Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Physician Tells You What You Need to Know (Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

Rating:
Summary: Protect yourself from STDs with the latest information
Review: "Because so many people are infected, it is very important to understand what STDs are, and how they are transmitted. Such knowledge allows people to take steps to protect themselves and helps to keep fear from controlling their lives. People who have information about STDs can lead a richer sexual life because they do not have to live in fear-they know how to lower their risk of acquiring infection."-Dr. Lisa Marr, in the preface to Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Physician Tells You What You Need to Know

Despite the emphasis on safe sex in the era of HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections remain alarmingly common. Every year, more than 12 million people in this country will be diagnosed with one of the twenty STDs known to modern medicine-from familiar diseases like HIV and syphilis to conditions such as chlamydia and herpes, which are less understood by the public. More than half of sexually active adults over age 35 will acquire one or more STDs at some point in their lives. The majority of STDs remain part of a "hidden epidemic" for reasons that range from reluctance of parents and teachers to talk about sex to the lack of symptoms produced by many disorders. Yet the long-term effects may be devastating and can include infertility, scarring, premature births, and death. There is a clear need for greater public awareness of how easily STDs are transmitted-and how potentially dangerous they are.

With this book, Dr. Lisa Marr provides a much-needed resource on the subject of STDs in a comprehensive and easy-to-use reference format. As the medical director at an STD clinic, Dr. Marr worked on the front lines of the fight against STDs, and her approach is frank, nonjudgmental, and thorough. In Part One of the book, she describes male and female anatomy and reviews the symptoms that may indicate infection with an STD. She explains what an STD exam should include and discusses sexual communication as well as safe and unsafe sexual practices. Side bars, case studies, and illustrations help explain all of these important topics. Part Two is a comprehensive encyclopedia of STDs, with entries for each that describe symptoms, risk factors, transmission, testing, and treatment.

Dispelling common myths and misconceptions about STDs, Dr. Marr helps readers take steps to protect themselves against infection and, for those who develop symptoms or believe they have been exposed to infection, describes what to look for in appropriate medical care.

Rating:
Summary: If use is any indication...
Review: I am a consumer health librarian, and I keep a pretty close eye on my book collection to see what is being used. Although this book has never checked out in the 10 months we've had it, several times a week it moves around: it gets misshelved, set on top of the bookcase, taken into our waiting or reading area, left on a chair, etc. What this says to me is that there is a real demand for this information, but people are not inclined to check the book out and take it home (who wants to be spotted on the bus carrying a book on STDs?). So, people are sneaking a peek at the information when they can.

Besides being heavily used, this is a fine book that covers the full gamut of STDs, including many that I had not heard of (and I'm pretty savvy about medical terms and disease names), and helpful sections on genital anatomy, "What is 'safe sex'?", a symptom key, what to expect in an examination, and a section on how open communication can help save your life and health in a sexual situation. I wouldn't call the writing style fascinating, but it gets the information across in spades, and does not talk down or confuse. The book also has the full complement of appendices: resource list, glossary, bibliography (largely clinical medical articles), and an excellent index. This is a seriously good consumer health book, and I wish they were all like this, regardless of topic.

p.s.--When I went to get the book in the library stacks just now, it was misshelved again. ;)

Rating:
Summary: If use is any indication...
Review: I am a consumer health librarian, and I keep a pretty close eye on my book collection to see what is being used. Although this book has never checked out in the 10 months we've had it, several times a week it moves around: it gets misshelved, set on top of the bookcase, taken into our waiting or reading area, left on a chair, etc. What this says to me is that there is a real demand for this information, but people are not inclined to check the book out and take it home (who wants to be spotted on the bus carrying a book on STDs?). So, people are sneaking a peek at the information when they can.

Besides being heavily used, this is a fine book that covers the full gamut of STDs, including many that I had not heard of (and I'm pretty savvy about medical terms and disease names), and helpful sections on genital anatomy, "What is 'safe sex'?", a symptom key, what to expect in an examination, and a section on how open communication can help save your life and health in a sexual situation. I wouldn't call the writing style fascinating, but it gets the information across in spades, and does not talk down or confuse. The book also has the full complement of appendices: resource list, glossary, bibliography (largely clinical medical articles), and an excellent index. This is a seriously good consumer health book, and I wish they were all like this, regardless of topic.

p.s.--When I went to get the book in the library stacks just now, it was misshelved again. ;)

Rating:
Summary: The Hard Truth
Review: I read the book for a research paper for one of my biology classes and was very impressed with it. The writer successfully explained in layman's terms the harsh truth about STDs. I recommend it to all. Everyone needs to be aware of the world we live in and we need to know the price we can pay for the decisions we make. I live in Miami, where the sex scene is everywhere: music, the club scene, movies, the media. You need to know before the bombardment of sexhits you, so that when you make your decisions, or mistakes, you are prepared.

Educational, and yet interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Sexually Transmitted Disease by Marr
Review: This book explains the male and female anatomy with particular
emphasis on the causes and prevention of classic sexually
transmitted diseases and disease processes. The author
discusses herpes, lice, warts, yeast infections, testicle
bacteria, gonorrhea, prostrate infections, urinary tract
infections and a whole host of infectious diseases. There is
an exhaustive discussion of safe sex which includes:
o monogamy
o abstinence
o testing and checkups
o avoidance of risk behaviors
o outercourse
o chlamydia bacteria and special tests PCR, LCR

This book is valuable for anyone travelling overseas with an
expectation of engaging multiple sex partners. The author
explains the major disease processes, prevention strategies,
testing, diagnosis and modern treatment modalities. The book is
worth the price if you have questions about sexual contact and
the risks/precautions involved.