Smart. Sexy. Fun.
Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control announced two of the three STDs it tracks are on the rise. While gonorrhea continues its steady decline to all-time lows, dropping another 10 percent last year, chlamydia and syphilis rates are ticking up. Chlamydia, which is rampant among young people but curable with antibiotics, surprises me far less than syphilis, which I thought was contained to Read more
There's been a lot of talk about STIs in the news lately, and unfortunately there's more. Studies from the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention have shown that syphilis rates have increased for the seventh year in a row. There are 3.7 cases of this STI per 100,000 people. Why is this such bad news? Although syphilis is a bacterial STI that can be treated with antibiotics, having syphilis Read more
I hate to bring up this not-so-fun topic, but I'm concerned. Many of my friends have dated guys that they wouldn't have sex because they were worried about STIs, but they didn't seem the least bit worried about having oral sex. When your mouth has contact with someone else's business, you can very well get a whole plethora of STIs — the problem is that many of these sexually transmitted Read more
If you are sexually active, it's a sad fact that we need to watch out for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Knowledge is prevention, so take this quiz to test your understanding of STIs. Take the Quiz Read more
Since Spring has arrived and romance is in the air, let's talk more about STIs. STI stands for "sexually transmitted infection." The reason this term is used instead of STDs (sexually transmitted disease) is because the word "infection" is more accurate since many of these are actually curable (except for Genital Herpes, Genital Warts, and HIV). Also, the word "infection" carries less of a Read more
Since Spring has arrived and romance is in the air, I thought I'd take the time to talk about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Not your favorite topic, I know, but definitely worth knowing about. STI stands for "sexually transmitted infection." The reason this term is used instead of STD (sexually transmitted disease) is because the word "infection" is more accurate since many are Read more
It is being reported that a recent advertising campaign done by San Francisco's Department of Health featuring cartoon characters shaped like male genitalia has actually encouraged more men to go get tested for syphilis. Since the campaign got started, infection rates have declined in San Francisco. The campaigns ran on billboards and bus shelters and its recent success has inspired Seattle, Read more
Friends has been off the air for awhile now, but I can't help getting a little nostalgic for the show's iconic Thanksgiving episodes this time of year. Almost every season had an amazing Turkey Day show, and I love each one in its own way. There's the time that Joey can't be with his family because he posed for a syphilis ad ("The One Where Underdog Gets Away"), and I have a soft spot for the one Read more
The doctors of Seattle Grace take a stroll down memory lane this week on Grey's Anatomy when George O'Malley's mother, Louise, returns as a patient. While it's been awhile since George's mere name was uttered through the hospital halls, as Alex so insensitively points out, her presence brings forth tender memories that most of the doctors would rather not think about. A miracle also arrives in Read more
Move over knee replacements and diabetes medication. It's time to add tests for syphilis, gonorrhea, or hepatitis B to the list of healthcare afforded America's senior population. The US is considering a plan to cover STD tests under Medicare. Recent research found that a higher percentage of older Americans remain sexually active, and last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Read more
