Name Date Section Assessyourself STIs: Do You Really Know What You Think You Know? TRUE FALSE The following quiz will help you evaluate whether your beliefs and attitudes about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) lead you to behaviors that increase your risk of infection. Indicate whether you believe the following items are true or false, then consult the answer key that follows. 1. You can always tell when you’ve got an STI because the symptoms are so obvious. 2. Some STIs can be passed on by skin-to-skin contact in the genital area. 3. Herpes can be transmitted only when a person has visible sores on his or her genitals. 4. Oral sex is safe sex. 5. Condoms reduce your risk of both pregnancy and STIs. 6. As long as you don’t have anal intercourse, you can’t get HIV. 7. All sexually active females should have a regular Pap smear. 8. Once genital warts have been removed, there is no risk of passing on the virus. 9. You can get several STIs at one time. 10. If the signs of an STI go away, you are cured. 11. People who get an STI have a lot of sex partners. 12. All STIs can be cured. 13. You can get an STI more than once. Answer Key 1. False. The unfortunate fact is that many STIs show no symptoms. This has serious implications: (a) you can be passing on the infection without knowing it, and (b) the pathogen may be damaging your reproductive organs without you knowing it. 2. True. Some viruses are present on the skin around the genital area. Herpes and genital warts are the main culprits. 3. False. Herpes is most easily passed on when the sores and blisters are present, because the fluid in the lesions carries the virus. But the virus is also found on the skin around the genital area. Most people contract herpes this way, unaware that the virus is present. ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ 4. False. Oral sex is not safe sex. Herpes, genital warts, and chlamydia can all be passed on through oral sex. Condoms should be used on the penis. Dental dams should be placed over the female genitals during oral sex. 5. True. Condoms significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy when used correctly. They also reduce the risk of STIs. It is important to point out that abstinence is the only behavior that provides complete protection against pregnancy and STIs. 6. False. HIV is present in blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. Any activity that allows for the transfer of these fluids is risky. Anal intercourse is a high-risk activity, especially for the receptive (passive) partner, but other sexual activity is also a risk. When you don’t know your partner’s sexual history and you’re not in a long-term monogamous relationship, condoms are a must. 7. True. A Pap smear is a simple procedure involving the scraping of a small amount of tissue from the surface of the cervix (at the upper end of the vagina). The sample is tested for abnormal cells that may indicate cancer. All sexually active women should have regular Pap smears. be removed. However, the virus that caused the warts will always be present in the body and can be passed on to a sexual partner. 9. True. It is possible to have many STIs at one time. In fact, having one STI may make it more likely that a person will acquire more STIs. For example, the open sore from herpes creates a place for HIV to be transmitted. 10. False. The symptoms may go away, but your body is still infected. For example, syphilis is characterized by various stages. In the first stage, a painless sore called a chancre appears for about a week and then goes away. 11. False. If you have sex once with an infected partner, you are at risk for an STI. 12. False. Some STIs are viruses and therefore cannot be cured. There is no cure at present for herpes, HIV/AIDS, or genital warts. These STIs are treatable (to lessen the pain and irritation of symptoms), but not curable. 13. True. Experiencing one infection with an STI does not mean that you can never be infected again. A person can be reinfected many times with the same STI. This is especially true if a person does not get treated for the STI and thus keeps reinfecting his or her partner with the same STI. Sources: March 2009, www.co.jefferson.co.us/health/health_T111_R69.htm; Adapted from Family Planning Victoria, “Play Safe,” updated July 2005, www.fpv.org .au/1_2_2.html. 8. False. Genital warts, which may be present on the penis, the anus, and inside and outside the vagina, can YOUR PLAN FOR CHANGE Assessyourself activity let you consider your beliefs and attitudes about STIs The and identify possible risks you may be facing. Now that you have considered these results, you can begin to change behaviors that may be putting you at risk for STIs and for infection in general. Toda y, you can: ◯ Put together an “emergency” supply of condoms. Outside of abstinence, condoms are your best protection against an STI. If you don’t have a supply on hand, visit your local drugstore or health clinic. Remember that both men and women are responsible for preventing the transmission of STIs. ◯ To prevent infections in general, get in the habit of washing your hands regularly. After you cough, sneeze, blow your nose, a sink, wet your hands with warm water, and lather up with soap. Scrub your hands for about 20 seconds (count to 20 or recite the alphabet), rinse well, and dry your hands. Within the n ext 2 weeks, you ca n: ◯ honestly about your sexual history. Make appointments to get tested if either of you think you may have been exposed to an STI. ◯ Adjust your sleep schedule so that you’re getting an adequate amount of rest every night. Being well rested is one key aspect of maintaining a healthy immune system. By the end of the sem es ter, you can: ◯ Check your immunization schedule and make sure you’re current with all recommended vaccinations. Make an appointment with your health care provider if you need a booster or vaccine. ◯ If you are due for an annual pelvic exam, make an appointment. Ask your partner if he or she has had an annual exam and encourage him or her to make an appointment if not. Name Date Section Assessyourself Are You A Savvy CAM Consumer? If you are like millions of Americans, you’ve already tried one or more CAM therapies (including supplements) or may be considering one. Take this quiz to assess your knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine. For each item, indicate whether you believe the statement is true or false. 1. When considering a CAM technique, it is T F 2. Researching the credentials of a CAM T F practitioner is an important step to take before receiving any type of CAM treatment. 