Knowledge instead of prejudice: STIs and HIV

When it comes to sexually transmitted infections, or STIs for short, the reality and perception of what is “normal” are far apart. Time to start spring cleaning: How about we rethink our attitudes and prejudices to sexually transmitted diseases together?

Statistically speaking, one in three people will be confronted with a sexually transmitted disease in the course of their lives. While the risk increases with the number of partners, studies show that education and regular testing can significantly reduce the risk. It is high time to break the taboo surrounding sexually transmitted diseases and promote an active, informed sex life.

Even a self-inflicted accident is less embarrassing than a sexual infection and hardly anyone has ever had to justify having the stomach flu. Where there are people, there are also bacteria and viruses. There are a number of myths surrounding the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in particular, and we often prefer to talk our way out of an unlikely infection in the station toilet instead of admitting our sexuality. This is because STIs are still mostly transmitted during sexual acts, hence their apt name.

What if we could simply discuss openly – at least with doctors and confidants – how and with what we have become infected?

Most of us know gonorrhea or syphilis from flat jokes, but how about some real facts?