A medical doctor with the National AIDS Control Programme is advocating for responsible sex to prevent infection and spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Edith Asare Mensah, said the same way a person cannot put his or her hand in a hole without knowing what’s in it, a man or woman should not be having sex with just any kind of partner.
“You can be bitten by a crab, scorpion, snake when you dip your hand into just any hole,” she said while discussing the problem about sexually transmitted diseases on Ultimate Health programme on Joy FM, Sunday.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites that are transmitted through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) and skin to skin genital contact.
While it is fun, pleasurable to have sex, Dr Edith Asare is calling for caution and safety measures to prevent STIs.
Sex in the dark
While many would rather have intimate sex in the dark, Dr Edith Asare said safe sex is the one engaged in with lights on not under the cover of darkness.
With the lights on it is possible to see the genital areas of your partner and to be sure there are no sores, she explained.
‘Brushing risks’
For those who ‘brush’ without penetration, Dr Asare said they are equally at risk of contracting STIs when there is skin contact at the private area.
She narrated an incident where a lady, did not understand how or why she contracted STI merely because she did not have penetrative sex.
Through interrogation, she opened up and admitted having been “brushed” by a partner and got infected through skin contact at the private parts of the infected partner.
‘Leaking dangers’
For the daring ones who enjoy leaking their partners, Dr Asare said such persons are at risk of contracting or spreading STIs especially when they have blisters around their mouths.
Given the serious implications of STIs, the AIDS control official said it is better for persons to seek medical attention the very moment they begin to experience some abnormalities including itchy genitalia, severe pains around the genitals etc.
“STIs increases your vulnerabilities” she stated and makes it all the more easy to contract the AIDS virus.
She called for protected sex and higher responsibility by partners in order to prevent STIs.
