Oct. 20, 2022 | Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, remain a significant challenge to health-care providers in this country, even with the wealth of information about them that is available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur every year in this country, half of them among young people between the ages of 15 and 24. They will account for almost $16 billion in health care costs. Each of these infections is a potential threat to an individual’s immediate and long-term health and well-being. As well as increasing a person’s risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV infection, STDs can lead to reproductive health complications like infertility and ectopic pregnancy. There are more than 20 types of STDs. Most affect both men and women, but in many cases the problems they cause can be more severe for women. If a pregnant woman has an STD, it can cause serious health problems for the baby.

Oct. 20, 2022 | Chlamydia is one of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. Unlike most STDs, it doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. And even then, the symptoms may not appear until several weeks after you have had sex with an infected partner. Caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis, it can infect both men and women. Men can get chlamydia in their urethra, rectum or throat while women can develop it in their cervix, rectum or throat. Women with chlamydia may notice an abnormal vaginal discharge or burning sensation when they urinate. Men may suffer from pain or swelling in one or both of their testicles as well as a burning or itching around the opening of their penis. Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics although they cannot repair any permanent damage the disease has cause. It is common to get a repeat infection so anyone with the disease should be tested for it again about three months after treatment.

Oct. 20, 2022 | Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and in the urethra of women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes and anus. Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth or anus. Ejaculation does not have to occur for the disease to be transmitted or acquired. With men, the symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Symptoms in women may include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge or vaginal bleeding between periods. Adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics but it can be difficult due to the increase in drug-resistant strains of the disease. New antibiotics or a combinations of drugs must now be used to treat these resistant strains.

Oct. 20, 2022 | The sexually transmitted disease syphilis has often been called “the great imitator” because so many of its signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases. Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with another infected person. The sores occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum but can also occur on the lips and in the mouth. Transmission of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The first symptoms of infection may go undetected because they are very mild and disappear spontaneously. The initial symptom is a chancre, a painless open sore that usually appears on the penis or around or in the vagina. If untreated, syphilis may go on to more advanced stages, including a transient rash and, eventually, serious involvement of the heart and central nervous system. Treatment involves antibiotics although the length of treatment will depend on how long the person has had the disease.

Oct. 20, 2022 | There are several common misconceptions regarding sexually transmitted diseases. Birth control pills do nothing to prevent the spread of STDs. A condom is the only form of birth control that protects against STDs as well as unwanted pregnancies. But be careful, both body heat and time can lessen the effectiveness of a condom, so it’s important not to carry the same one around for a long period of time. Keep an eye on the expiration date listed on the package, never use an expired condom. Even if you don’t have intercourse, it’s possible to get an STD if you engage in unprotected oral sex. The skin-to-skin contact and exchange of body fluids associated with oral sex make it possible for viruses or bacteria to enter your system. In the case of syphilis or herpes, infections that cause open sores, a person may become infected after contact with these sores. The best way to avoid infection is to be in a monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.