A recent study by Harvard University found that men taking drugs to treat erectile dysfunction showed triple the rate of sexually transmitted diseases compared with those not taking the drugs, Viagra and Cialis.

The results of the study came from an analysis of the health insurance claims of men who were aged forty and older. It’s thought that the reason for an increase in STD’s in this group of men and is more to do with attitude than the actual drugs themselves. Some men may be taking a less cautious path when it comes to their sexual experiences when taking ED medication.

According to analysis the higher rate of infections were seen a year after the men started taking the drugs like Viagra, Cialis and also Levitra to treat ED, which has lead experts to believe that men taking the drugs may be more likely to engage in unsafe sex than nonusers. The leader of the study Anupam Jena said: “Younger people have more sex partners than older folks. But per sexual encounter, the actual safeness of the sex is probably lower among older folks in the sense that they don’t use condoms.”

Currently in the US there are about 19 million new sexually spread infections occurring each year, with almost half of them aged 15 to 24 years old. However people aged 30 to 40 accounted for the largest proportion of those who were newly diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections, which included a high proportion of HIV/AIDS cases.

A summer holiday is all about relaxing, putting your feet up and having some fun, however when it comes to the later, you have to be careful. Everydaysale.co.uk recently conducted a survey about holiday flings and found that 43% of British travellers would have a holiday fling if the opportunity arose, so if your single and looking for love, or a bit of fun in a foreign country then you need to be careful.

If you’re a part of a small group of women, then you will be high on a target list for many local men, not to mention other randy tourists, so you should always be aware, sometimes because of our reputation abroad locals can often misinterpret what women are after, often think all women want casual sex. This obviously isn’t the case.

However if you do want some fun on holiday, (sex) then you need to be equally as careful, making sure that the people you are travelling with know where you are and who your with. You need to make sure you know where you are as well, it’s no good going off with some stranger when drunk, if the next morning they just dump you on the street, leaving you to find your weary home in a foreign country which you’re not familiar with. Always try to stay on familiar ground, I know it may not that pleasant for your room mates but if your desperate for some fun go back to your room and get your roommate to keep out for an hour or ten minutes!

Finally if you’re having some holiday fun, you also need to make sure you don’t come home with more than the usual tacky souvenirs, i.e. a STD or even an unwanted pregnancy. So always make sure you use protection of condoms, whether you’re on birth control or not.

One of the most life-threatening and dangerous diseases in the history of mankind is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS.

AIDS is a disease that targets the human immune system and is caused by the HIV or human immunodeficiency virus, a lentivirus (long incubation period) that primarily affects the vital cells that provide protection and immunity to the body. This condition gradually destroys the immune system of the body and leaves it susceptible to various unpleasant infections and tumours.

HIV can be transmitted from one person to another, and can enter the body through several possible ways. The most common cause would be unprotected oral, anal or vaginal sexual intercourse. People who already have another kind of sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or bacterial vaginosis, have a higher possibility of being infected with the virus while engaging in a sexual act with infected partners.

HIV can also spread through the sharing of needles that are used to inject drugs or are used for tattooing by an infected individual. Women who are infected with the virus can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy or birth by the entrance of infected cells into the baby’s circulation. Accidental encounters with HIV-contaminated needles and fluids may also be a cause. It is very rare for HIV to spread through transfusion of contaminated blood. However, if a transplant of contaminated tissues or organs has been performed, the recipient may contract HIV.

Primary HIV infection can be detected through common symptoms, such as fever, muscle and joint pains, sore throat, and swollen glands in the neck. More serious symptoms of HIV infection and AIDS may take as long as 10 years to manifest. Prior to that time, a person may not experience any of the symptoms and the virus will only be detected through an HIV test.

Aids Red Ribbon