Sexual Health
Although there are over 30 sexually transmitted diseases, here are some of the more common ones with their symptoms:
Syphilis:
This disease is a bacteria infection that can be spread from the sores of an infected person to the genitals or mouth of a partner. Syphilis is curable, and early detection minimizes the negative affects of the disease. It may cause permanent damage to the body, including the nervous system. Many times Syphilis may have no noticeable symptoms. Sores may disappear, but the bacteria will remain in your system until directly treated.
Chlamydia:
The most damaging effects of this disease are seen in women, when it causes an infection of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries. The disease can cause no discomfort or can cause vaginal discharge, pain, and fever. In addition to infertility and pelvic pain, a woman's fallopian tubes can be damaged and cause tubal ectopic pregnancy. The rupture and resulting hemorrhage of pregnancies in fallopian tubes is one of the most common causes of death due to pregnancy during the first trimester. Chlmaydial infection rates are the highest among teenage women. PID is also caused from Chlamydia.
PID:
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease leaves scar tissue all over a woman's sexual organs. Ectopic pregnancies are a result of this disease and can kill both mother and baby. Symptoms of the disease are pain in the lower abdomen and back, irregular bleeding, vaginal discharge, nausea, and fever. Effects include infertility and problem pregnancies.
Gonorrhea:
In males, Gonorrhea causes discharge and burning upon urination which can result in urethral strictures and other problems. In females, Gonorrhea may cause PID, arthritis, infertility, pelvic pain and other problems. One other problem with Gonorrhea is that the germs can spread to the bloodstream and infect other areas of the body.
Herpes:
Herpes is a viral disease without a cure and is passed through skin to skin contact, not through bodily fluid. Condoms offer no protections from this disease. The initial outbreak is the most painful, but will return at times of high stress. These painful recurrent genital ulcers become very uncomfortable and sometimes severe with simple actions, such as urination.
HPV:
Human Papilloma Virus is the most common viral STD causing more than 5.5 million new infections each year. This disease causes genital warts and over 90% of all cervical cancer. This virus has over 80 strains, some of which cause warts on both the genital and thigh areas. It is spread through skin to skin contact and is incurable.
HIV and AIDS:
Persons who develop AIDS will usually die of AIDS unless death comes from some other cause first. One way that infection occurs is from sexual contact with an HIV-infected person who may look and feel totally normal and may have no idea they are infected.
More Information:
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term exclusive relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is unifected.
Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov for further information.
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