STD Testing Info

How great is the number for those who indulge in teen sex, regardless of numeral configuration, even if that number be one, then it is a problem and more so if both parties are unaware of what can rise from having unprotected sex. The outcome can be that of falling pregnant or catching a sexually transmitted disease (STD.) Okay, getting together with the opposite sex will eventually happen at some time or other (if gay same agenda) so why not make that some time “the right time.” When is the right time, this will depend on what your beliefs are as to whether 15 16 17 years is ideal for a sexual relationship. Remember it is a crime to have underage sex. If you are adamant to go ahead with coupling then at least do your homework first. You need to consider all possibilities which contribute to an unwanted pregnancy occurring or worse still catching a disease that can do more damage that you can imagine.

Sex statistics should never really be taken seriously because of imperfect measurements. Getting people to talk about their sex lives honestly is a difficult mission, especially if it includes a group that is in any way marginalized, as teens are. However study goes on, to help describe and understand sexual behaviors among teens. Here are some facts on statistics and sexual behaviors of interest?

In America nearly half of all 15-19-year-old`s have had sexual intercourse at least once. By the age 15, only 13% of teens have ever had sex, you are breaking the law at this age. By the time 19, seven in 10 teens have had sex. The norm we find for having sex for the first time is that of 17. Teens are wising up to the dangers than that of in the past where teen sex was greater in number. Thankfully teens are taking heed of the alerts telling of the dangers from having unprotected sex. Thirteen percent of females and 15% of males aged 15-19 in 2002 had had sex before age 15, compared with 19% and 21%, respectively, in 1995.

In England and Wales, the law on Sexual Offenses were changed. However the legal age for young people to consent to have sex still remains at 16, whether you are straight, gay or bisexual. Although the age of consent remains at 16, the law will make no intervention unless it involves abuse or exploitation. Under the Sexual Offenses Act you still have the right to confidential advice on contraception, condoms, pregnancy and abortion, even if you are under the legal age. In the US different states may have different age laws for legal sex.

Unfortunately we still have the minute few who believe they know it all until the inevitable happens. Many teens are prepared to take sexual risks despite more than ten years of public warnings. Teen sex should never be an event of chance in hope God will make things right should they go wrong. Nip it in the bud so no prayers have to be said in regards to falling pregnant or catching an STD. The outcome of intensive research showed new infections of the Aids virus in 1999 were the highest in over 10 years.

In reply from some teens who were asked why so early for sex, was, “it is trendy and everyone one else is doing it” so why not me. Another point of interest was, it was a way of showing off where teens would boast “Hey everyone I have done it.” Well this may be the in thing to do but did you ever give any thought to showing off a bump on the belly or a prison ID number when having your mug shot photo taken.

Many teens openly admit to that of feeling pressurized to lose their virginity. The most prominent fear from having unprotected sex was highlighted as to an unwanted pregnancy (88%) and 87% said an STD. To keep safe you have to think condom. Using a condom is one of the safest forms of birth control used and a powerful deterrent against catching a sexually transmitted disease.

We have the male and female condom. The male condom is made of thin latex (rubber) or polyurethane and fits over an erect penis. Condoms are lubricated to make them easier to use.
A condom acts as a barrier between the penis and the vagina, the penis and the mouth, or the penis and the anus. This does not mean sexual intercourse can not take place. A condom will cover the entire penis to prevent sperm entering the vagina.

For women the female condom is made from soft polyurethane and is located inside the vagina. It is held in place by a ring at either end; it lines the vagina and stops sperm getting into it. Using condoms bring no side affects unlike some other forms of contraception.
The female condom if properly inserted is 95% effective. Condoms have been known to split. Problems which occur from using the female condom is – if it slips or moves out of place from not being properly inserted. You can find out more at any family planning clinic where contraception and advice is given freely.

Below some useful resource centers should you need help and advice?

1 Get Connected – One-stop helpline for young people. This organization evolves round youngsters who feel they want to run away from home or have already done so. Services include compassionate support, help and guidance.

Helpline: 0808 808 4994 open 1pm-11pm seven days a week

2 Childlike – an organization which provides a free, confidential telephone counseling service for children or young people regardless of what the nature of the problem is.

National helpline: 0800 1111. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

3 Avert services are more connected to health

International aids & medical research charity.

Telephone: 01403 210202

Never be frightened or to embarrassed to seek help. Prevention is better than any cure. Pick up the phone for a brighter future.

