About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

One of the risks of intimate sexual contact, especially for men and women who have more than one partner, is the infection with a sexually transmitted disease, more commonly known as STD. Even with persons who have only one partner, risks in acquiring sexually diseases are possible. Despite improved diagnosis and treatment for these diseases, their incidence has increased, probably because of the sexual freedom in the previous years, which has resulted in large part from more reliable birth control.

Sexually transmitted diseases are widely common, affecting more than 12 million people in the US every year. Sexually transmitted diseases are caused are caused by organisms that thrive in the warm, moist, environment of the reproductive system and are transmitted by sexual contact with an infected partner. These organisms are found in infected body fluids lie blood, vaginal secretions, semen, and sores in the mouth and oral areas. Aside from sexual contact without proper use of protection like latex condoms and other barrier methods, other methods to pass on the infection are sharing needles used in drug addiction, ear piercing and tattooing. Contrary to other people’s perception, donating blood, sitting next to an infected person, using toilet seats, sharing utensils, touching doorknobs, and swimming in the pools does not make a person become infected of STD.

Gonorrhea is the most prevalent of the sexually transmitted diseases, but herpes, syphilis, trichomoniasis and chlamydia are common enough to be concern to sexually active people. Other sexually transmitted diseases include AIDS or the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, genital warts, and others. Although with the exception of herpes, the diseases can be cured, the consequences of delaying sexually transmitted disease treatments are too important to ignore. Permanent sterility can result.

Sexually transmitted disease symptoms are as follows. Sores or blisters on or around the sex organs or mouth, pain or burning during urination; discharges or exudates from the penis or vagina that smells or looks undesirable; and itching, swelling, pelvic pain or pain in or around the sex organs. It is also important to note that women can have dormant symptoms of sexually transmitted disease, which means symptoms are not seen visibly, or may not be detected. Therefore, it is necessary to get tested right away if you think you have any symptoms, or think you've been exposed to an STD by visiting the doctor.

Sexually transmitted diseases are particularly serious for pregnant women. The disease can be transmitted to a baby passing through the birth canal and can critically affect the child. Serious medical complications brought about by sexually transmitted diseases to a child may be brain damage, heart disease, birth defects, low birth weight, premature birth, and even death. A person who does become infected with any of these diseases must abstain from further sexual contact until the problem has been controlled, so that recurrence of infection and spread of the disease is prevented. Any sexual partners need to be informed of the possibility of infection and must seek treatment, whether or not symptoms develop.