UnderstandingSexually Transmitted Infections

                                      
It is not uncommon for females to experience a dry vagina even when they are totally into a session with a mate. And when it does, adding a lube may be the next most reasonable thing to do.

But how many times is your lubricant with you when it's time to get down to business? Honestly, not always!

And in the absence of lube, most millennials will tell you to saliva is the next best option if you're looking to reduce friction during penetration.

Well, no one is saying it won't improve the situation at that time. But are there downsides to using some spit to moist up a dry vagina.

The Dark side of Using Saliva as a Lube

Though spit may seem like a risk-free way to lubricate a vagina, females should stay away from the habit for some reasons we will discuss below.

Here's why you should stick to water-based and oil-based lube.

You Can Contract Sexually Transmitted Diseases Through Saliva

Sexually transmitted infections that affect the throat and mouth can find their way to sexual organs through saliva.

That is to say, a sex mate with herpes sores in these areas can transfer it to you if they are Using Saliva as Lube during penetrative sex.

As impossible as it may sound, this is one of the most common methods people contract genital herpes.

You do not have to see a lesion around a mate's lips to sense danger; you can still contract the virus through spit. Remember, herpes manifests differently; in some, it comes with lesions and sores, while it shows no symptoms in others.

Other oral sexually transmitted infections you risk contracting through using saliva as lube include common STDs like Gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV, and Chlamydia. Some of these conditions are also asymptomatic.

Exposes you to vaginal infections

Not all bacteria in the mouth are good for the vagina. Remember, spit also carries digestive enzymes to help in the breakdown of food.

Introducing such bacteria and enzymes to the female reproductive system can interfere with the natural bacterial composition of the vaginal microbiome and put you at the risk of candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis.

One can contract both these conditions which develop in females when there's an imbalance in the bacteria and yeast and bacteria of the vagina. Depending on saliva for friction-free penetration completely changes the vaginal ecosystem resulting in one of the above infections.

Saliva is not as effective as lube

Even minus the danger of exposure to sexually transmitted infections or interference with the bacterial composition of the vagina, saliva is not a recommended way to moisten a dry vagina.

Saliva has no properties to make it qualify as an effective lube. It loses its slipperiness faster and dries up in a matter of seconds.

Professionally produced lubricants, however, are perfected to match the slipperiness of the natural lube your vagina secretes.

Lubrication causes a slick feel and reduces friction. Lack of lubrication can lead to tears in the genitals, which are not only irritating but could also lead to an infection.

In a Nutshell

Though many sex mates have resorted to spitting in the absence of lube, it is not the safest way to go. For that reason, you want to shop for water-type or silicone-type lube to use when you need it.

Can One Contract STD from a Toilet Seat?

'The chances of contracting STIs from a toilet' is another controversial subject that probably everyone wants to know the underlying facts.

For those who had the most caring moms, lessons like 'don't sit comfortably on a public toilet' were everyday reminders.  

But that does not mean other moms who did not warn of the danger of contracting diseases from public restrooms didn't care.  

It probably didn't occur to them that this is a lesson worth teaching. Or maybe, they never saw any danger in it at all.

So are toilets this dirty? Can you contract a sexually transmitted disease if your buttocks get into contact with the toilet seat?

Well, recently, a health expert, Christine Greves of the Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for women and infants shed light on this matter.

And the facts behind it may scare you at first, but that's only before you hear the explanation behind it.

It’s Almost Impossible to Get an STD from a Washroom

FACT: You cannot contract an STI from a washroom. The chances of getting infected are very tiny that you have nothing to worry about, according to Dr. Greves.

So if you have been squatting in public washrooms then maybe it's time to get a more comfortable dunk!

So what was Dr. Greves' explanation for this?

According to her, sexually transmitted infections do not survive outside a person's body. In the simplest words, a washroom seat does not provide an ecosystem for the STD-causing viruses and bacteria to thrive.

Most of these infections die in 10 seconds after they have left the body. They are better off in the warm surroundings of the human tissue and not on a cold washroom seat.

But Dr. Greves is not a maniac who wants you to walk in for a dunk and come out with an STI.

The Center for Disease Control also agrees that since "the herpes virus doesn't survive for long outside the human body, it's almost impossible to contract the infection via washroom seats, or any other objects an infected individual uses."

And not only herpes, but the same also applies to sexually transmitted infections or the common STDs like HIV, Syphilis, and HPV.

So those who squat are not any better than those who sit. There's no risk in sitting in these washroom seats. They can only protect you from germs around an unhygienic seat but not from STIs.

Final Words

If you have been keen to squat in public toilets, well and good, maybe you can't stop it.

But you should never forget to wash your hands after every trip.  Use water and soap to rinse thoroughly and dry your hands with a clean towel.

Remember, the handle to your toilet door and anything you touch inside the small room could carry more germs than your seat.