3. CAM therapies can be used with T F T F 11. The FDA routinely analyzes the content of T F T F by insurance before receiving the treatment. 7. Learning about CAM therapies can be a F T F T F T F T F T F T F dietary supplements success with a CAM therapy, then it probably won’t work for me either. 6. I should ask if the CAM therapy is covered T package means that the product is healthful and safe. choose those with the USP (U. S. Pharmacopeia) Verified seal on their labels. treatments I am currently receiving, including all CAM and traditional therapies. 5. If my friend or family member didn’t have 9. The word natural on a supplement 10. When buying supplements, I should traditional medical treatments. 4. I should inform new practitioners of all 8. Taking supplements is a good idea, because even if a product isn’t helpful, it isn’t likely to be harmful. important to do some research and identify scientific findings on the specific CAM therapy. 12. A recall of a harmful product guarantees that all such harmful products will be immediately and completely removed from the marketplace. 13. There is no reason for me to consult a physician before taking a supplement. T F proactive way to maintain good health. Sc oring Key 1. True. help to verify or disprove its effectiveness. 2. True. CAM techniques require rigorous training, and it is important to receive treatment from only those practitioners who have received extensive training and are licensed. Inadequate training can result in injury, transmission of disease, and improper balancing of energy. 3. True. CAM techniques can be used with traditional medical comprehensive treatment plan. 4. True. Any new practitioner, whether CAM or traditional, should be aware of all therapies you are receiving to prevent any complications if a new therapy is introduced and to allow providers to communicate with one another to provide the best overall care. 14. Fewer than 10 percent of Americans use dietary supplements. 5. False. Individuals respond differently to CAM therapies. You should consult your physician when considering CAM therapies. 6. True. Many CAM therapies are not covered by insurance. If the procedure is covered, you may still have to pay a percentage pursuing the treatment. 7. True. A recent study showed that those who inquired about CAM therapies were more health conscious than those who did not. 8. False. When consumed in high-enough amounts, for a ❯ long-enough time, or in combination with certain other substances, all chemicals can be toxic, including nutrients, plant components, and other biologically active ingredients. I n ter p r e tin g Y ou r S cor e 9. False. The word natural on Add up the number of items you got right: The higher your score, the better your knowledge of the sometimes used ambiguously to or safety. For example, many weight-loss products claim to be “natural” or “herbal,” but this doesn’t necessarily make them safe. Their ingredients may interact with drugs or may be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions. 10. True. The USP symbol is currently the best way to tell if a supplement has been tested, contains the listed ingredients, and dissolves properly in the body. 11. False. The FDA has very limited resources to routinely analyze the contents of all supplements currently on the market. 12. False. A product recall of a dietary supplement is voluntary, and although many manufacturers do their best, a recall does not necessarily remove all harmful products from the marketplace. 13. False. Supplements can interact with prescription medica- techniques. Incorrect responses may indicate areas you need to learn more about to be an informed consumer. Ultimately, you are the one responsible for your health and safety, so think about ways to increase your understanding of the CAM methods you use or are considering using. Sources: Adapted from NCCAM, “Are You Considering Using CAM?” Updated June 2010, http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/consideringcam.htm; Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 2008, www.ccaom.org/ aom.asp; NCCAM, “Selecting a CAM Practitioner,” Updated January 2011, http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/practitioner.htm; NCCAM, “CAM Use in America: Up Close,” CAM at the NIH: Focus on Complementary and Alternative Medicine 15, no. 1 (2008): 8–9, http://nccam.nih.gov/news/newsletter/ pdf/2008april.pdf; D. Sinovic, “Choosing and Using Supplements,” Meriter Healthy Living, Created for Wellness Library, 2006, http://meriter .staywellsolutionsonline.com/InteractiveTools/Quizzes/40,Supplements Supplements Test Your Supplement Savvy,” 2007, www.crnusa.org/benpdfs/ www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/ConsumerInformation/ ucm110417.htm. tions, so if you are on any medications, telling your doctor what you intend to take can help him or her check for any potentially harmful interactions. 14. False. National surveys indicate that about half of all Americans use dietary supplements. Research shows that people who take supplements tend to have better diets and generally healthier habits than those who don’t. They also tend to have higher levels of both education and income. YOUR PLAN FOR CHANGE Assessyourself activity gave you the chance to evaluate your understanding The of responsible use of CAM treatments. Depending on the results of the assessment, and your own interest in CAM therapies, you may consider investigating CAM further. Today, you can: ◯ Take a few moments to close your eyes and think of a calm place or activity you enjoy. Perhaps you are lying on a place. Clear your mind of everything else and use relaxation to improve your health. ◯ Go to a credible website and look up information on a CAM therapy. What ◯ Schedule an appointment with your health care provider to discuss any CAM therapies you are considering. Within the next 2 weeks, yo u can : ◯ Make relaxation and mind–body ◯ Review your insurance documents or check with your carrier to see what CAM therapies are covered. Ask which expenses you’ll be responsible for, and if you are limited to a certain network of practitioners. ◯ Check with your college’s health tive therapies it offers. By the end of the sem ester, y ou can: stress-reduction techniques a part of your everyday life. This can mean practicing meditation, deep breathing, or even taking long walks in nature. You don’t need to visit a CAM practitioner or follow from methods of relaxation, meditation, and spiritual awakening.
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