4 bpas (British Pregnancy Advisory Service)

Telephone: 0845 730 4030

Organization of many options i.e. dealing with unplanned pregnancy, emergency contraception, free pregnancy testing and vasectomy services.

Teen Sex
Vaginal odor
Male Erection Problems

If you want to stay healthy and fit, follow our daily health guide.

1) You should exercise daily. It does not matter what you do. You can walk, run, swim, or jump. It is advisable to exercise for a minimum of twenty minutes a day. Daily exercise will keep you healthy, and it also elevates your mood. When you exercise, you can also make a lot of friends too.

2) Eat Right. You are what you eat. Therefore, it is important that you eat healthy. Eat fruits and vegetables everyday. You should try to stay away from greasy foods as much as possible. It is also advisable to avoid salty and sweet foods.

3) Drink water every day. You should drink at least eight cups of water everyday. Eighty percent of your body is made from water. Therefore, it is important that you drink plenty of water everyday. Especially, when you exercise, you should always have a bottle of water with you.

4) Protect your skin from the sun. When you go out to the beach, do not forget to apply sun block on your arms, necks, and hands. You do not want to get skin cancers and climatic toxins.

5) Try to laugh everyday. The research shows that people who laugh a lot will live longer. Laughing can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress.

6) Meditate everyday. Meditation can calm your mind from stress. You should spend at least five minutes to meditate daily.

7) Hug your love one everyday.

Try to avoid smoking or drinking as much as possible. Drugs is harmful for your health.

Trichamoniasis, also known as “Trich” is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects about 7.4 million men and women in America each year. This STD is caused by a parasite called Trichamonas vaginalis. Trich is most commonly found in women and uncircumcised men. Trich is the most common curable STD in sexually active men and women to this date. Trichamoniasis is primarily an infection of the reproductive organs and the urinary system (a.k.a. genitourinary system.) In men, the most common site of infection would be the urethra; the urinary tract. In women, the most common site of infection would be the vagina. In uncircumcised men, the most common site would be the tip of the penis.

Trich is one of the most common STD’s caused by a parasite Trichamonas vaginalis. This parasite can live in the urinary and reproductive system of males and females. Trich is spread sexually by penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva contact with an infected partner, especially if not using any form of protection. It is more common for females to get the disease from an infected male or female than it is for a male to get it from an infected female/male. Some people try to say that it is possible to get Trich from a toilet seat, wet towel or event hot tubs. Let me just say this now…that is not true. The Trichamoniasis parasite cannot live long enough on inanimate objects and surfaces to be spread from person to person.

Sorry to say this, but the most logical way to prevent getting Trich or any other STD is to refrain from having sex. If that is impossible, then abstain from sexual activity with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner. That will surely reduce the risk of contracting any STD including Trich. Also properly and consistently using a latex condom or a female polyurethane condom also decreases the risk of contracting any STD’s. Lady’s DO NOT DOUCHE after having sex, this can actually increase your risk of contracting STDs. This is because douching can actually change the natural flora of the vagina and possibly flush bacteria higher into the genital tract increasing chance of STD.

Symptoms usually appear in women between 4 to 28 days after having sex with an infected person. However, 50% of women are asymptomatic (have no symptoms) when it comes to Trich and never get treatment. Usually if left untreated for six months, women then start showing some of the symptoms listed below.

* Vaginal discharge ranging in color from gray to green to yellow.

* Foul odor, smells fishy.

* Sourness, tenderness, and itching if the genital area.

* Pain during urination.

* Uncomfortable during sexual intercourse.

* Itching or soreness of the labia and inner thighs.

* Swollen labia.

Just be sure that you make sure your teenage daughter knows a normal female discharge is usually clear or whitish and has no odor. This will ensure that she will know if anything is wrong.
Males who have Trichamoniasis have the tendency to be more asymptomatic than females. Of the men who do seek treatment, typically do so because of an infected partner, not necessarily because of showing any symptoms. Of the men who do show symptoms of Trich would experience:

* Urethral itching.

* Burning after urination or ejaculation.

* Urethral discharge, frothy or pus-like.

* Painful/ difficult urination.

* Inflammation of the prostate gland.

If you think that some of the symptoms you are experiencing may be Trich, then go see your doctor. The doctor will determine whether it is Trichamoniasis by giving a pelvic or genital examination and by testing a sample of vaginal or urethral discharge. Sometimes a doctor will detect Trich through a Pap smear.

