WebMD Newsroom

WebMD's editorial staff on the latest news from the world of health.

Important:

The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, review, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have... Expand

The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately. Hide

Friday, July 9, 2010

Twilight Effect: Talk About Unsafe Sex!

I admit I’m an avid vampire fan… I watch True Blood every night (just bought the first two seasons on DVD), I read all the Twilight series books, and I’m planning on seeing Eclipse next week (guess I’m not passionate enough to have braved the early crowds).

I’ll even own up to the fact that I’ve thought about how cool it might be to be a vampire at times – save for the drinking blood part given that I can hardly eat a steak thinking about where it came from.

But some teens are taking the vampire thing WAY too far. There have been recent reports of teens biting each other as a sign of love and passion… yes, even drawing blood.

Blood is a rich source of some of the most serious and potentially deadly diseases, including hepatitis, syphilis and HIV.

What might start as passion could quickly turn into a life threatening mistake. Just stick with the old fashioned hickey!

Posted by: Michael Smith, MD at 10:19 am