〈Beware of sexually transmitted diseases〉

• ●What are STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)?
  Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases with which you can become infected through the skin or mucous membranes during sexual acts.
  (Sexually Transmitted Disease, STD). The pathogens can be transmitted not only during sexual intercourse, i.e. when the genitals come into contact with each other, but also during oral sex. As infectious diseases, they include syphilis and gonorrhea, as well as chlamydia and viruses (HIV, genital herpes, genital warts (human papillomavirus, HPV), viral hepatitis (A, B, C), cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, etc.). As for infection routes, the diseases are mainly passed on via semen and vaginal secretions, but some are transmitted through saliva, while others are passed on through contact with localized injuries, skin, or membranes. HIV and viral hepatitis can also be transmitted via blood. What’s frightening about these infectious diseases is that even though a person may carry the pathogen and risk passing it on to others, they may have no clear symptoms of infection
• ●Current situation with STDs
  At present, it would be no surprise for any young person to get infected with an STD. Recently, syphilis infection has been increasing among young women. Chlamydia is the most common disease among both men and women. After an incubation period of one to three weeks, men may experience pain when urinating or their urine may contain pus. Women, however, typically don’t experience obvious symptoms other than perhaps an increase in vaginal discharge, so the disease is apt to be ignored. However, it can still be passed on to others and can also cause inflammation of the fallopian tubes, which can result in infertility in the future.
• ●STDs can also cause cancer. HPV is known to cause uterine cervical cancer, but recently a vaccine has become available. There are many types of human papilloma virus, and there’s no vaccine against all of them, but it is said that combining HPV vaccination with examinations for uterine cervical cancer has made uterine cervical cancer a preventable disease. That being said, the vaccine is optional and you have to pay for it yourself. *Women born between 1997 and 2005 can receive the HPV vaccination free of charge for three years from 2022 to 2024, in principle (announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on December 23, 2021).
• ●Protecting yourself and your partner from STDs
  Nothing is more important than prevention. Once infected with a virus such as HIV and HPV, you cannot eliminate it from your body. So be sure to practice the following:
  1. 1) Do not have sexual intercourse at travel destinations or with unidentified partners
  2. 2) Do not have sexual intercourse when you are in a condition in which you cannot make proper judgements, such as after consuming alcohol.
  3. 3) If you are a man, make sure to wear a condom. If you are a woman, refuse to have sexual intercourse with a man who isn’t wearing a condom.

If you are worried, we recommend seeing a urologist if you are a man and a gynecologist if you are a woman. If you don’t know who you should consult, please ask the Health Service Center.

〈Contraception and family planning〉

　In life, we value our connections with others, and particularly our relationship with our partner. Sex is an important part of that process, but if you don’t want to get pregnant and give birth now, you should use condoms etc. so as to prevent both infection and unwanted pregnancies.
　Regarding family planning for your partner and yourself, it is important to create opportunities to discuss it. Even if you don’t have a partner at the moment, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about keeping a condom with you.
　Using contraception now will also increase the likelihood of safe pregnancy and childbirth in the future. The Health Service Center is standing by to offer your advice (076-264-5255).