Trich can be treated with prescription medication and both partners should be treated at the same time, even if one has no symptoms.

AIDS diagnosis can be done using body fluids (like blood, saliva), or by using body cells (such as those from the inside of the cheek) of the patient as the sample for HIV testing.

Currently, there are two types of tests that are very commonly used to diagnose an HIV infection in a person. The first test is called ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test, which looks for the presence of antibodies produced by the host’s body in response to the attack by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The second test is called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, which looks for the presence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus itself in the body of the host.

If the ELISA test is positive, it indicates that the antibodies (specific to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus) are present in the host’s body. However, this positive result of the ELISA test needs to be confirmed by conducting others more specific tests such as the Western Blot or Immunoflouroscent Assay (IFA). If the result of this test is also positive, then the person is said to be HIV positive or seropositive.

However, there are some drawbacks to the IFA Test and they are as follows:

1) The HIV specific antibodies are not detectable until 3 to 6 months after contacting the infection

2) The prolonged wait until the results of the test are available.

To overcome this drawback, another test known as the Rapid Test (which has almost the same level of accuracy as the ELISA test) is being used currently. It gives the results in just 5 to 30 minutes, although the test is comparatively much more expensive.

The PCR test is capable of detecting the genetic material of HIV and can, therefore, detect the presence of the virus in a person’s within a few days of contacting the infection.

Other tests for diagnosing HIV include Radio Immuno Precipitation Assay (RIPA), Rapid Latex Agglutination Assay, and p24 Antigen Capture Assay.

Condoms are test tube-like sheaths made out of latex or polyurethane. Its use in Uganda must have started after the establishment of the Aids Control Programme in 1987 -to educate the public about how to avoid becoming infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) -under the clinical umbrella of; Abstinence, Being -faithful and Use of condoms (ABC).

Studies have confirmed that condoms are highly effective method of preventing HIV/AIDS -with effective rates ranging between 80% and 95% -depending on how they are effectively and consistently used. While female condoms, which give a woman more bargaining position, are at 98% (Population Action International, 2008).

According to World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States National Institute of Health, intact condoms are essentially impermeable to particles the size of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) pathogens -including the smallest Sexually Transmitted Virus (STV).

Much of the percentages for effective rates vary from one information source to another -all of which do not reach 100%. Yet one would be dealing with a life threatening disease. Greater confidence has shown on how condoms are manufactured, under strict quality control measures, which too stipulate that they are safe. But quality measurements are done basing on a merely on a particular sample of say, five or ten. What quality assurance, then, could one give to those outside the sample?

And with inaccessibility problem still at hand, where in Uganda, the gates to health bodies are now wide open to catch the virus. Mayuge District, with one of the greatest cases of teenage pregnancy, and probably, most fertile people, access is very remote. Yet the majority of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are more in towns than rural areas. This puts health security at stake.

Firstly, in one independent survey carried out on HIV risk in Mayuge, young people, at least once, had unprotected sex. While at the same time, HIV testing facilities there are a dream. They could only be accessed at the main referral hospital. Now, how reliable could the prevalent rates be if in just one district the situation as that bad?
Secondly, absence of female condoms makes women entirely at risk of infection. If their male counter-part could find accessibility difficult, what would be the fate of women, who at all, lack key bargaining position; the female condoms?

Nevertheless, saying they (condoms) are effective, alone, is not enough because it would be a situation involving nature, fear and decision making to guarantee its usage. Not withstanding the fact that society has trained men to be brave, and women to be submissive, soft-hearted, and just to say yes to men’s advances. Given that background, how effective could condoms in particular and ABC strategy in general be?

Sex education too has not been adequate across post-primary and tertiary institutions. Well, an institution like Makerere University has Pastor Martin Ssempa -who has played a noble role in rallying students against HIV through abstinence slogan. As matter of fact, his works are already in the history of Uganda’s fight against HIV/AIDS.

But, firstly, are other schools and tertiary institution in similar motion against HIV/AIDS? Secondly, with the abstinence bit, as the value, does Ssempa’s team carry out annual survey to determine impact of his abstinence crusade?

Moreover, with the curiosity, that new students show, especially those joining universities from mainly strict homes and single schools; would be up to nothing, but to buzz into anyone that can treat the long awaited motive. Really, Ssempa’s abstinence gospel could be challenged. Yet, also, those arriving at universities; the land of the free could be like dogs that have just been let out.

