Sexually transmitted diseases are caused by a variety of organisms. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes venereal warts and cervical dysplasia, a precancerous condition of the cervix. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) causes genital herpes. Gonorrhea (a bacterium) and Chlamydia Trachomatous may cause cervicitis or even pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a severe intra-abdominal infection that can cause pain and infertility. There are other causes as well and other types of STDs. It is important to avoid STDs by being careful to either avoid having intimate contact with someone who harbors an active STD and use condoms to decrease your chances of becoming infected.
STDs
Sexually transmitted diseases may involve infections of the mouth, penis, vagina or anus. There are many different types of sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, gonnorhea and syphillis. Not everyone who has an STD has symptoms, so if you think it's possible that you may have contracted one, you should see a doctor for testing. Most STDs can be treated with antibiotics.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersYou may feel scared or shy about asking for information or help. Keep in mind, the sooner you seek treatment, the less likely the sexually transmitted infection (STI) will cause you severe harm. And the sooner you tell your sex partner(s) that you have an STI, the less likely they are to re-infect you or spread the disease to others.
If you think you may have an STI, see a doctor right away. Doctors, local health departments, and STI and family planning clinics have information about STIs and many offer testing. The American Social Health Association (ASHA) keeps lists of clinics and doctors who provide treatment for STIs.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
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Riverside Health System answeredLike the disease itself, the damage chlamydia causes is often "silent."
For women, untreated chlamydia may lead to:
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID occurs when chlamydia bacteria infect the cells of the cervix, then spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. PID occurs in up to 40 percent of women with untreated chlamydia. PID can lead to:
o Infertility, meaning you can't get pregnant. The infection scars the fallopian tubes and keeps eggs from being fertilized.
o Ectopic or tubal pregnancy. This happens when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. It is a medical emergency.
o Chronic pelvic pain, which is ongoing pain, most often from scar tissue.
• Cystitis (siss-TEYE-tuhss), inflammation of the bladder.
• HIV/AIDS. Women who have chlamydia are 5 times more likely to get HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from a partner who is infected with it.
For men, untreated chlamydia may lead to:
• Infection and scarring of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the body
• Prostatitis (prah-stuh-TEYE-tuhss), swelling of the prostate gland
• Infection in the tube that carries sperm from the testes, causing pain and fever
• Infertility
For women and men, untreated chlamydia may lead to:
• Chlamydia bacteria in the throat, if you have oral sex with an infected partner
• Proctitis (prok-TEYE-tuhss), which is an infection of the lining of the rectum, if you have anal sex with an infected partner
• Reiter's syndrome, which causes arthritis, eye redness, and urinary tract problems
For pregnant women, chlamydia infections may lead to premature delivery. And babies born to infected mothers can get:
• Infections in their eyes, called conjunctivitis (kuhn-junk-tih-VEYE-tuhss) or pinkeye. Symptoms include discharge from the eyes and swollen eyelids. The symptoms most often show up within the first 10 days of life. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness.
• Pneumonia. Symptoms include congestion and a cough that keeps getting worse. Both symptoms most often show up within 3 to 6 weeks of birth.
Both of these infant health problems can be treated. -
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Riverside Health System answeredSee All 3 Answers
Yes. A pregnant woman with untreated gonorrhea has a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, or having her water break too early. Also, her baby could get the infection while passing through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. Treating the newborn's eyes with medicine right after birth can prevent eye infection. Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is found in pregnant women will lower the risk of these problems. All sex partners of pregnant women with gonorrhea must also be treated. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor about testing for STIs, including gonorrhea. Testing is simple, and treatment usually cures the infection and prevents problems for the bab
This answer is based on the source information from National Women's Health Information Center. -
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HealthyWomen answeredSee All 2 AnswersBecause trichomoniasis is very common and causes significant risks to women's health, you would expect to see more interest in its prevention. There are several reasons why this sexually transmitted disease (STD) has received so little attention.
First, its symptoms -- primarily discharge and irritation of the vagina and urethra -- are mild and have been seen as troubling but less serious than the side effects of other STDs.
Second, the most common treatments -- metronidazole and tinidazole -- are highly effective in most women, though some difficulties can arise, such as drug allergies, drug intolerance or the parasite Trichomonas becoming resistant to this class of drugs. No other class of drugs is very effective for treatment. -
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See All 2 AnswersFor women who are sexually active, a pelvic exam can help screen for sexually transmitted diseases, says Cynthia Davis, MD, of Englewood Community Hospital. Watch this video to learn more.
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Riverside Health System answeredSee All 3 AnswersAny sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African Americans. In 2007, young women had over two times the gonorrhea rate of young men.
This answer is based on source information from The National Women's Health Information Center. -
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 3 Answers
Syphilis is a sexually-transmitted disease that's caused by bacteria. This infection starts with a painless sore at the point of infection, usually on the genitals but possibly the anus, mouth or other body part, and progresses from there. If it's diagnosed and treated early, syphilis has no long-term effects. If it's left untreated, though, syphilis may cause serious complications to your heart, brain, and other vital organs.
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Riverside Health System answeredAsk your doctor about getting tested for syphilis if:
You have symptoms and signs of syphilis. You think you might have been exposed to someone with syphilis. You are pregnant. All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis at their first prenatal checkup. Some pregnant women should be tested again, later in the pregnancy. Ask your doctor about retesting. Your or your partner's sexual behavior puts you at risk for STIs (such as having sex with multiple partners, having unprotected sex, or having sex with men who have sex with men). Ask your doctor how often you should be retested. You have another STI.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center. -
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Patricia Geraghty, NP , Women's Health, answeredTrichomoniasis is an infection of the genitals, the vagina in a woman or the penis in a man, by a single cell organism. It can live idefinitely in these areas of the body unless appropriately treated. Fortunately, there are very effective antibiotics that will cure this infection. The first choice of treatment is simply taking 2 grams of metronidazole (brand name Flagyll) or tinidazole (brand name Tindamax) in a single dose.