FitSugar

STIs Explained: Trichomoniasis

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:30:30 PDT

Since things are heating up everywhere these days, I thought it might be the time to tell you to cool down a little bit and play smart. Yep, it is time to fill you in on a fairly common STI (sexually transmitted infection - it not a disease since it is curable), Trichomoniasis. Tricky to say maybe, but not tricky to prevent!

STIs are considered 100% preventable if you abstain from sex, but let's be reasonable here, that seems pretty unlikely. However you and your partner can both get tested for STIs before you have sex, so you both know you are in the clear.

Since trichomoniasis, also known as trich, is transmitted through genital contact, using latex or polyurethane condoms can greatly reduce your risk in contracting the infection. On the other hand, being in a mutually monogamous relationship is an awesome way to keep yourself safe.

While this may not be a pretty subject, it is good to know what is out there so you can make good decisions and hopefully avoid having to deal with the organ and tissue damage trich can cause. In women, if left untreated trich can cause the fallopian tubes to become inflamed and can also potentially damage your cervix. If your man needs some convincing to get tested tell him that in men, prolonged infection of trich can potentially damage the bladder as well as the prostate. Hopefully that caught your attention!

So for more details about trichomoniasis, then

STI	Symptoms	How do you test for it?	Treatment
Trichomoniasis	Can be asymptomatic yellow-green vaginal discharge Vaginal odor Discomfort during intercourse Painful urination or ejaculation	Samples of vaginal discharge or secretions from the penis are examined under a microscope - these protozoan can be seen swimming (eww).	This parasitic infection can be cured with the prescription drug, metronidazole (a pill you take orally)

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STIs Explained: HIV and AIDS

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Since today, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day, I thought I could dispel some myths and lay out the facts about HIV and AIDS. It is a serious issue so let's get down to business.

HIV - the human immunodeficiency virus - is a virus that kills your body’s "CD4 cells," (also called T-helper cells), that help your body fight off infection and disease.

HIV can be passed when an infected person's bodily fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk) come in contact with an uninfected person's mucous membranes. The HIV virus can be passed during any type of sexual contact - including oral and anal sex. Sharing needles can also transmit HIV from one user to another. HIV-positive mothers can also pass it onto their babies when they are pregnant, when they deliver, or if they breastfeed.

AIDS - the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - is a disease you get when the HIV virus destroys your body’s immune system. That means that viruses, parasites, fungi and bacteria that usually don't cause any problems can make you very sick since your immune system is damaged.

To prevent HIV and other STIs in the first place abstaining from sexual contact is your best bet, but the likelihood that happening is rare. So always use a latex or polyurethane condom when having sex. Or better yet, have you and your partner get tested before you get intimate.

Fit's Tips: Many people who have HIV do not show symptoms for many years, so the best thing to do is get tested just to make sure.

Want to know more about HIV and AIDS? Then

STI	Symptoms	How do you test for it?	Treatment
HIV and AIDS	rapid weight loss dry cough extreme fatigue swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck diarrhea that lasts more than a week white spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders pneumonia	Anonymous HIV testing is available in many places and it's usually free You can have a blood test, or a simple oral test that checks for HIV antibodies. People who have HIV antibodies are called HIV-positive.	There are treatments to help HIV symptoms, but there is no known cure yet

Source and Source

STIs Explained: Syphilis

FitSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 17:15:00 PDT

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 negative social stigma than the word "disease."

STIs like Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Genital Herpes, and Genital Warts are 100% avoidable, so your best bet is to abstain from vaginal, anal, or oral sex altogether. Since that's not much fun (and not going to happen), it's a good idea for you and your partner to get tested for all STIs before you have sex.

Using latex or polyurethane condoms is also a great idea, but not completely effective. Being in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone you know is uninfected will keep you safe and STI-free.

Make sure to see your gynecologist annually to get tested, because early detection of syphilis (in the first stage) can help prevent permanent organ damage to the heart, eyes, brain, nervous system, bones and joints.

Want to know about Syphilis? Then

STI	Symptoms	How do you test for it?	Treatment
Syphilis	Stage 1: One or more painless reddish-brown sores (called chancres) appear on or near the genitals. Sores can also appear on the lips, mouth and fingertips. Stage 2: A skin rash develops anywhere on the body. Flu-like symptoms such as mild fever, fatigue and sore-throat appear. Stage 3: Late stage symptoms include brain damage, mental illness, blindness, organ damage, heart disease and death.	There are 3 ways to test: a doctor's recognition of its symptoms microscopic identification of syphilis bacteria and blood tests	Since syphilis is a bacterial infection, a single injection of Penicillin or other antibiotic will cure a person who has had syphilis for less than 1 year. Additional doses are needed for someone who's had it longer.

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STIs Explained: Gonorrhea

FitSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:15:00 PDT

Warm weather has arrived and since Spring Fever is in the air, I thought I'd take the time to talk about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Fun stuff, I know.

STIs like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are 100% avoidable. Abstaining from sex altogether is the surest way to keep yourself STI-free, but since that's not realistic, definitely have you and your partner get tested before you have sex.

Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus, so being in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone you know is uninfected is also a great way to keep yourself safe. When latex or polyurethane condoms are used consistently and correctly, that can also reduce the risk of transmitting gonorrhea.

Make sure to see your gynecologist annually to get tested, because if left untreated, gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or arthritis.

Want to know about Gonorrhea? Then

STI	Symptoms	How do you test for it?	Treatment
Gonorrhea (The #2 STI in the U.S.)	Frequently asymptomatic (no symptoms) Discharge from vagina, penis, or rectum Burning or itching during urination Sore throat	Samples of the infected fluid or urine must be taken	Since gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, several antibiotics can successfully cure it. However, drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea are increasing in many areas of the world, including the United States.

