How to Understand the Relationship Between Venereal Disease and a Sound Sex Code

Have you ever really seriously considered the relationship of venereal disease to a sound sex code? Attempts to scare people into morality by holding up the dangers of venereal disease have not been effective. Our proper suspicion of this approach to morality should not become, however, an excuse for ignorance and false ideas.

There seems to be a popular, widespread illusion that modern medical science has just about licked venereal disease. The facts are quite otherwise. Our latest statistics show more new cases of venereal diseases than of influenza, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and malaria combined. We make a great effort to combat infantile paralysis. Syphilis is forty-three times more prevalent, and among one group of life insurance policy-holders, the death rate was nearly twenty-seven times as great. One estimate indicates that twenty percent of those who consort illicitly have venereal disease. By the law of averages, if you have intercourse with five different persons, one will have VD. Against this health menace there is at present only one effective defense; morality. The army has used every known medical resource to combat venereal infections. Soldiers have been instructed and provided with every known preventative and treatment. Despite the very best which medical science could do, the rate in the Army of Occupation rose to twenty-five percent. How do such facts affect you and your conduct?

They should affect, first of all, the problem of premarital relationships. C and R were engaged. Being of a more "liberal" school they had sex relationships both with each other and with a few especially close friends of whom they were genuinely fond; R with two other men, and C with four other girls. One of these other girls had consorted with several of her good friends, and one of these had consorted with a diseased prostitute. R's infection was thus received fourth-hand, but it was no less tragic. It went undetected for some time; sufficient to render her sterile. C was a fairly nice boy, and he wanted a family with children. He did take pains to become cured of his own infection, but he also broke his engagement with R.

In many states, those who marry are required by law to make sure that neither of them has a venereal infection. This is far from enough. It is important that the bride have a thorough examination by a competent gynecologist. The specialist can often detect conditions which need correction in their earlier stages, when they are easier to correct, which the general practitioner lacks the experience to perceive. In several of our counseling cases, gynecologists were able to make such corrections, which examinations by general practitioners had overlooked, and have saved brides from the necessity of dangerous operations later. To find such a specialist you may have to visit a larger city. Do so without hesitation. It may be a matter of life and death. It can easily be a matter serious for health.

The examination of the groom is less serious and difficult, but still important. For one thing, he should be able to qualify for life insurance. It may be possible for him to combine two examinations in one. Marriage makes demands upon the groom and potential father which call for good health. You should at least know what that state of health is. Ignorance is no excuse, and certainly no protection.