February is the month of Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air, which sometimes makes us throw caution to the wind. In most cases, the celebration of this day leads to sexual union with your partner. It also happens to be the time when most lovers engage in liaisons the first time, and I ask that you love with your eyes wide open.

Loving with your eyes opens implies that you ask questions of your partner and both of you get checked for infections that can affect your health status. Visit your gynecologist and get a thorough examination.

The mistake that most women make is assuming that every time they go to a gynecologist, they are automatically tested for sexually transmitted infections. There are more than 25 recognized types of sexually transmitted diseases and it is impossible to test for all of them at a visit. You might need to ask to be tested for the infections that are most common.

Last year more than 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed in the United States. The common sexually transmitted infections are chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis and trichomoniasis. Unfortunately, the symptoms are misleading which makes them hard to diagnose and can lead to serious health problems.

There are several ways that you can reduce your risk of contracting these infections:

  1. Know your status: Get checked for the most common sexually transmitted infections. The CDC encourages everyone from ages 13 to 64 years old to know his or her HIV status.
  2. Ask your partner about their sexually transmitted disease history – If you do not ask, chances are some people will not tell
  3. Protect yourself – condoms and dental dams can be helpful, however none of these offer 100 percent protection.
  4. Love with your eyes wide open – Who says that lovemaking has to take place in the dark? Have the lights on and check out your partner. If you notice anything unusual – discharge, ulcers, et cetera, discontinue the act until medical attention is sought and the issue or issues are resolved.

For more information on sexually transmitted infections, you can visit the website of the American Social Health Association at www.ashastd.org

Happy Valentine’s Day