Like, Ssempa, the Catholic Church is against condom use -preferring the mental condom. But with young people screaming hard to respond to their biological clocks, most obviously, could skip the church’s ditch, and manage “time” effectively. Moreover, for those who could be hit hard by the orthodox teaching, may suffer from secondary impotence. They could have got so much used to sexually restricted life, and then, feel most comfortable to do otherwise.

For domestic violence, child abuse, refugee camps, and conflict areas -where the risk of contracting HIV could be potentially high by virtue of the situation, and with condom use definitely un-negotiated, ABC and condom use in particular, would sound like here say to them. And neither Ssempa nor latex material would apply here.
Lack of knowledge about condom use could adversely count big for the young people. Even those, who have their access, might be using them without basic know how. They could, for example; be part of the cases that use same condom throughout the sex exercise, add unauthorized lubricants, use more than one or more condoms, fail to change at different stages of sex intercourse and unaware of when and under what circumstances he would change. What a mess!

Much of the effort, instead, must be on testing sexual partners that not only are about-to-marry, but also adolescents could be encouraged before joining sexual affairs. In about the same context, Uganda must face the reality that kids as early as 8 to 10 are at the stage of experimenting sexual feelings.

And thus; there is no reason, for sure, why condom distribution would be discouraged in primary schools. Are there records of no HIV transmission in the age bracket therein? It is something the country must take care of.

Meanwhile, sex education and life skills training could be started -where they are not, and strengthened, where they are. It would be with such a combination of training programmes that child or young adult would know how to deal with adolescent changes, pressures and/or inappropriate feelings as they emerge.

Truly, schools and tertiary institutions might need to change with changing times. How would it be if a child or student, who passed well at school went out and failed to approach life wholly? And, how would it feel if an ex-student ended up drowning into alcohol and drugs, fraud, drop out of school, join prostitution and, above all; catch HIV?

Jacob Waiswa

There are various forms of this commonly spread HIV myth: It was developed by the CIA, the Russians or in Hitler’s labatories to be used in germ warfare or to wipe out a minority. Unsurprisingly, none of these are true, and many of them date back to times when so little was known about the disease that such rumours seemed plausible. It is now believed that HIV is a mutation of a disease carried by Chimpanzees – Simian Immunodeficiency Virus – and that it was probably transferred to humans via blood contact through the hunting of an infected animal. The first recorded instance of an HIV death was recorded in 1959 in the Congo.

Swallowed bleach will prevent HIV infection

According to an Associated Press article from earlier in the year, some teens in Florida are under the mistaken belief that swallowing bleach will kill the HIV virus. Whether or not any teens genuinely believe this bizarre AIDS myth, it’s important to restate the fact that swallowing bleach will not kill the virus – but might very well kill you. While using bleach on shared needles is advice direct from the Centers for Disease Control, swallowing it is going to do no good whatsoever, and may well do some bad…

Madmen are leaving syringes filled with HIV positive blood where they will infect random people

There are all sorts of AIDS myths around syringes containing HIV infected blood either deliberately or accidentally infecting innocents who come across them. Movie theatre chairs, gas pump handles, coin slots on payphones and random injections at nightclubs have all be touted, but none of them amount to a real threat with no recorded instances of people contracting the virus through any of these methods. The forwarded emails these are typically spread through are mischief making scare mongering according to various sources, and there are two sources of comfort to take if still worried: 1) The HIV virus cannot last for very long outside of its host, so discarded needles are unlikely to be a threat, and 2) Even if injected with a syringe of fresh HIV infected blood, there is around a 1 in 200 chance of becoming HIV positive (though this increases with the volume of blood involved)

Mosquitos can transmit HIV

not spread in that way.It’s an HIV myth that you can get AIDS via mosquito bites. Because mosquitoes do not inject blood into their prey, they cannot spread HIV in this manner. The way they can spread the likes of malaria and yellow fever is through the insect’s saliva but HIV is  If the insect has HIV infected blood in its gut, there’s a slim chance that swatting it, and then scratching the itch could lead to infection, but it’s such a long shot that this has never been recorded.

HIV can only infect gay men and drug users

This is an age old AIDS myth that just won’t go away. The HIV virus can infect anyone of any age, ethnicity or sexual orientation. While it’s true that anal sex carries a higher risk of infection, most penetrative sex acts carry a risk of transferring the virus.