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Geek Shot: NASA's Hi-Res View of Earth

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:08:00 PST

Countless satellites hover over earth transmitting phone calls, powering GPS systems, and in the case of a new NASA satellite, measuring the planet's wide-ranging climate. The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite, which launched in Oct. 2011, is on a sun-synchronous orbit, meaning it passes over the equator at the same local ground time in every orbit. As NASA explains, "When NPP flies over Kenya, it is about 1:30 p.m. on the ground. When NPP reaches Gabon - about 3,000 kilometers to the west - on the next orbit, it is close to 1:30 p.m. on the ground."

All the photos NPP takes of earth have similar lighting, creating a panorama like the one below. Each wedge in the photo actually measures 1,900 miles of earth, within roughly the same local time for every piece of the orbit. Notice the Arctic in the north is missing from this picture, as it receives too little light in the Winter for NPP to photograph.

Imagine if this technology was used on earth's own celestial satellite - we could finally see the mysteries lurking on the dark side of the moon!

Savvy Links: The Right IRA Account for You

SavvySugar — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:24:28 PST

The right IRA account for you - Real Simple
The psychology of free, and its power over you - Wise Bread
How to avoid holiday shopping mayhem - HuffPost Women
Protecting yourself against sexually-transmitted debt - Get Rich Slowly
How to use your smartphone to send holiday cards - Tecca
20 Investing questions you were too embarrassed to ask - Mint

5 Health Reasons to Make Time For Cuddling

Shape — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:08:28 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Next time your guy gets on your case about cuddle time — he says he's too hot, needs his space, doesn't feel like relaxing — present the evidence. Research suggests that there's more to cuddling than meets the eye. Lovey-dovey'ness aside, the health benefits of cuddling will surely convince him to make time for it.

Reason 1: It Feels Good
Cuddling releases oxytocin, which is also known as the feel-good hormone. "It increases overall happiness," says psychologist, physical therapist, and author of bestseller A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness Elizabeth Lombardo.

"Cuddling, holding, and sexual play releases chemicals, like oxytocin, in the brain that create a sense of well-being and happiness," says Dr. Renee Horowitz, an ob-gyn who recently opened the Center for Sexual Wellness in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Cuddling can also release endorphins, which is the chemical released after a good workout or when you eat chocolate, Horowitz adds, which contributes to that great feeling.

Dr. Oz: 5 Tips for Lasting Love, Health, and Happiness

Reason 2: It Makes You Feel Sexy
The most obvious benefit to cuddling is getting close to your partner in the physical sense. Cuddling can lead to fun sexy time or relaxing and loving time post sexual intercourse, but there's also a chemical plus.

"There is also the release of dopamine, which is an excitatory hormone that increases sexual desire," Horowitz says. Plus, studies show that sex is healthy for fitness and mental reasons, too. So it's a win-win.

Keep reading for two more reason to snuggle up!

Pride of the LOLCats: Lions Now Send Text Messages

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:31:19 PST

OK, lions aren't manipulating their fuzzy paws to send text messages to the rest of their pride. Rather, scientists in Kenya have outfitted local lions with GPS tracking collars that send automated text message updates to the researchers on their locations.

Every hour, the GPS collars transmit a text message to a server, which eventually sends the data to a satellite map that shows the lions' movements so researchers know when lions come too close to farmers' livestock. In order to protect their own assets, some farmers have resorted to poisoning the lions to prevent their herds from becoming a meal. Conservationists hope by following the lion's movements on the savannah, they can turn dwindling population numbers around.

So far, 10 lions are wearing the collars, which cost $3,000 a piece and were partially funded through Kickstarter.

Getting Down and Dirty in the Pool Ain't Clean

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:47:57 PDT

If warm, sunny weather is inspiring you to get hot and heavy, you may want to skip getting it on in the pool, and save your nookie time for dry land. Although making sweet love in the water sounds sensual and natural, since you're wearing next to nothing already, it's not exactly the safest way to get it on.

Here's a mood killer for you: lake, river, ocean, and pond water contain bacteria, so getting intimate can introduce that bacteria into your vagina, which could put you at risk for infections that you don't want up there. Pool water is no better since it contains chlorine that could irritate your lady business, or disrupt the natural pH balance in your vagina, leading to a yeast infection. As for hot tubs, they're often not chlorinated enough, which means they're teeming with who knows what - bacteria!

Still not convinced? Then

read more. You may have heard that getting busy underwater will prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy, but this is not true. As long as there is contact between two partners, semen and other bodily fluids can still pass from one person to another, which makes conception or contraction of STIs possible. You're using a condom, you say? Although in the bedroom, condoms are very effective at preventing both pregnancy and the spread of infection, in the water, the lack of natural lubrication can make condoms more apt to break or slip off without either person realizing it. Not to mention, the lack of natural moisture can also cause friction, which will chafe your sensitive lady parts. Water and sex just don't mix, so my advice is to reserve pool time for swimming, and save the shagging for later.

Law Gives Minors Right to Get HPV Shots Without Parental Consent

Tara Sharp — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:39:00 PDT

The sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) has been in the news a lot lately. New research has found that through HPV transmissions, oral sex can cause throat cancer, and the ongoing debate about how young is too young to be vaccinated continues (there was even a fake SNL commercial about it). Now a law has passed in California that gives minors the right to obtain preventive treatment for STDs, including HPV immunizations, without parental consent.

Those who agree with the new law say young people who don't have a close relationship to their parents should be able to obtain preventative treatment without their permission. But those against the law point out that a 12-year-old doesn't have the critical thinking skills to weigh the pros and cons of certain vaccines. I'd have to say I see where both are coming from, and it seems risky to let minors make such big decisions alone. What do you think?