Condoms Necessary to Avoid STD

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

My boyfriend doesn't use a condom because he says that he is embarrassed to buy them. I also am too embarrassed to buy them. I don't want to get pregnant.

Signed,

Need protection

Dear Need protection,

Safe sex is important not just to prevent pregnancy, but to prevent getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

If your partner is infected, then you could contract HIV/AIDS, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, genital warts, plus dozens of other STDs.

Females often show no symptoms, so a routine physical exam is very important. Some STDs can be easily treated and cured by antibiotics. But, left untreated STDs can cause permanent damage to your reproductive organs, increase the risk of cervical cancer, or lead to dementia. In addition, there are STDs that can be treated but have no cure (herpes), or lead to death (i.e. HIV/AIDS).

If you are sexually active, birth control pills in combination with condom use can help prevent getting pregnant and contracting STDs. However, no method is 100 percent safe. The only way to keep from getting pregnant or avoid STDs is not to have sex.

If you and your boyfriend are too embarrassed to buy condoms at the store, then go online and buy them. But, do not have sex without condoms. Unprotected sex is dangerous for your health.