That Ain’t True! Debunking 8 STD Myths

April is STD Awareness Month.

PRO: Double the Space - Whether y’all opt to sleep in one room all the time or switch back and forth, you now have so much more space to roam around in.  (Photo: Brooke Fasani Auchincloss/Corbis)

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April Is STD Awareness Month - Each year, more than 20 million STDs are diagnosed, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of those infections are young people ages 13-24. But even with so much info out there about STDs, too many of us don’t know what we need to know. Let us debunk the top myths for you. —Kellee Terrell (Photo: Brooke Fasani Auchincloss/Corbis)

Myth: What’s the Big Deal? All STDs Are Curable     - Fact: While there is treatment that can help cure bacterial STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, viral STIs such as herpes and HIV don't have a cure.  (Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

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Myth: What’s the Big Deal? All STDs Are Curable     - Fact: While there is treatment that can help cure bacterial STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, viral STIs such as herpes and HIV don't have a cure.  (Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

HIV Is Not a Straight or Gay Thing - One of the largest misconceptions about the virus is that sexual orientation is a major contributor to having HIV. Anyone is at risk of contracting the virus if they are not taking precautions, regardless of their sexual orientation. (Photo: BigFive Images / Getty Images)

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Myth: You Can Only Contract the Same STD Once - Fact: Once you contract HIV and herpes, you have that forever. But other STDs are not like chicken pox. If you are diagnosed and treated for an STD, you are still vulnerable to contract them again. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Myth: Withdrawal Method Prevents STD Infection - Fact: Fellas, you do not need to fully ejaculate to transmit or be infected with an STD. Wrapping it up — from beginning to end — protects you and your partners. (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

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Myth: Withdrawal Method Prevents STD Infection - Fact: Fellas, you do not need to fully ejaculate to transmit or be infected with an STD. Wrapping it up — from beginning to end — protects you and your partners. (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

Myth: If I Had an STD, I Would Know - Fact: If only this were true. For STIs like chlamydia, HPV and gonorrhea to name a few, most people show no signs of being infected, especially young men. The only way to know if you are infected is to get screened — women and men!(Photo: Rob Melnychuk/Corbis)

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Myth: If I Had an STD, I Would Know - Fact: If only this were true. For STIs like chlamydia, HPV and gonorrhea to name a few, most people show no signs of being infected, especially young men. The only way to know if you are infected is to get screened — women and men!(Photo: Rob Melnychuk/Corbis)

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Myth: Only Promiscuous People Have STDs - Fact: Having multiple partners does put you at an increased risk for contracting STDs, but anyone, especially those who are not using condoms, is at risk. It only takes one person and one time to get an STD. (Photo: Vstock LLC/Tetra Images/Corbis)

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Myth: Only Promiscuous People Have STDs - Fact: Having multiple partners does put you at an increased risk for contracting STDs, but anyone, especially those who are not using condoms, is at risk. It only takes one person and one time to get an STD. (Photo: Vstock LLC/Tetra Images/Corbis)

Fighting Smart Moves You Forward - No low blows and dirty tactics here. You now can constructively disagree and come out better for it because, at the end of the day, you want to make it work. (Photo: Gabriela Medina/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Myth: You Can’t Catch STDs From Anal or Oral Sex - Fact: STD transmission doesn’t discriminate between a vagina, anus or a mouth. You can most definitely get an STD during any mode of sexual intercourse. FYI: Your anus has really sensitive skin and can be a vessel for STD transmission.  (Photo: Gabriela Medina/Blend Images/Corbis)

Myth: You Can Get an STD From a Toilet - Fact: Bacteria and viruses that cause STDs can’t really live outside the body very long, let alone stay active on a toilet seat. (Photo: Nadine Hutton /Getty Images) 

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Myth: You Can Get an STD From a Toilet - Fact: Bacteria and viruses that cause STDs can’t really live outside the body very long, let alone stay active on a toilet seat. (Photo: Nadine Hutton /Getty Images) 

Myth: Using Condoms Protects You 100 Percent From STDs - Fact: Yes, condoms can protect you from STDs, but there are times when they may not provide you with protection. For example, you can contract herpes from skin on skin contact, even when someone is not having an outbreak. (Photo: William B. Plowman/Getty Images) 

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Myth: Using Condoms Protects You 100 Percent From STDs - Fact: Yes, condoms can protect you from STDs, but there are times when they may not provide you with protection. For example, you can contract herpes from skin on skin contact, even when someone is not having an outbreak. (Photo: William B. Plowman/Getty Images)