The Centers for Disease Control reports that over 20 million people contract sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) each year, with the three most prevalent being chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. These three infections are treatable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, they can cause infertility and other serious health issues. In addition to the physical side effects of STDs, the mental burden of having an incurable disease can cause depression and anxiety in patients, sometimes leading to suicide attempts.
What Are STDs?
STDs are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The most common STDs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, and venereal disease. Each STD has different symptoms, but some STDs can cause infertility, cancer, or even death. Gonorrhea is an infection caused by bacteria and affects the reproductive organs in both men and women. It can lead to inflammation in the genitals, rectum, throat, eyes, or other parts of the body. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that primarily affects young people who have multiple sex partners and those who use intravenous drugs like cocaine. Chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which increases a woman's risk of becoming infertile; it also may increase her risk of contracting HIV/AIDS if she is exposed to sex with an infected partner. Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete which produces sores on your mouth as well as on your genitals during its initial stages.
The Most Common STDs
STDs are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that are passed from person to person during sexual contact. The most common STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and genital warts. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics. Syphilis is caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics. Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite and can be treated with medication. Genital warts are caused by a virus and can be treated with medication or surgery. Gonorrhea treatment is determined by the extent of the infection. Penicillin, doxycycline, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone are the drugs used to treat gonorrhea. An STI (sexually transmitted infection) may not show symptoms for months or years after it has been contracted.
How Do I Know If I Have an STD?
If you have any symptoms of an STD, it’s important to get tested as soon as possible. Many STDs don’t have any symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to get tested. The most common STDs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Chancroid is another STD, but it’s not as common in the United States. It's caused by bacteria that live on skin surfaces, and people usually catch it through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Chlamydia treatment typically includes a single dose of antibiotics like azithromycin or doxycycline. Syphilis treatment can consist of penicillin shots or other antibiotics that may be prescribed if there's evidence of neurological involvement.
What Can I Do If I Have an STD?
If you think you might have an STD, the best thing to do is to get tested as soon as possible. That way, you can get started on treatment if necessary. There are a few different STDs, but some of the more common ones include chlamydia, syphilis, and genital warts. Each STD has different symptoms, so it’s important to get a professional opinion. For example, syphilis can be treated with antibiotics if it’s caught early enough, but it can cause serious health problems if it’s left untreated. Genital warts can be treated with creams or surgery, but they may come back. It's important to know that people who contract these diseases will usually not experience any signs for years (sometimes decades) after infection. One of the most notable symptoms of chlamydia is abnormal discharge from one or both sexual organs in men and women, though other symptoms like fever, pain when urinating, pain during sex in women, pain in testicles in men, vaginal discharge in women who've never had children also indicate a likely STD infection. It's also worth noting that while many people believe that only gay men experience sexually transmitted diseases due to unprotected anal sex without a condom; anyone who has unprotected sex (without using a condom) is at risk for contracting an STD. The easiest way to avoid getting an STD? Just use protection!
How Do STDs Affect My Health?
STDs are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that are passed from person to person during sexual contact. If left untreated, STDs can cause serious health problems. Chlamydia is a bacterial STD that can cause infertility in women. Syphilis is a bacterial STD that can cause brain damage and death. Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can lead to cancer. Trichomoniasis is a parasitic STD that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Blue waffle disease is a vaginal infection that can cause itching, burning, and discharge. It is not known how blue waffle disease spreads, but it's possible it spreads through bodily fluids such as blood or semen. The only way to know for sure if you have blue waffle disease is to get tested. There are treatments available for blue waffle diseases like antibiotics and antifungal medicines.
How Long Do STDs Last?
Chlamydia, syphilis, and donovanosis are caused by bacteria. Genital warts, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes are caused by viruses. STDs can be passed from person to person through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. STDs can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth. The best way to prevent STDs is to abstain from sexual contact or to have sex only with one partner who is also abstaining from sexual contact with other partners. If you have multiple partners, you should use condoms every time you have sex. You should also get tested for STDs on a regular basis. Some treatments for genital warts include over-the-counter medications such as podofilox (Condylox) and imiquimod (Aldara). Trichomoniasis treatment includes metronidazole tablets or gel (Flagyl), tinidazole tablets or gel (Tindamax), or clindamycin cream (Cleocin). There are many different types of genital wart treatments available, but the most common ones include prescription medication like Famvir, Gardasil 9 injection, Daklinza injection, Valcyte infusion, and Sipuleucel-T injections. Donovanosis treatment may involve antibiotics and surgery.
How Do I Treat an STD?
If you think you have an STD, the first thing you should do is get tested. If you have chlamydia, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics. If you have syphilis, you will need to take medication to kill the bacteria causing the infection. If you have genital warts, your doctor may prescribe a cream or gel to apply to warts. If you have lymphogranuloma venereum, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. And if you have genital herpes, there is no cure, but there are treatments that can help lessen the symptoms. Antiviral medications like Acyclovir (Zovirax) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex) can reduce the duration of outbreaks. You also might be prescribed antiviral medications for long-term suppression of outbreaks when taken every day as suppressive therapy. You can take Valacyclovir to suppress outbreaks and lower your risk for transmission during a time when they're more frequent (such as at times when you're stressed). Acyclovir pills, genital herpes ointments, and genital herpes creams - are just some examples of genital herpes treatment options available.
What Is the Best Way to Prevent an STD?
The best way to prevent an STD is by using a condom every time you have sex. If you are sexually active, you should get tested for STDs regularly. If you think you have an STD, it’s important to see a doctor right away so you can start treatment. There are many different STDs, including chancroid, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and genital warts. Each STD has different symptoms and requires different treatment. For example, genital warts can be treated with creams or surgery, while chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Some STDs, like HIV, have no cure. But with proper care and treatment, people with HIV can live long and healthy lives. Chlamydia and other STIs can be prevented if you use condoms correctly during all sexual encounters. Chlamydia and other venereal diseases will not show symptoms until the infection becomes severe. In most cases, venereal diseases will not cause any major complications, but they will require medical attention to make sure they don't spread.
Where Can I Get Tested?
There are many STDs out there, but today we’re going to focus on two in particular: chlamydia and syphilis. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and is the most common STD in the United States. It is most commonly spread through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Syphilis is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum and can be spread through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex as well as through close contact with an infected person’s sore. If you think you may have either of these STDs, it’s essential to get tested as soon as possible. STD testing can detect chlamydia and syphilis at early stages, which gives you more time to start treatment before they become more difficult to treat. With STD testing, donovanosis and genital herpes are also detected during the early stages. Stis (sexually transmitted infections) are a major concern for anyone who has multiple sexual partners or uses intravenous drugs. The only way to prevent getting them is by using protection each time you have sex with someone new or engaging in risky behavior such as needle sharing.
Also, see: 5 Little-Known Sexual Health Issues Affecting Men
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