Sexually transmitted diseases also known as STDs are diseases that are acquired primarily through sexual activity. In the United States, the number of teens diagnosed with STD’s is alarmingly high. The most common conditions in this category include:
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
- Trichomoniasis
- Genital Herpes
- HPV (Human papillomavirus infection)
- HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)
- Syphilis
Diagnosis
One issue with this category of infections is that they are often not diagnosed early. Although millions of people are diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections every year, millions still are not even diagnosed. The most common reasons for this are as follows:
- Symptoms of STDs are very similar to other infections, so it is easy to ignore them
- In many cases, the symptoms are not present even though the infection exists
If you are not sure, it is advisable to find a testing center that has safe testing procedures to undergo some preliminary tests. This can help with better treatment and prevention in the future.
Typical symptoms that might indicate potential sexually transmitted diseases include:
- Bumps or sores around the genital organ and anal outlet
- Swelling near the genital organ
- Irregular discharge from the penis or vagina
- Fever or chills
- Pain during sex that did not exist before
- Severe itching around the genital organs
Treatment
The most important thing is that you consult a doctor as soon as you notice symptoms that are common to STDs. They can typically be treated with a course of antibiotics. In order to treat them comprehensively, it is important that:
- You take the antibiotics exactly as prescribed
- You continue your prescription as long as it is advised by the doctor even if the symptoms disappear
- You don’t share medicines with others as they might have slightly different problems
Avoiding STDs
As important as it is for you to avoid getting sexually transmitted infections, you should also make sure that you do not spread them to your partners. If you have symptoms of STD, stop having sex until you have consulted a doctor and they say it’s okay to do so. Since sexually transmitted infections can happen to anybody having regular sexual relations, you can avoid them by:
- Limiting the number sexual partners as more partners means a greater chance that one of them has an infection
- Ideally it is better to have a single partner in a monogamous relationship since this reduces risk dramatically
- Getting yourself and your partner tested for STDs at the beginning of a new relationship
- Using condoms regularly during sexual intercourse
Even if you are enjoying a monogamous relationship, it helps to get tested at least once a year. Most STDs happen because people are not aware of safe practices and STD symptoms. Remember that STDs are not an inevitable part of having sexual relationships if you are careful.