[smoothy]

Condoms don't guarantee you remain STD free. But they are far better than relying on luck alone.

[kp2171]

It is just not as simple as described.

An increase in the number of sexual partners over time can translate into increased std's. It is exactly why HPV is seen in increasing %s as a person ages. The older you are, the more partners you have and the more partners your partners have had, the more likely you are to be a carrier. It is an std that has no cure (tho there is now a vaccine approved for young women), one that condoms don't necessarily prevent, and often has no symptoms in carriers. This translates into a "cascade effect"...

And then again, at the same time, the under 25 crowd often composes up to 3/4 of new std cases for gonorrhea and clamydia.

People, regardless of age, with concurrent partners have a higher incidence of std's... studies have statistically proved this repeatedly.

So, yes... you can sleep with one person and get an std or sleep with dozens and not get an std... just as unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy the first time or it can never happen, even with repeated attempts.

Over a decade, from the 90's to the new millennium, teen pregnancy rates dropped by a third. Some of this was tied to increased abstinance, with the majority of the drop associated with increased use of birth control.

The general trend is that over time people have more partners and over time people can be more careful about safe sex practices. The first trend increases exposure, the second reduces it.

So... its multivariate.

Its incorrect to say sleeping with one person versus the next has the same risk for stds. That simply isnt true. It assumes a person is a person is a person.

Not true.

A virgin is not the same as a nonvirgin.

Studies of age of sexual activity and multiple, esp concurrent, partners show increased std rates with certain populations. Period.

So... no... it is incorrect to say all risk is the same. It isn't.

The problem is you don't know the risk on the front side... you don't know that partners real history, so it seems like its always a crap shoot.

Sorry. It isn't.

It just isn't easy to know the truth. And the truth is that those who are voluntarily sexually active when younger and those who have more than one partner at a time (especially those with concurrent partners who also have concurrent partners) ARE at a higher risk statistically speaking.

[slapshot_oi]

What is true is women are at higher risk of contracting and STD versus a male, for obvious reasons.

Everyone seems to be disagreeing with sex, coin-toss analogy, and it makes sense. People who have a more cavalier sex-life are, generally, less careful than those who are conservative with who they sleep with. It's an arguable case for the sake of argument only, but that's the reality.

[Nestorian]

Sex isn't the only way to get an STD.

Lets not forget blood transfutions, and something as simple as drinking form some ones cup, or taking a drag from their smoke, and also, taking a pull of any number of drugs as well as sharing needles. Yuk.

I heard from a friend that a good way to go about things, don't share when you are out partying, don't have sex when drinking (as your attention to things is very obscured.), and get tested for STDs once a year, no matter what. That's her advice.

It's a good idea to get checked each year at there very least so you know that you were once upon a time healthy, and that since then and possibly 6 months back, you have been infected. (Provided you are infected.) This allows you to eliminate your sexual partners that you may have contracted the disease form. Also, even if you are with one person, it doesn't mean they are "faithful", and you can find out from them what the score is. Hopefully we never have to deal with this, retracing our sexual partners to find out "how" an STD spread.

I've just been reading a book called "The Merck Manual of Medical Information". It says that the herpes virus "...maybe present in the skin without causing an obvious blister; the virus in this state can serve as a source for infecting other people. There are two types of herpes simplex viruses that infect the skin: HSV-1 and HSV-2.
HSV-1 is the usual cause of cold sores on the mouth, and even on the cornea of the Eye. Usually transmitted through contact with secreations of the mouth.
HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes and is transmitted primarily by direct contact with the sores, most often during sexual contact." -page 1001.

Ok, there is some who debate that HSV-1 is not an STD, but if some one gets saliva or full contact on their genitals from some one with HSV-1, there is a good chance they'll get HSV-2. Some debate that, but I think it's and STD.

So does it matter how many partners you had, in a few ways, yes. 1) Self respect 2) respect for others 3) The risk of STDs is increased, remember that you sleep with every one your lover slept with. (sleep with one person, and if they have slept with 10 others, then you've got to 11. By that logic.)

Even if you use protection, the question is, did you nullify it's purpose by bypassing it? Drinking form some one's cup, taking a drag off a smoke and so on, then making out with some one, then oral sex, or even spit for lubrication.

It's up to you to decide how to play the odds. Personally, I'm almost starting to wonder if asking some one I want to have sex with, if they have been tested and how long ago it was... If you are tested and you know you are clean, then why not clear the slate, eh?

Once again, I will say it seems to all dependent upon your values, and beliefs. Only you know why something is relevant to you, so feel free to make your choice.

Good luck all
May peace and kindness be with you.