If you are sexually active, it is important the you keep track of your sexual health. Keep in mind that there are a lot of sexually transmitted diseases online and you can easily get them by being careless. Especially now that we are in the modern ages where sex is regarded more as a human necessity than as an expression of love. To help you keep a closer watch at your own sexual health, here are some important issues you need to look out for:

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
Also called venereal disease, STDs are infections that can be acquired and transferred through sexual contact. Viruses are transmitted by having the blood and/or bodily fluid of an affected person come in contact to any break on the skin and into the bloodstream, like in a wound. Approximately fifteen million cases of STDs are reported yearly in the United States alone, with adolescents and young adults in high risks of acquiring the disease. Sexually transmitted diseases, if left untreated, can have severe consequences, especially in women. It may cause infertility, and at times even death. Some of the more common sexually acquired infections include:
l Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
l Genital herpes
l Syphilis
l Chlamydia
l Gonorrhea

Safe sex
Since the first outbreak of sexually transmitted infections, scientists have been looking for different ways to make sex safer. Thanks to the male condom, that problem has been resolved. The male condom is a thin sheath made out of either latex or polyurethane rubber. It works by forming a barrier to prevent sperm cells from reaching the egg cell, at the same time, it prevents skin-to-skin friction between the penis and the vaginal wall and its mucus lining. It thereby prevents direct contact to any vaginal secretion. This has proven most beneficial for people who engage in casual sex or who have multiple sexual partners.

Contraception & birth control
Starting a family takes more than just the ability of one's body to make a baby, it means being able to take care of the baby as it grows up. Being given sexual liberty doesn't mean that we can squander it by being careless and unprotected. That privilege entails a lot of responsibility. That is why contraceptive methods were created to give people an option to only get bear children when they're ready and willing to become parents. Birth control methods were created to prevent pregnancies by preventing ovulation from happening, preventing sperm cells from getting to an egg cell, and thickening the uterine lining to prevent implantation. Here are some of the most commonly used contraceptive methods:
l Oral contraceptive pills
l Male condoms
l Cervical caps
l Intrauterine devices (IUD)
l Spermicides
l Tubal ligation
l Vasectomy

Pregnancy & childbirth
It is called the miracle of life. Pregnancy starts when an egg cell is fertilized by a sperm cell and is successfully implanted into the uterus. This is a period wherein a woman carries a fetus in her womb to nourish for nine months. A mother is required to take care of herself by means of proper nutrition, adequate exercise, and enough rest to be able to maintain a healthy pregnancy. With pregnancy comes a few complications or what mothers would like to call as “sacrifices” like back pain, constipation, edema, heartburn, nausea, hemorrhoids, vomiting, varicose veins, and random food cravings. After nine months of waiting, it will finally be a joy to see your child come out to this world.

These are just overviews of important aspects of your sexual health. For more information, don't be ashamed to go to the nearest sexual health clinics or consult your trusted physician.