Hi I’m Elliott. This is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today I’m going to talk about some
misconceptions about sexually transmitted infections. And yes, that means I’m going
to be talking about sex. So, if you don't want to hear me talk about sex a.) I get it
and b.) now would be the time to click away.
Misconception #1: HIV and AIDS are the same thing.
So, today seems like a good day to learn some big words. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency
virus. And AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Basically, the “virus” in HIV
is what causes the “syndrome” in AIDS. Someone who is HIV-positive does not necessarily
have AIDS. But someone with untreated or undiagnosed HIV will likely develop AIDS.
Speaking of HIV... Misconception #2: You can’t get HIV from
oral sex. Vaginal and rectal transmissions of HIV are
much more common, but oral transmission is possible as well. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, you can reduce this risk by using a condom. There
are also things that may increase the risk, like bleeding gums, genital sores, and the
presence of other STIs.
And that brings me to... Misconception #3: You can only get an STI
from intercourse. So, now you know this one thanks to the previous
misconception. Some STIs, like HPV and crabs, can even be transmitted from contact. And
in addition to HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia can be transmitted via oral sex.
Misconception #4: Genital warts and genital herpes are the same.
They sound very similar (even their acronyms are similar -- HPV and HSV) but they’re
not the same thing. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, can cause genital warts. Herpes, or
HSV, does not cause warts -- its symptoms are more blister and scab-like. See we're
having fun.
Misconception #5: You can only spread herpes during an outbreak.
If you have herpes, you can spread it anytime. The best way to lower the risk of spreading
it is through immunosuppressant therapy. So, be safe! According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the majority of people who have herpes don’t even know they have
it.
Misconception #6: STI symptoms show up right away.
50% of sexually active people get an STI before the age of 25. And the majority of those people
don’t know they have one because symptoms don’t show up right away. Some people DO
experience symptoms, but attribute them to something else. The only way to know if you
have an STI is by going to the doctor and getting a test done.
Misconception #7: HIV is the only deadly STI. There are a handful of STIs that come with
a higher risk of death. For instance, HPV has been linked with many types of cancer,
including cervical, vaginal, and oropharyngeal (which is the back of the throat). People
tend to believe that this is only a problem in women, but according to the CDC, about
63% of cases of penile cancer are linked to HPV. Researchers are also currently investigating
a link between the STD trichomoniasis (or trich) and prostate cancer. In 2014, it was
discovered that the parasite that causes trich may help prostate cancer cells grow more quickly.
Misconception #8: There’s an HPV test for men.
There isn't an FDA-approved test. And doctors don’t do any routine testing for HPV in
men. This isn’t an episode for lectures, but I just want to note that according to
the CDC, 80% of sexually active Americans have been exposed to HPV. And if a guy tells
you that he’s been tested for STIs, just know that does not include an HPV test. Okay,
speech over.
Misconception #9: Having sex in water prevents STIs.
You can definitely get an STI in water or a hot tub. Many people believe that the warmth
of a hot tub will somehow kill germs, but warm water is actually the perfect place for
an STI to thrive. Water doesn’t protect against pregnancy either, by the way. Chlorine
is not a birth control method.
Misconception #10: It’s possible to get an STD from a toilet seat.
This is so statistically improbable that it’s considered a myth by experts. Any STI-causing
microbe that comes into contact with a toilet seat will die almost instantly, so you really
don’t need to worry about it. According to the president of the American Society for
Microbiology, "To my knowledge, no one has ever acquired an STD on the toilet seat -- unless
they were having sex on the toilet seat!" Which sounds very romantic.
Thanks for watching Misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube. If you have a topic for
an upcoming Misconceptions episode that you’d like to see, leave it in comments. See you
next week!