An HIV infected mother cannot have children

HIV does not affect fertility – though it’s possible that in its later stages women will have a higher chance of spontaneous miscarriage. The chance of transferring the disease to an unborn child is 15-30% normally but reduced to 2-3% if they follow medical guidelines.

There were plans to kill a Sesame Street Character with AIDS to teach children about death

When Jim Henson died in 1990, rumour spread that Ernie from Sesame Street would be killed off, either because Jim Henson did his voice and no-one else could be found, or to teach children to deal with death. Despite the studio’s denial, these rumours continued to spread and one of the explanations was that he would either die through terminal illness – AIDS, cancer or leukaemia – or via some kind of traffic accident. None of the muppets on the show have ever passed on, although when the actor who played Mr Hooper died in 1982 the show dealt with the situation honestly, and culminated in the adults helping Big Bird understand that his friend wouldn’t be coming back.

However, one HIV related Sesame Street story is true – in 2002, it was announced that the South African version of the show was to introduce a female muppet who was HIV positive to fight stereotypes of people with the virus. It may seem an odd area to introduce into a children’s show, but with 1 in 9 people HIV positive in South Africa, the importance of working against the stigma of females with the virus is an issue that they felt needed to face head on.

Hopefully listing these AIDS myths will help people better understand a disease that has much misinformation spouted about it! Although we still have no cure for AIDS, if you are concerned that you may have become infected, getting HIV testing as soon as possible is very important. Not only will you be able to prevent the spread to other people, but scientists have developed many ways of improving the quality of life for sufferers and an early diagnosis can really help.

Tim Leach is the Marketing Manager of USA Lab Testing, providers of local HIV testing.

I have met literally hundreds of surrogate mothers, both traditional and gestational (although I readily admit that most were gestational). The women who tried to match themselves “independently” were the most interesting to talk with because they #1 had the most issues/problems #2 failed to actually complete a surrogacy and #3 some ended up going with an agency. Now I know of a very few who have had a great experience matching themselves and I was happy and relieved to hear that they had a great experience. However, more often then not, there wasn’t a happy ending.

The question I had to women who want to be surrogates but did not want to go through an agency is WHY NOT? What is wrong with agencies? I know why some Intended Parents don’t want to hire an agency and #1 is money but why do surrogates avoid agencies? Here are some of the top reasons women ‘go independent’:

#1 Potential Surrogates feel that they are saving potential IPs money

#2 Potential Surrogates can set their own base fee without an agency interfering and if the IP is ‘saving money’ (see #1) it can be given to the Independent surrogate

#3 Surrogates don’t have to go through the screening an agency requires. Examples:
A. BMI higher then 30 would be “OK”
B. Not parenting their own children would be “OK”
C. On public assistance would be fine
D. No Insurance is OK because they could be on public assistance
E. No Background Check because IP’s don’t want to spend the money
F. No psychological evaluation unless required by the clinic
G. Taking certain medications for anxiety for example might be acceptable
H. Hazardous working conditions can be overlooked
I. A ‘retainer fee’ can be requested
J. If Traditional and in-home insemination then No IQ testing, No STD testing, no waiting for sperm quarantine

#4 Going through an agency requires too much time and paperwork

Are these REALLY the type of women that IP’s want to carry their child? NO! But then again I don’t think that Intended Parents who want to save time and money know what they are getting themselves into when they don’t ask the right questions or require the most basic of background information.

Something to think about!

As a two time gestational surrogate mother and an author, as well as having many friends in the surrogacy community, I often hear women ask this question. Herpes is very common today, and does not automatically disqualify you from becoming a surrogate mother.

All clinics will require potential gestational surrogate mothers to undergo extensive physical and psychological testing prior to becoming approved as an acceptable carrier. Part of this testing is complete STD panels for both the surrogate and her partner.

Some clinics and intended parents will automatically disqualify any woman as a surrogate who has Herpes, but this is not a hard and fast rule. With proper arrangements, Herpes can become a non-issue.

The main problem with the Herpes virus is that it can be transmitted to the baby at birth. The simple solution for this is that the surrogate mother delivers the baby via c-section instead of vaginally.

The risk to the infant is only if there is an active Herpes infection present during delivery, though intended parents might ask for a mandatory c-section with a surrogate who carries the STD to be on the safe side.

