STDs

Recently Answered

• QWhich questions should I ask my doctor about chlamydia?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  Review the following questions about chlamydia so you're prepared to discuss this important health issue with your healthcare professional:

  • If chlamydia is often without symptoms, how do I know if I have been infected?
  • If I don't treat chlamydia, what will happen?
  • Which treatments are available?
  • What should I tell my partner?
  • How long should I abstain from sex after treatment begins?
  • What are the symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease?
  • Is it possible I am infected with gonorrhea as well?
  • Is chlamydia transmitted by sexual intercourse only?
  • Do I need to be retested after treatment to be sure I am cured?
• QHow is trichomoniasis diagnosed in women?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  For women, a trichomoniasis diagnosis based on symptoms is inadequate because many of these symptoms are shared with other inflammatory conditions of the vagina and cervix, such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
  
  For women, the most common way to diagnose trichomoniasis is by physical examination of the pelvic area by a healthcare professional and by looking at a sample of vaginal fluid under a microscope (wet mounts) for the presence of protozoa.
  
  A pelvic examination can reveal small red ulcerations on the vaginal wall or cervix. The wet mount technique, however, is accurate only about 60-70% of the time, as protozoa may be hard to find or mistaken for normal cells. It can also yield false positives. There also are several rapid-diagnostic kits available that can diagnose infection in 10 to 45 minutes. These tests also come with the risk of false positives.
  
  More reliable tests have been developed, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, a type of nucleic acid test that uses enzymes to better detect the virus in the culture. It is very effective in identifying Trichomonas vaginalis in women and is becoming more readily available.
  
  Because a test for vaginal infection is not necessarily a part of a routine pelvic exam, you can't assume your healthcare professional will test you for trichomoniasis. You should request trichomoniasis screening if you have symptoms or if you have been in contact with a high-risk sexual partner.
  
  If you visit your healthcare professional to see if you have a vaginal infection, you should schedule your examination when you are not having your period.
• QHow can I help my adolescent avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are particularly common among adolescents and an issue kids are concerned about. Parents can play a large role in their adolescents' behavior, both in terms of the behavior you model yourself and in terms of the communication between you and your teens.
  
  Make sure your daughter has regular visits with a competent gynecologist or other health care professional and that your son sees a medical professional who specializes in adolescent health at least once a year, if, for nothing else, than some plain talk about STDs and pregnancy.
  
  And talk to your kids. Study after study proves that when parents talk to their kids about sexual issues, their kids listen. Don't worry that talking about sex is the same as condoning it; hundreds of studies dispute that theory. In fact, studies show that when parents talk about sex, children are more likely to talk about it themselves, to delay their first sexual experiences and to protect themselves against pregnancy and disease when they do have sex.
• QWhat are the symptoms of gonorrhea in women?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  When symptoms of gonorrhea occur in infected females, they often are mild. Increased vaginal discharge is the most common symptom. Painful urination and spotting between periods, sometimes triggered by sex, are other common symptoms. Females may also experience pain low in the abdomen or discomfort during sex. If these symptoms are ignored and the infection goes untreated, the bacteria often spread from the cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID increases the chances of infertility in females who have the condition.
  
  Because gonorrhea is often present in females without recognizable symptoms, it is recommended that sexually active females, regardless of symptoms, be tested routinely for gonorrhea if they are at increased risk for infection.
• QDo vaginal contraceptives containing nonoxynol-9 help prevent STDs?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  Over-the-counter vaginal contraceptives that contain the spermicide nonoxynol-9 include a warning label from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that vaginal contraceptives containing nonoxynol-9 do not protect against infection from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
  
  The FDA's warning also advises consumers that the use of vaginal contraceptives containing nonoxynol-9 can increase vaginal irritation, which may increase the possibility of transmitting HIV and other STDs from infected partners. If you decide to use a spermicide along with a condom, it is preferable to use spermicide in the vagina according to manufacturer's instructions.
• QWhy does trichomoniasis receive so little attention compared to other STDs?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  Because 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.

  See All 2 Answers
• QWhen should I call my doctor if I have syphilis?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A RealAge answered

  Syphilis is a serious bacterial disease that is spread through sexual activity. It may first appear as a single, painless sore in the genital area or area of contact. Later, the sore may go away on its own, but the disease will remain in the body. A rash may appear on the hands and feet. Over time, the disease can lead to serious organ damage, including skin and heart damage. Call your doctor if you are sexually active and notice any unexplained open sores on your skin or genitals, or if you have an unexplained rash. Your doctor can give you a correct diagnosis and treat the cause of your symptoms. When caught early, syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. It's important to know that syphilis can also be passed to your baby if you are pregnant while you have the disease.
• QWhat are the symptoms of trichomoniasis in women?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  A significant number of women infected with trichomoniasis have no noticeable symptoms. If symptoms develop, they usually occur within five to 28 days after exposure to an infected partner. However, in some cases, the symptoms may be delayed for longer. The most common symptoms are vaginal discharge, irritation, itching and burning during urination.
  
  Trichomoniasis most often presents as a yellowish-green vaginal discharge with a strong odor. Itching and soreness of the vagina and vulva are common. Some women experience vague abdominal pain. Trichomoniasis can occur with other infections, particularly pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis.
• QHow can I have an STD if my STD test results are negative?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HealthyWomen answered

  No single test screens for all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some require a vaginal exam and others require blood or urine tests. And just because you have a negative test doesn't mean you don't have the disease. Gonorrhea, for example, may travel far up into your reproductive tract, so your doctor is unable to obtain a culture. Or your body may not have developed enough antibodies to a virus like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to turn up in a blood test. Still, it's important to ask your healthcare provider to regularly test you for STDs if you're sexually active in a nonmonogamous relationship (or have the slightest concern about your partner's fidelity). 
• QWhat can I do to help prevent vaginal infections if I have chlamydia?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Marcy Holmes, MSN, NP , Nursing, answered

  If you take antibiotics to treat something like an infection with chlamydia, you may be prone to getting a yeast infection as a side effect of antibiotic use. You can read up on ways to prevent yeast infections by avoiding sugar and yeasty foods, using mild soaps but no douching, keeping good hygiene wiping front to back, as well as consuming probiotics like acidophilus or eating more yogurt daily. Sometimes a yeast treatment is given by the healthcare provider at the same time as antibiotics if you are prone to yeast infections as well- so just ask if you are concerned or if you experience any symptoms during or after your chlamydia treatment.

  It is important that both you and your partner are treated at the same time for Chlamydia, so you both are infection free before you have contact again.

  Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that gets into the vagina from sexual contact to fluids from a penis or another vagina. You can also get Chlamydia infections in the rectal/anus area as well. You avoid sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, by using condoms or avoiding any sexual contact. This is true for various sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomonas, Herpes and even Syphilis. Abstinence from sexual activity or condom use 100% of the time is best, so there is no contact at all with vaginal or penis fluids.