The Best Condoms for 2023 | Reviews by Wirecutter

History Of Sexually Transmitted Disease

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been known to mankind for centuries. Before the advent of modern medicine, people's lack of awareness and understanding of STDs contributed to the widespread transmission of the infections while few or no treatments were available to treat the conditions.

In medieval times, syphilis and gonorrhoea were two of the most prevalent STDs in Europe. One theory suggest that syphilis was spread by crew members who picked up the disease on the voyages led by Christopher Columbus. They are thought to have contracted syphilis while in the Americas and to have then spread it on their return when docking at ports in Europe. Sailors are also thought to be responsible for the spread of gonorrhoea from Tahiti to New Zealand during the Cook voyages.

Some STDs can have severe, life-changing consequences; syphilis, for example, can eventually cause progressive destruction of the brain and spinal cord, leading to mental dysfunction and hallucinations, speech problems and general paresis.

Treatment over the centuries

In the 18th and 19th centuries, mercury, arsenic and sulphur were commonly used to treat venereal disease, which often resulted in serious side effects and many people died of mercury poisoning. The first known effective treatment for syphilis called salvarsan or arsphenamine was introduced in 1910.

In the 20th Century, the advent of penicillin and other antibiotics led to an effective cure of bacterial STDs. This led to the public perceiving the illnesses as less of a threat and promiscuous conduct continued. In the late 20th century, the transmission of viral STDs such as HIV and herpes arose, infections that are not curable and in some cases may be fatal.

Hospital treatment of venereal diseases

Due to the stigma attached to STDs, people would often hesitate to seek help when the disease was in its initial stages, while continuing to transmit the infection to unsuspecting sexual partners. In 1746, at the London Lock Hospital, the first treatment for venereal disease was made available for those who sought help.

In the second half of the 19th century, the Contagious Diseases Act was passed in order to arrest and treat suspected prostitutes.

Tracing sexual partners with STDs

It was in the late 19th and early 20th century that the importance of tracing the sexual partners of a person infected with an STD was recognized. Soon, sexual health clinics were set up to identify and treat individuals with STDs and their partners, to prevent spread in the general population.

Another major problem that arose was an increase in adolescent sexual activity in the mid 20th Century. This led to widespread infection among younger age groups and also changed the way healthcare policy makers tried to raise awareness through campaigns.

Further Reading

America Keeps Breaking Records When It Comes To Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The numbers are alarming but what is being done about the rise in gonorrhea? (Photo: FREDERIC J.... [+] BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, here are some records that America continues to break. Not good records, mind you, unless, of course, you are Chlamydia trachomati, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or Treponema pallidumis.

These 3 bacteria are the answer to the question: what are three things that you don't want on or in your genitals? Of course, these are not the only things that you don't want there, but they do cause chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, respectively: three common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You also don't want any of these in your mouth either as they can be transmitted via oral sex too.

Unfortunately, these 3 common STDs are getting more and more common, based on preliminary data just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the National STD Prevention Conference in Washington, D.C. Last year, 2017, was a record-breaking year for the trio of STDs, with nearly 2.3 million cases diagnosed in the United States, surpassing the previous record from a year before by over 200,000 cases. For the fourth year in a row, these STDs have gone up and up and up and up. For example, in the 4 years since 2013, gonorrhea diagnoses jumped by 67% (from 333,004 to 555,608 cases) and primary and secondary syphilis diagnoses went up by 76% (from 17,375 to 30,644 cases). Chlamydia has been the most common of the 3 with over 1.7 million cases diagnosed in 2017, and 45% of these cases involving females between the ages of 15 and 24.

That's not the only bad news. As I wrote previously for Forbes, antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is also spreading. This is like turning a frown into a bigger frown. At some point, we may run out of antibiotics that can successfully treat some of these super strains.

Using condoms properly can help prevent STDs. (Photo: Shutterstock)

If you are sexually active, the best way to avoid these STDs is for you and your partner to get tested whenever there is a change in partners and to wear condoms, correctly, during sex. Sex includes all kinds of sex: e.G., vagina, anal, or oral. If you can't get an STD through an act then it is not really sex. For example, a firm handshake with lots of passion and undertones is not sex. Also, if you suspect that you may have an STD, see a doctor as soon as possible to get tested. Potential symptoms include a burning sensation during urination, discharge from your penis or vagina (depending on which body part you have), painful or swollen testicles, unusual vaginal bleeding, or rectal issues such as discharge, itching, soreness, or bleeding. A sore throat can occur if your throat is infected. Sores may be a sign of syphillis.

The big question is whether America is going to keep breaking such records each year. Will 2019 roll around and the award presenter say, "we don't know how you keep doing it, but you've had yet another record year, gonorrhea. Please everyone let's have a slow clap for gonorrhea"? Or will more be done to address these growing problems such as increasing surveillance and testing, getting more people appropriately treated, and encouraging more proper condom use during sex?

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Are On The Rise — So Why Are Fewer Americans Using Condoms?

403 Error Page

Oops! Request failed

We're sorry, but we're receiving too many requests from you.

Please wait a few minutes before trying again.

Please contact us if this is a mistake.

---