The most important thing for you to do as a potential surrogate mother who has Herpes is to disclose this information during the matching process to the set of potential intended parents that you are interviewing with. You will also need to disclose this to the clinic before they have done any testing on you.

This way, if there is a problem, any relationship can be ended immediately, which will save everyone valuable time and money. Plus, this shows that you are honest and forthright with information, even derogatory information, which is vital in a surrogacy arrangement.

If you do not disclose this information in advance of testing, and it is found later, it could be a very large black spot on your relationship with both the clinic and the intended parents. STDs are not something to be taken lightly. They can have permanent and damaging effects on any unborn child.

It is important to note that Herpes is usually the only exception when it comes to carrying any sort of STD and still qualifying to become a surrogate mother. Because Herpes is only contagious when the baby passes through the birth canal, as opposed to being contagious in vetro, and because Herpes is so common in America, clinics and intended parents may turn a blind eye towards it.

Do not get offended if a clinic or intended parents reject you based on your Herpes status. These parents undergo a very expensive and emotional journey trying to become parents. They are usually extra cautious and extra sensitive to such issues.

But for every set of intended parents who may reject a Herpes carrier, there is another set of intended parents who simply do not care, so long as the proper safety precautions are taken. Good luck in your surrogacy journey!

Painters, composers and genocidal maniacs – it takes all sorts to die of syphilis! In fact, about 15% of the earth’s population in the 19th century contracted the dreaded venereal disease at some point in their lives.

These days a positive STD test would lead to treatment for this curable disease but for many who contracted the disease in those days it could prove deadly. Here are the ten most famous historical characters suspected to have suffered from the sexually transmitted disease.

10 – Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin, known as the ‘King of Ragtime’, wrote the famous piece of music ‘The Entertainer’. However, Joplin’s final hours would have been far from entertaining – he died in a mental institution suffering from the physical and mental influences of syphilis.

9 – Casanova

Casanova used a condom made out of sheep’s gut and tied on with a tasteful pink ribbon. However, the sexually prolific Venetian adventurer and author wasn’t as careful as he could have been and, as a result, suffered frequent bouts of venereal diseases including syphilis.

8 – Tolstoy

The Russian literary giant, author of ‘War and Peace’ and ‘Anna Karenina’ Leo Tolstoy suffered from syphilis during his youth, which was cured using arsenic treatment. In his novels, Tolstoy vividly examined the relationship between life and death.

7 – Ivan the Terrible

Ivan’s sexual promiscuity with both sexes, his last illness and many features of his personality support a diagnosis of syphilis. It was often ‘treated’ with mercury and he died of mercury poisoning. However, it cannot be determined if Ivan’s terrible problems were physical or psychological, and with anonymous STD testing yet to be invented in Ivan’s era we may never find out the truth.

6 – Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche was a nineteenth-century German philosopher and philologist who had a major influence on philosophy, particularly in existentialism and postmodernism. A popular, though hotly disputed, story about Nietzsche is that he went insane after being infected with syphilis.

5 – Mussolini

Benito Mussolini exploited a grenade wound in the First World War to cover up syphilis, according to research which would explain the Italian dictator’s uncharacteristic refusal to boast about his heroism at the front. The syphilis theory fits with rumours which circulated in Italy during his rule – and his chronic gastric problems, a symptom of the sexually transmitted disease.

4 – Henry VIII

The gradual mental deterioration and paranoia which Henry VIII developed as he grew older was possibly the result of late stage syphilis. However, This well known theory was probably first promoted about 100 years after his death.

3 Beethoven

Whether Beethoven actually had syphilis has been debated for decades. Since anonymous STD testing was not available at that time we probably won’t find out. However, the composer was known to associate with prostitutes, and propagators of the theory often claim that the disease is what caused him to become deaf.

2 – Hitler

Adolf Hitler’s tremors and irregular heartbeat during the last years of his life could have been symptoms of late stage syphilis, which would mean he had had the sexually transmitted disease for many years. His many symptoms included encephalitis, dizziness, neck pustules, chest pain, an accentuated heartbeat and frequent paranoid rages.

1 – Shakespeare

After a close examination of William Shakespeare’s writings, the Infectious Diseases Society of America published an article suggesting that Shakespeare most probably had syphilis, and that his sickness could possibly explain several events in his later years.

Tim Leach is the Marketing Manager of American Lab Testing, providers of anonymous STD testing.