Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) require medical attention. Some STDs, like chlamydia, will clear up with antibiotic treatment, while others, like herpes, have manageable symptoms but not cured.
What Are STDs?
STDs are transmissible infections that spread between partners through sexual contact, from mother to baby during pregnancy or delivery, and other actions such as sharing needles or blood transfusions.
STDs Can Be Bacterial, Viral or Parasitic
Bacterial:
Examples of bacterial STDs include chlamydia and gonorrhea. Bacterial STDs are treatable with the use of prescribed antibiotics.
Viral:
Examples of viral STDs include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes. There is no cure for viral STDs, but use of pharmaceutical therapies can lessen the severity of symptoms or outbreaks and decrease the likelihood of passing the STD to your partner.
Parasitic:
An example of a parasitic STD is trichomoniasis. Antibiotics can be used to treat trichomoniasis.
Why Are STD Testing and Treatment Important?
In some cases, an STD can be present in the body for years before a person shows any symptoms. However, just because the STD isn’t causing symptoms doesn’t mean that it can’t pass between partners and cause damage in the body. Untreated STDs in a woman can lead to Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious infection in a woman’s reproductive organs that can lead to severe complications including the following:
- Ectopic pregnancy – caused by scarring in the fallopian tubes
- Infertility
- Chronic pelvic pain
Additional risks of untreated STDs include:
- Eye inflammation
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Certain cancers, such as HPV-associated cervical cancer & rectal cancers
During treatment for bacterial STDs, it is still possible to pass the STD to a partner and it is necessary to be tested again following treatment to ensure it was successful. STD treatment does not create immunity from getting STDs in the future; therefore, those who are sexually active with multiple partners should get tested regularly. Don’t wait for symptoms. If you are sexually active, get tested now.
Free STD Testing
Alpha Center provides testing at no cost for two of the most common STDs, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Schedule an appointment today and make your reproductive health a priority.