Everything You Need to Know About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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According to the World Health Organization, around 374 million new cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases are reported annually.  Some of these include gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, chlamydia, and more. If you have an STD and don’t get treatment, it could lead to serious health problems like infertility or chronic pain from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). While most of these infections are treatable, some, like HIV, are incurable and life-threatening. Hence it is important to care for your sexual health by undergoing STD testing Chapel Hill.

What are the symptoms, causes, and most common STDs? Read below to learn more;

STDs symptoms

You may not have any symptoms at first when you are infected with an STD, but later you might experience some symptoms, including;

  • Smelly vaginal discharge (a fishy odor)
  • Painful urination in men
  • Sores or bumps on the penis or vagina, mouth or rectum in both sexes
  • Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina in women
  •  A rash on or around the genitals or anus in both sexes
  • A lump near your genitals
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Causes of STDs

Multiple sexual partners: Having multiple sexual partners increases your risk of getting an STD. The more sexual partners you have, the greater the chance that one of them will have an STD.

Unprotected sex: Not using condoms puts you at risk for STDs. Condoms help protect against HIV and other STDs by preventing semen from entering the vagina, rectum, or mouth during sex.

Oral sex: STDs can be transmitted during oral sex too. Transmission may occur when an infected person has sores on or around their mouth or genitals. Even if no visible sores exist, many STDs can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.

3 most common types of STDs

Gonorrhoea

Most people with gonorrhea do not have symptoms, but some may have a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis. Some women may have pain and bleeding between periods, increased vaginal discharge, and abdominal pain. Men may have a burning sensation when urinating and increased discharge from the penis.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection affecting the heart, brain, and other internal organs. Early symptoms of syphilis can include painless sores on the genitals and a rash on the palms of hands or soles of feet. Often, though, syphilis does not cause symptoms until the disease progresses to its later stages. In the late stages of syphilis, it can damage the internal organs, resulting in organ failure and death.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common STD. It is a bacterial infection that can be passed from person to person through sexual intercourse. Chlamydia does not always cause symptoms but can lead to serious complications if left untreated. In women, chlamydia can damage the reproductive system and cause infertility in men. It may permanently damage the penis, epididymitis, and sterility.

Sexual health experts at Carolin Urgent Care can help diagnose STDs and develop a suitable treatment plan. Get in touch today.

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