Sexually Transmitted Diseases
STD's
Sexually transmitted diseases are an unfortunate reality of sexual activity. Although you can protect your health by using barrier methods of protection, like condoms, and screening your partners, there's always a possibility of catching or transmitting an STD. This risk increases with the number of sexual partners you expose yourself to. Fortunately, most STDs are treatable, although some can become very serious or even life-threatening.
STDs can be caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. Here are some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections:
-- Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of the genital tract. It's often asymptomatic, and symptoms sometimes appear several weeks after being exposed. The symptoms include painful urination, lower abdominal pain and discharge from the penis or vagina. This infection can be treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, however, it can cause permanent damage and infertility, especially in women.
-- Gonorrhea is another bacterial infection. Symptoms usually appear 10 days after exposure to the disease, but it can be asymptomatic for months for some people. Symptoms include cloudy discharge, painful urination, anal itching, bowel pain and swollen testicles.
-- Trichomoniasis is a parasite. It's usually asymptomatic in men but causes vaginal symptoms in women including discharge, painful urination and vaginal itching.
-- Genital herpes is a virus that causes painful or itchy blisters and sores on the genitals and near the anus. The virus often lies dormant for long periods, and it's transmitted only when an active outbreak is present.
-- Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. This virus causes clusters of warts on the genitals, anus or throat. It's often asymptomatic in men, but it can cause infertility and an increased risk of cervical cancer in women. An HPV vaccine is available to prevent the spread of this disease.
-- Hepatitis A, B and C are all viral infections that affect the liver. Aside from sexual activity, these viruses can be spread through shared needles and as such are common among some populations of drug addicts. When symptoms are present, they are similar to other types of liver disease: fatigue, fever, abdominal pain and jaundice.
-- Syphilis is a bacterial infection that comes in stages. Early stage symptoms include swollen lymph nodes and a small, painless sore on the genitals. These symptoms will clear up with time, but the infection will persist if not treated with antibiotics. Left untreated, syphilis can cause complications with the heart and brain. It can also cause a life-threatening infection to an infant if a pregnant woman passes the disease to her child.
-- HIV is a dangerous virus that causes immune deficiency. It presents with early flu-like symptoms of swollen lymph nodes, fever, sore throat, rash and fatigue. These symptoms clear up within a week to a month, but the virus stays active in the body. In late stages, as the patient's immune system is compromised, the symptoms might include severe fever, diarrhea, weight loss and unexplained fatigue. There is no cure for HIV, but it can be managed through drug treatment.
Many infections are asymptomatic, meaning that it's possible to carry and transmit them without realizing it. This makes routine STD screenings important for your health and the safety of your partners.