Are You Feeling Lucky?

Unwanted Gifts

Years ago, I read a story about a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) so horrific it is forever stuck in my memory.

A young lady spent some time at a vacation spot and met a handsome young man. They hit it off immediately and within a couple of days they had hooked up.

All too soon, her vacation came to an end. With tears and promises of getting together again, her lover accompanied her to the airport. The young man stopped her before she got out of the car and gave her a present.  A small box wrapped in silver paper and expertly tied with a red bow. He asked the young lady to open the gift only when the plane was in the air. She gave her vow.

She boarded the plane and, true to her word, waited until she was flying. Holding the box, she let the excitement build. Then, she carefully unwrapped the gift and opened the box. A note written in meticulous handwriting was the only thing she saw.

“This gift I am giving you is something that you will have until the day you die. I have AIDS and now you have it, too. Thanks for the fun times. ”

This story may be an urban legend. However, there is a documented case about a woman named Pamela Wiser who purposefully gave AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) to over fifty men in revenge for the boyfriend who gave it to her three years earlier. Darnell “Boss Man” McGee, knowing he had AIDS, had sex with more than 100 women and girls.  Nushawn Williams was another man who slept with many women without informing them that he had AIDS.

The Truth about STD

It’s a scary situation. The point is that you cannot rely on luck to avoid contracting a disease that can have such a devastating impact, not only on your quality of life, but for your future spouse and children.

Contracting AIDS is not the only danger in having sex with multiple people or with a person who has had multiple partners. There are other STDs that are just as problematic.

In Utah, Chlamydia takes the lead with rates increased by 60% for age groups between 15 and 39 years (2005-2014). Two thirds of the cases reported were people between 15 and 24 years of age.

Gonorrhea is another disease that has been on the rise in Utah since 2010. This STD can lead to infertility for males as well as females. Not only that, a new strain of Gonorrhea may soon be immune to all antibiotics.

Syphilis, another dangerous STD, causes a host of problems ranging from painless open sores to transmitting HIV (Human Autoimmunodeficiency Virus) in untreated cases.

Many people believe STDs can be avoided by using a condom for protection. However,  the Herpes Virus can be transmitted orally or by coming into contact with sores of the infected person, and a condom does not always cover those sores. It’s a lifelong disease that has no cure.

In the last few years, the number of reported STD cases rise each year, with some reports indicating record high numbers.

So What is the Answer?

The answer is not simple. However, a lot of it has to do with how you see yourself. You are valuable, and you deserve respect. Your worth is not wrapped up in a box called sex. You are the total sum of your talents and abilities. You are an intricate person with strengths and weaknesses. Just like everyone around you. But you are unique – no one else is like you.

There is only one person who can protect you and your health. One person who can control the outcome of the future. And that one person is you. When you value who you are and don’t need another person to give you that value, then you become strong and attractive. You protect your self and your future by avoiding sexual encounters that may affect the rest of your life. You are the only one with the power to ensure your sexual health remains intact.

If you would like more information on how to have a healthy view about yourself, contact us or comment below.