Sexually Transmitted Diseases are something many patients do not want to discuss with their doctor. Though we have reached an age when most things are discussed openly without any fear, many of us are still afraid of discussing about the STD we may have. They are afraid of the reactions of their friends and relatives and also of the doctor. Though this should not happen, it happens with many. So such people order medicines from the Internet to keep privacy. What are the pluses and minuses of buying medicines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases on the Internet? Let us try to find out.

The only plus if at all it can be called that is the privacy one has buying on the net. There is no public exposure of one's health but the risks are many fold.

Are you are diagnosing yourself by talking about your symptoms on some forums and deciding about what disease you may have? This carries very big risk. Though common symptoms may be listed for diseases, only the trained eyes of a doctor can identify the disease. Further tests may be needed to confirm the disease. This should not be avoided. Surprisingly when I visit forums, I find lot many people asking if they have an STD and if yes, which? Please note that diagnosis cannot be done in this way. It is dangerous.

If you are buying medicine from the Internet are you taking care of the following?

1. If the medicine has been approved for treatment of your disease by a Govt. agency?

2. If the side effects of the medicine are listed?

3. How about contraindications and interactions with other medicines?

4. Has any blind trial been conducted about the efficacy of the medicine you are buying?

5. How reliable is the seller? Can you have faith in what is written on the website?

I would advise that Internet should only be used to enhance knowledge about diseases. It is dangerous if diagnosis is done on forums or by reading about symptoms. It is also not safe to buy medicines on the Internet without your doctor's advice. If at all you feel that some medicine may be of help to you and is available cheap, you would be safer consulting your doctor about that.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.