Study: Heterosexuals are less well informed about STDs than people in the LGBTQI+ community
Created: 06/15/2022, 14:32
By: Janine Napirca
According to a representative study, the LGBTQI+ community is significantly better informed about STDs than heterosexuals.
Every year in June
, the
LGBTQI+ community celebrates
Pride Month
to raise awareness of the discrimination that still affects them.
One topic that should be talked about a lot more, regardless of one's sexuality, is
STDs
.
Because
every day more than a million people worldwide become infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- the number of infected people is also increasing steadily in Germany, as reported
by Aerzteblatt.de
.
The market research
institute Appinio
has now found out in a
representative study
that the reason for this is a lack of information.
Heterosexuals in particular
are much less informed about STDs than the LGBTQI+ community
.
500 heteros and 500 LGBTQI+ were surveyed.
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Expert on men's health classifies the study results on STDs
Men's health expert and medical director of Wellster Healthtech Group, which includes men's health platform GoSpring,
Dr.
medical
Johannes von Büren
classifies the study results.
Johannes von Büren, Men's Health Expert and Medical Director of Wellster Healthtech Group © Wellster Healthtech Group
The expert also clarifies important questions about sexually transmitted diseases:
Which sexually transmitted diseases are there?
How can you tell if you've contracted an STD such as HIV or Chlamydia?
And why is awareness of STDs greater in the LGBTQI+ community than in heterosexuals?
Which sexually transmitted diseases are there?
An STD is also referred to as an
STI
.
The abbreviation means
sexually transmitted infections
.
This is an infection with pathogens that you can get through sexual intercourse.
STD
,
sexually transmitted diseases,
is also
a common term.
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There are many sexually transmitted pathogens.
The most common are
chlamydia
and
gonococci
.
According to the results of the study, however, only every third person knows that.
A fifth of all heterosexuals still think that
HIV
is the most common sexually transmitted disease in Germany.
Although HIV is not the most common, it is
one of the most dangerous sexually transmitted infections , along with
syphilis
and some of the
human papilloma viruses .
Hepatitis B
and
genital herpes viruses
can also
be transmitted through sexual contact.
How can you tell if you have been infected with an STD?
An
STI test
can be used to determine whether you have been infected with an STD.
according to dr
von Büren, a basic distinction is made between
screening tests
(also search tests) and
confirmation
tests .
Screening tests work if the user is positive, but they are very sensitive.
After a positive search test, a medical confirmation test should be carried out.
STI tests can be done at the family doctor, in the hospital, at the health department, at various institutions such as the German Aids Aid, or even at home.
This usually requires urine and blood samples, in some cases a smear is useful - for example in the urethra, vagina, cervix or anus.
dr
medical
Johannes von Büren, men's health expert and medical director of the Wellster Healthtech Group
Since usually only small amounts of sample are required, according to the expert, the samples can also be taken
from home using a test kit
and sent to a laboratory.
However, with home tests, also known as send-in tests, it should be ensured that the sample collection is well explained and that the shipment to a laboratory takes place quickly.
Have you ever been screened for sexually transmitted infections or diseases?
© DC_2/Imago
Only a few people in Germany are tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
According to the study, one reason is above all the feeling of
shame
when visiting a doctor.
74% of LGBTQI+ and 64% of heterosexuals said they would test themselves
more often with a home self-test
.
Unfortunately, few people are aware of this option.
It is important that sexually active people in particular are regularly examined for sexually transmitted diseases.
According to the expert, many STIs are initially
symptom-free
, but are still transmitted.
Chlamydia can even be treated over the phone by sending the drug over the phone.
In the case of other, more dangerous sexually transmitted diseases, a referral to an outpatient specialist is urgently required, according to the expert.
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Why is STD awareness higher in the LGBTQI+ community than heterosexuals?
According to the study, more than 75% of heterosexual Germans have never been examined for sexually transmitted diseases in their lives.
In contrast to the LGBTQI+ community: every fourth person states that they even test themselves regularly.
Why is STD awareness higher among LGBTQI+ than straight people?
On the one hand, the expert blames historical factors for this.
The
AIDS pandemic of the early 1980s
not only fueled fear, but also did a lot of
educational
work.
Traditionally, according to von Büren, certain STIs were more common in homosexuals, but now the incidence rates of STIs in heterosexuals are rising even faster in some cases.
On the other hand, the expert suspects that the
early confrontation with one's own sexuality and identity
, which deviates from the heteronormative norm, is a reason to deal more intensively with the responsibility for sexually transmitted diseases, and this also includes testing oneself regularly to let.
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In any case, it is better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to health.
After all
, the earlier you diagnose an STD, the easier and more promising the treatment
.
Regular testing protects yourself and others.
(jn)