YourHealth: Get educated, not medicated

SEX and sexuality is not a common topic of conversation in our society or even among family members.

Therefore, people, especially teenagers with their raging hormones, will seek other means of seeking information, i.e. from pornography, friends, and magazines. These may not necessarily provide correct information about sexual behaviours. Human sexuality in its broadest sense encompasses numerous social, biological, cultural, political, religious and ethical aspects. In many societies, complex issues relating to sex and sexuality exist. The interpretation of normalcy in sex and sexuality varies from society to society.

Sexual behaviour can spread sexually transmitted diseases. The link between sexual activities, disease development and unwanted pregnancies is well documented.Safer sex practices can lead to a reduction in the incidence of STDs and unwanted pregnancies and the spread of HIV and AIDS.The United States Centre for Disease Control estimates that a teenager becomes pregnant every 30 seconds and a teen contracts a sexually transmitted disease every 13 seconds. This shows how ineffective sex education presently is in the prevention of STDs and unwanted pregnancies even in an "open" society. What more Malaysia, which is comparatively conservative when it comes to sex education.People affected by STDs often resort to looking for treatment from general practitioners. Some will even self-medicate.There are a number of infections that are classified as STDs; some treatable, others incurable.Every individual must know and be informed about the deleterious effects of these infections on himself, his family and to society.There are at least 14 sexually acquired infections known.Their symptoms vary from pain on passing urine, increased frequency of passing urine, pus discharging from the private parts, especially in men; or in certain cases, they develop a sore which can be painless or painful.The many varied symptoms make it difficult for the lay person to know what he/she is suffering from. It is imperative to seek medical advice instead of self medicating.Self medication can lead to the spread of infection throughout the body. Since the epidemic of HIV/AIDS began, the linkage of unsafe sexual activities and various STDs to the spread of HIV has been more openly discussed. The rapidity of the global spread of HIV has become a hot topic for the last 20 years. However, recognition that effective control of STDs may prevent the spread of HIV is still wanting. Effective STD prevention programmes will require concerted effort from all sectors of society, public and private, including the government and the medical profession. There is need for nationwide awareness and preventive education programmes. An integral part of the national strategy in HIV prevention is to strengthen the STD control programme nationwide.A concerted effort in tackling this problem would be for the clinicians and the public health personnel to work together in providing a holistic strategy.. Improving healthcare services and ensuring they are easily accessible to the public will allow better diagnosis and treatment of STDs. The provision of counseling will also to minimise the infection rate and the spread of STD/HIV.Public education is the key to ensuring that rampant spread of these infections is curbed. Sexual transmission occurs when a person has unprotected sexual exposure to an infected person. Limiting the number of sex partners or having a monogamous relationship should be practised by all. Children are exposed to nature's ways. They are curious and with the influence of the electronic and print media, the children of today need correct information. This also applies to sex education. Where better than to provide sex education than in the safe environment of a loving home, given by parents.It can start when a child asks questions. A parent can give simple answers that the child is able to comprehend. This should continue as a subject in schools; in the early years, discussions on sex and health education should be in tandem with the maturity of the student. Rokiah Ismail is professor of medicine and consultant dermato-venerologist at the Faculty of Medicine, UiTM.