Many people dread the question. Once Status is mentioned, there is phobia. They don’t even want to consider the type of status because what comes to mind is HIV.
But you know there are other contexts to the question. Let’s take a pause.
What is Your HIV status?
Don’t shy away. Ignorance is not an excuse when it comes to our health. Kindly refer back to the question if you dodged it.
Before now, HIV testing was a difficult process. Today, knowing one’s HIV status is less of a struggle – including by methods for a HIV self test. So if I may ask, what is holding you back?
You are avoiding it but you are first to rebuke and call God’s name to protect you. First and foremost, you are obligated to protect yourself. How then do you do this if you don’t even know what is wrong.
Aside HIV, there are numerous sexually and non sexually transmitted diseases and your duty is to protect your health.
Yet again I ask, What is Your Status?
Sexually transmitted disease manifests differently on each individual. For some people, symptoms are self-evident. For others, they are not really observable, and a few sexually transmitted diseases show no indications by any stretch of the imagination. This means the best way you can be absolutely certain about your status is to go for testing.
What is STD?
STD stands for sexually transmitted disease. Like the name implies, they are infections bacteria, virus or parasite contracted during sexual intercourse.
Syphilis
Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
HIV
Genital Herpes
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
A few of the afore mentioned need no formal introduction, they are well known, yet some people are ignorant of all.
HPV
A contamination that causes warts in different parts of the body, contingent upon the strain.
Numerous individuals with HPV don’t build up any side effects however; they can in any case transmit to others through sexual contact. There’s no remedy for the infection and the warts may disappear all alone. Treatment centers on eliminating the warts.
CHLAMYDIA
This infection affects both men and women alike but most especially young women. People who are carriers of this infection can be asymptomatic, and still infect other people.
GONORRHEA
This type of infection leads to infertility if not treated properly. It is a bacteria infection.
GENITAL HERPES
This infection is caused by a virus; HSV, herpes simplex virus, which causes painful blisters that oozes out.
HUMAN IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY VIRUS
This is a virus that attacks and destroys the human immune system. This virus attacks the C4 cells; this makes the body susceptible to more infections.
SYPHILIS
This infection is a bacteria, it presents itself as a painless sore initially, then moving around from the mouth to the pubic region.
These diseases are real and should not be taken for granted. Loving yourself means taking care of your health needs. Taking the decision to test is a step in the right part.
Knowing your status poses a lot of advantages so why shy away from it. Early diagnosis means early treatment. None of these diseases are life sentences. They can be managed.
Your heart is beating, doubts racing through, what if it comes out Positive? So what! Knowing your status gives you control over health decision making. For HIV, taking medication as recommended can make the measure of HIV in the blood that is, the viral load low. When it becomes so low, testing can’t distinguish it. Getting to that point and sustaining an imperceptible viral load is everything needed to manage the disease and remain sound. At this point, couples can engage in sexual intercourse without being infected. Ultimately, you are the decision maker. Protect yourself, have a medical check up regularly and if need be, take your medications. Health they say is Wealth.
