Why Do We Use Acronyms For Things We Don't Want to Talk About?

HPV, HSV I & II, HBV I & II and of course HIV -- All STDs.

Why do we use acronyms for things we don't want to talk about? If you are dating today, the acronym that no one wants to talk about is STDs, sexually transmitted diseases. These are some statistics that are making me re-think the whole "for entertainment purposes only" guy. Or at the very least, I'm thinking hard about the rules of the "hook up."

The United States has the highest rates of STDs in the industrialized world. In the United States alone, an estimated 15.3 million new cases of STDs are reported each year. Women suffer more frequent and more serious complications from STDs than men (OF COURSE!)

It is estimated that as many as one in four Americans have genital herpes, a lifelong infection, yet up to 90 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it. It is estimated that by 2025 up to 40% of all men and half of all women could be infected. By the age of 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. HPV is the cause of more than 90 percent of all cervical cancer, which kills about 5,000 American women every year.

Whew, I'm depressed enough, so I won't even comment on chlymidia, gonorrhea, syphilis and the big one...HIV. The websites say abstinence is the best way to protect yourself. I didn't have sex when I was married and that wasn't very satisfying so I guess I'll put my faith in what I hope is the best raw latex, stabilizers and fine dispersed vulcanization chemicals molded into a penis shaped protective shield commonly known as a "rubber." Yes, in high school we called them rubbers. Now they call them condoms and they come in many shapes, colors, flavors and now even in different sizes. They are engineered to meet ISO standards in both the US and Europe. Condoms are high tech, serve multiple functions including pleasuring one or both partners and are readily available in stores like my personal favorite -- Costco so you can buy in bulk! Now, with all these great features, why won't guys wear them?



Perhaps condom manufacturers have taken it too far because now they sell them in several different sizes. I mean, what man is going to go into the drug store and pick up a small? I've never even known a man who needs it to order a small shirt let alone something small for their penis!

My doctor says that condoms really don't adequately protect you from the trasmission of STDS. After thinking about this whole safe sex topic tonight, I heard on TV that Anna Nichole-Smith claims to have had sex with a ghost. Now, this sounds pretty good to me. You don't have to worry about STDs and if you have a good exorcist, you won't need worry about commitment.

Remember, National Condom Week is February 14-21. Encourage a single man to proudly sport a designer condom!

Question of the Day: Do you know how many people under the age of 25 will contract an STD this year? Hint: It's over 1/2 of people who have STDs in the US.