NeemsCondoms? Nah. Don't worry baby I trust YOU... (LINK)
March 10th 2008 12:08
I thought I might start this piece off with a few facts:
• “Chlamydia rates have soared fourfold in the past decade
• The number of new HIV diagnoses increased 41 per cent between 2000 and 2005
• The rate of diagnosis of Gonorrhoea doubled over the past 10 years.
• Syphilis rates doubled in NSW and Victoria between 2001 and 2005.
• Chlamydia was the most frequently reported notifiable condition in 2005 with 41,311 cases - a fourfold increase since 1995”
-Stats directly taken from ‘STDs on the rise in Australia: report’ – The Age Online- October 12, 2006
It would probably be safe to assume that these statistics are only climbing and with that comes a responsibility upon our shoulders to ensure the safe practice of all sexual relations is carried out at all times.
But clearly, as the stats indicate this is simply not happening. It almost seems as though the more medical breakthrough’s we have and the more information that is at our fingertips about STD’s, the more we think we are invincible to contracting any of them.
A friend of mine recently said to me that in the last 6 months, the three men she has taken home have all refused to wear a condom. When she subsequently refused to go any further with them, they simply rolled over and went to sleep. One of these charmers actually had the audacity to tell her that it was okay not to use a condom because he trusted her. What a splendid assurance of safety.
What surprised me the most was these men weren’t hormone ravaged teenagers whose lust for excitement and curiosity might overshadow any commonsense. These were men aged between 24 and 34 respectively who would have been fully aware of the risk of STD’s and who have consciously chosen not to worry about it. Each of these guys has also had numerous sexual partners.
So here’s another point to ponder- for these men to think it’s perfectly normal to have unprotected sex means they have been with enough women who have allowed them to do so.
What’s particularly disturbing is that even if one can be a little complacent about contracting something that’s ‘fixable’ such as Chlamydia- what about the more permanent STD’s such as Herpes? And what’s most frightening is that AIDS seems to be so far back in the minds of the irresponsible that it’s almost as if we honestly believe it’s a disease none of us privileged enough to be living in a first world country such as Australia needs to be too concerned about.
Is it the “it won’t happen to me” mentality that encourages people to think with their nether regions rather than with their heads? Is it the arrogance of knowing that the most common forms of STD’s such as Herpes are treatable so therefore once contracted won’t result in a life and death scenario?
Most men and women I’ve spoken to have all stated they prefer sex without a condom as it allows for a heightened sense of pleasure. So is the lure of this so great we can so easily turn our backs on matters that concern our health and potentially the health of our unborn children?
Mature adults are making immature decisions everyday in this country. One in eight Aussies are at this moment walking around with Herpes. One of the most deadly diseases known to man, HIV is on the rise. These stats aren’t made available for the heck of it. They are there to drum sense into heads that have obviously stopped thinking. They are there to let you know that you are not as invincible as you’d like to believe.
Our teenagers face enough of a challenge overcoming peer pressure and the like. Is it too much to hope that as we grow older we can lend some serious thought to rising health issues and perhaps be better role models for them to follow? Or do old habits really die that hard?
Let’s put safety ahead of ‘uncontrollable’ lust, try to educate those we meet who have a blatant disregard for other people’s health as well as their own, grow up and start behaving like adults.
Neema Mohan, March 10th, 2008- ©
• “Chlamydia rates have soared fourfold in the past decade
• The number of new HIV diagnoses increased 41 per cent between 2000 and 2005
• The rate of diagnosis of Gonorrhoea doubled over the past 10 years.
• Syphilis rates doubled in NSW and Victoria between 2001 and 2005.
• Chlamydia was the most frequently reported notifiable condition in 2005 with 41,311 cases - a fourfold increase since 1995”
-Stats directly taken from ‘STDs on the rise in Australia: report’ – The Age Online- October 12, 2006
It would probably be safe to assume that these statistics are only climbing and with that comes a responsibility upon our shoulders to ensure the safe practice of all sexual relations is carried out at all times.
But clearly, as the stats indicate this is simply not happening. It almost seems as though the more medical breakthrough’s we have and the more information that is at our fingertips about STD’s, the more we think we are invincible to contracting any of them.
A friend of mine recently said to me that in the last 6 months, the three men she has taken home have all refused to wear a condom. When she subsequently refused to go any further with them, they simply rolled over and went to sleep. One of these charmers actually had the audacity to tell her that it was okay not to use a condom because he trusted her. What a splendid assurance of safety.
What surprised me the most was these men weren’t hormone ravaged teenagers whose lust for excitement and curiosity might overshadow any commonsense. These were men aged between 24 and 34 respectively who would have been fully aware of the risk of STD’s and who have consciously chosen not to worry about it. Each of these guys has also had numerous sexual partners.
So here’s another point to ponder- for these men to think it’s perfectly normal to have unprotected sex means they have been with enough women who have allowed them to do so.
What’s particularly disturbing is that even if one can be a little complacent about contracting something that’s ‘fixable’ such as Chlamydia- what about the more permanent STD’s such as Herpes? And what’s most frightening is that AIDS seems to be so far back in the minds of the irresponsible that it’s almost as if we honestly believe it’s a disease none of us privileged enough to be living in a first world country such as Australia needs to be too concerned about.
Is it the “it won’t happen to me” mentality that encourages people to think with their nether regions rather than with their heads? Is it the arrogance of knowing that the most common forms of STD’s such as Herpes are treatable so therefore once contracted won’t result in a life and death scenario?
Most men and women I’ve spoken to have all stated they prefer sex without a condom as it allows for a heightened sense of pleasure. So is the lure of this so great we can so easily turn our backs on matters that concern our health and potentially the health of our unborn children?
Mature adults are making immature decisions everyday in this country. One in eight Aussies are at this moment walking around with Herpes. One of the most deadly diseases known to man, HIV is on the rise. These stats aren’t made available for the heck of it. They are there to drum sense into heads that have obviously stopped thinking. They are there to let you know that you are not as invincible as you’d like to believe.
Our teenagers face enough of a challenge overcoming peer pressure and the like. Is it too much to hope that as we grow older we can lend some serious thought to rising health issues and perhaps be better role models for them to follow? Or do old habits really die that hard?
Let’s put safety ahead of ‘uncontrollable’ lust, try to educate those we meet who have a blatant disregard for other people’s health as well as their own, grow up and start behaving like adults.
Neema Mohan, March 10th, 2008- ©
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
That is bloody awful! I would have given them an earful and promptly kicked them out! Selfish, irresponsible, and above all - stupid!
Great post.
Michaelie
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Comment by Neems
Koala Lounge
I think it's also the common perception that STD's are only linked with people who sleep around when I've heard of cases where people have contracted things and have had only one sexual partner.
Thanks for dropping by
Neems x
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
...yep, that's why I said: A person should remember that s/he is not necessarily sleeping with just that one person... ...but I should have been more explicit and added, "...but also the person's past partners..."
Thanks for a great post -- hope many get to read the stats you've put out there.
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
Comment by Neems
Koala Lounge