that really bothers me is the complete double standard when it comes to men and women - from my experience, I have found a lot more women feel guilty about sex and are expected to be with like one person their whole lives.  It seems like it is another story with men.  Have you found this too?

[auntiejessi]

I think its because we have such contradictory messages about sex.

We have every media using sex to sell, in music videos, in sitcoms, etc.  We have teenage pop stars posing in sexy photos, teen icons caught with no panties, etc.  Its in our faces everywhere.

Then we turn around, and we say that people are sluts if they have more than a certain number of partners, religious messages, political messages, a total lack of good sex education.  We have medical professionals who use words like "clean" to describe someone who is std-free, when the opposite of that is "dirty."   We have medical professionals who don't explain to patients what they are testing for and aren't, and that pap smears won't test for an std.  We have patients who are too embarassed to ask.

Combined, its a mess.  You have people who are having sex, but are too embarassed to say words like "penis" and "vagina", who are too embarassed to go to their doctors for fear of moral judgement (and that's a valid fear in some cases), and people who think their partners will freak if they ask about testing.

I could rant on and on, but won't.  :)

AJ

[daisy315]

We are all in charge of our own safety when it comes to sexual practises,some will play safe some won't,as you say some will get infections/viruses and some won't but to not be concerned for your own health whilst not in a monogamous relationship is like playing Russian Roulette with your body,so until you know for sure what someone's history is it's really not worth the risk,I expect those who say they are "not the type" are those who take particular care and safety in ensuring they don't put themselves willingly at risk!  
I know from personal experience that it's far better to "Play Safe" than try to blame someone else for putting you at risk,at the end of the day it's your body and therefore up to you to look after it especially where sex is concerned.