VD stands for venereal disease and very dangerous
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from May 1990.
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There are more. Most are very dangerous.
How are they spread?
Most sexually transmissible diseases are caused by germs and are contagious. They are spread from person to person by sexual relations or by other close physical contact.
Anyone who is sexually active can get them, and from a variety of sexual practices.
What are their dangers?
Venereal diseases have been causing insanity, paralysis, blindness, deformity, sterility and death all over the world for hundreds of years.
Just as important, they damage personal relationships between parents/children, boyfriends/girlfriends, husbands/wives. Millions of people catch VD and suffer from the personal and medical consequences.
Can VD be prevented?
Not engaging in sex is one sure way of not getting VD. Likewise, when two uninfected people have sexual relations with each other, they also can be sure of not getting VD. There are other things people can do to prevent VD, but none of them are absolutelyperfect. Even though they are not guaranteed, they may reduce your chances of getting VD, so it is a good idea to:
1. use a condom (rubber) for new encounters. To be effective, it must be properly used throughout the time of contact and must be carefully removed.
2. wash your hands and sexual organs with soap and water before and after sexual contact. It might be helpful.
3. urinate as soon after sex as possible. It might help flush out any VD germs.
4. stay with one faithful sexual partner.
What are the first signs?
The first sign of venereal disease usually appears close to where the germs entered the body - usually on or around the sexual organs. Any new sensation that you think is unusual - a sore, discharge (dripping), burning, swollen gland, pain or persistent itch - could be the first sign of a venereal disease.
A woman could have more trouble than a man spotting the first sign because her sexual organs are internal. Are there any later signs? Later signs of venereal disease can appear anywhere on the body.
Rashes, sores, abdominal pains, hair loss, or swollen glands could also be signs of venereal disease. Can you have more then one VD at the same time? Yes. It is even possible to have every venereal disease at the same time. Can you get the same VD more than once? Yes. They can be caught again and again. How serious is VD if you are pregnant? Veneral diseases can be passed from an infected mother to her child before or at the time of birth. With some forms of VD, if the mother is given proper treatment soon enough, the child will be born free of the disease.
With other forms of venereal disease, if the disease is detected soon enough, precautions can be taken to ensure that the venereal disease does not pass to the child. But in many cases of venereal disease, if the infection is not detected soon enough and the proper medical care is not given, the newborn infant could suffer serious damage, even death.
What happens if you are not treated?
When the warning signs go away, as they usually do, the germs are still alive in the body where they can do great damage. It may take a short time, many months, or even years for the damage to show up. When it does, it may be in the form of blindness, insanity, heart disease, paralysis, deformity, sterility or even death. VD does not go away by itself.
Can VD be cured?
Yes. If detected early enough, most types of venereal disease can be cured with modern drugs before any permanent damage is done to the body.
But people who are cured of a venereal disease can catch it again if they are exposed to it again. Can you treatyourself? No. It just does not work. Only a doctor can make the examinations to find out if you have a venereal disease. Only a
