Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love in More Ways Than One

A few years ago, Philadelphia, PA, was the fifth-highest city for STDs; now, it has soared to the top for the wrong things. The name has changed from STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) to STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections), but the diagnoses remain the same.

The three main culprits, as expected, are a lack of sexual health education, youth-friendly resources, and affordability and access to sexual health services (CDC). Young adult choices and consequences begin with the education and experiences from adolescence. High school is often the first and only time where we receive some academic form of sex education in a world where misinformation is everywhere and schools are not required to provide comprehensive sex education in Pennsylvania schools. Sure, abstinence is best, but in the world of the great theologian in my life, my mother, “I can’t watch your P****.” We get so caught up in forcing the concept of abstinence that we don’t meet people where they are, and we definitely aren’t preparing young people for the real world. Sex is EVERYWHERE! If we are to think simply preaching abstinence is the way, we are sorely mistaken. If you are going to choose to have sex, you must know how to be safe, and before that, you must know who you are. How many of us found ourselves in sexual situations from feeling peer-pressured to explore the concept that everyone said was so fun or forced into a sexual act before (and after) we even knew what sex was? Knowing who we are prevents us from being pressured into sex, from thinking sex is the answer to our problems, and from keeping a secret that we were sexually violated from those who can protect us. I don’t want to speak amiss without mentioning those who have told and realized they wouldn’t be protected by those who presumed to love them.

This is why we NEED education and resources to prevent the ever-rising STI rates in Philadelphia. Per 100,000 people in Philadelphia, 1,504 of them have been diagnosed with an STI. The commonly known STIs that are captured in these numbers are syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Syphilis is a name most of us remember from the movie ‘Miss Evers Boys’ about the experiment to determine medications that could cure the virus (Penicillin). Beginning with a rash at the point of entry while other areas form as it resolves, long-term untreated syphilis shows up later to shut down vital organs, possibly to the point of death. The twins,  Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, have similar identifying characteristics such as yellow discharge, frequent and/or painful urination, and possible bleeding. Their diagnosis can be determined with basic STI testing followed by antibiotics after determination.

If you are at risk or experiencing symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider for testing and treatment. More discreet options are available through sexual health websites.

Remember, we perish due to lack of knowledge. We know that abstinence is the only sure way to protect our temples, our bodies. Educate yourself, take care of your body, and grow in grace….