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Global Trauma of Adultery and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Chandigarh, May 07, 2008
Gurmeet Singh
Adultery is considered a sexual sin in all religions because it
betrays the marriage vows. Religions and sane societies normally
forbid all forms of premarital and extramarital sex. Committing
adultery with a person other than one’s marriage partner
plays a major role in destroying his or her personal, familial
and societal life. Infidelity is always destructive, and often
fatal, to a marriage.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs - also known as Sexually
Transmitted Infections STIs) have long been associated with both
heterosexual and homosexual promiscuity. A sexually transmitted
disease is an infection or disease that has a significant probability
of transmission from person to person by means of sexual contact
including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex.
STDs are severe medical and psychological consequences for millions
of men, women and children over the globe. Sexually transmitted
diseases are a major global cause of acute illness, infertility,
long term disability and death. These diseases are a big threat
to society and one of the most serious health problems that has
ever faced the world. It is n irony of fate that the United States
has the highest rates of STDs in the industrialized world.
Study on Sexually Transmitted Diseases in US
Recent studies on STDs in United States by Center for Disease
Control show that 25% white girls, and around 50% African-American
girls between the ages of 14-19 years are suffering from STDs
or STIs. These diseases have become a major health problem throughout
the world. The situation is more serious in developing countries
like Africa and Southeast Asia. Although people are people and
skin colour should not matter but many alarmed people suggest
that this is in part due to the attitudes of a culture towards
poverty, homosexuality, heterosexuality, pre-marital and extramarital
relationships. The studies show that these diseases cost the taxpayer
over two billion dollars a year in US.
In spite of the various attempts by the health care people in
United States to reduce prevalence rate of the disease and mortality
of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), more than 19 million
persons among all age groups acquire STDs each year. The estimated
total number of people living in the US with STD is over 65 million.
2/3 of all STD cases accrue in teenagers from the age of 14 to
19 years.
Adultery causes gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and hepatitis
B etc. As a result of adultery, 1 in 4 Americans have genital
herpes, 80% of those with herpes are unaware they have it. 15%
of all infertile American women are infertile because of tubal
damage caused by untreated STD. 12% of all infertile American
men are infertile because of inflammation of the testicles and
sterility caused by untreated STD.
Causes of Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections have been well
known for hundreds of years in the history of mankind. The causes
of the increase in STDs are many, but it is mostly believed that
alterations in family structures, turning away of youth from religious
values, lax in teens’ morality, adultery, devastating sexual
behaviour, drug and alcohol addiction, wars, mobilization of armies
and movement of populations are the main ones.
How the Disease Spreads?
It is important to remember that deviant humans and sex addicts
can get and pass many of these diseases through different forms
of sex (vaginal, anal, and oral). STDs can be transmitted by either
sexual intercourse or very close intimate contact. An infected
person may potentially infect others, without showing signs of
disease. It is believed that some STDs and sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) can also be transmitted via hugging, hand shaking,
kissing, or use of intervenous needle after its use by an infected
person, as well as through childbirth or breastfeeding. Many STIs
are more easily transmitted through the mucous membranes of the
penis, vulva, and less often by the mouth. Studies show that eight
percent of single men in US have had five or more sexual partners
in the past years. This means that when having sex with a person,
you are having sex with all previous partners as far as STDs are
concerned.
However, the trouble is, though, many innocent persons become
unjustly infected, such as an innocent virgin who marries an infected
husband, or an innocent wife who becomes infected from an unfaithful
husband or vice versa.
Most Common STDs and Their Symptoms
Sexually transmitted diseases have been troubling human beings
for thousands of years. They can cause cervical cancer and other
cancers, liver disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility,
pregnancy problems, and other complications. Some STDs may increase
your risk of getting HIV/AIDS. In the past it was mainly Syphilis
and Gonorrhoea. The Herpes virus began terrorising people in 1976.
Chlamydia began making headlines in the early 80s and is now one
of the most common STDs. Over 75 percent of both men and women
had no symptoms of Chlamydia infection but could readily pass
it on to others. Gonorrhoea is increasing at an alarming rate,
and along with Chlamydia, it causes chronic pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID), the second most common cause of hospital admission
for women during the reproductive age of life. Then came the HPV
virus causing genital warts, which is now spreading faster than
the others. Surveys show that about 40 percent of single sexually
active Americans have been infected with HPV, the human papilloma
virus, which causes venereal warts, pre-cancerous changes and
cancer to the vulva, vagina and cervix, and cancer of the penis
in men. Finally, there comes the brutal plague of AIDS which epidemic
is fatal and incurable so far.
Prevention and Treatment of STDs and STIs
Sexual intercourse especially by the teenagers is alarmingly
high in the world. This behaviour is constantly increasing and
‘date rape’ is becoming a major issue. The stigma
of these diseases is unbelievable on the human race. Once you
catch the disease, you never get rid of it. Each succeeding disease
seems worse than the last. The best prevention against these diseases
is maintaining one partner for a lifetime and staying away from
alcohol, drugs and promiscuous sex. It is advisable never to cross
boundaries of the marriage. Lust for another’s beauty can
be immoral and destructive. Education, therapeutic methods (counseling),
countering peer pressure and understanding of the risks of STDs
are very essential factors in prevention and control. The parents
should be careful to discharge their duty towards their children.
The contaminated persons must abstain from infecting others. Physicians
need to recognize the manifestations of STDSs and start the treatment
as early as possible. At the same time, it must be understand
that prevention is better than cure. This truism needs to be spread
in all the communities by their respective social activists and
opinion makers. Dr. John M. Douglas Jr., who directs the centers'
division of S.T.D. prevention in US says, 'High S.T.D. infection
rates among young women, (particularly young African-American
women), are clear signs that we must continue developing ways
to reach those most at risk in all of our communities, world over''