Your sexual health is very important to your overall health and well-being, and that features knowing about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Perhaps you’ve noticed a burning sensation when going to the toilet, or perhaps something just feels off. It may very well be nothing, however it is also an STD, so it’s necessary to get tested.
STIs and STDs are nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. They’re quite common, with more than 2.5 million cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis reported in 2022, in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most STIs are easy to diagnose and treat. But sometimes they don’t cause any recognizable symptoms, so you might not realize you’ve gotten one to treat. And without treatment, they will potentially result in more serious health problems.
Below, we’ll go over common STIs and STDs, and how they’re spread. We’ll also cover some STD symptoms, how you can get tested and your treatment options if you’ve gotten one.
Sexually transmitted infections vs. sexually transmitted diseases
STD is probably going the term you’ve heard when people speak broadly about sexually transmitted infections, however it’s not exactly accurate for a few of them. An infection is simply considered a disease when there are symptoms, and many STIs don’t cause you to experience any.
In some cases, an STI may be the primary stage of an STD. In case you’re tested (even whenever you don’t have symptoms) and the STI is detected and treated straight away, the STI likely won’t turn into an STD. But in case you begin to have symptoms, the STI could also be considered an STD.
Understanding how STIs and STDs are spread
No matter your gender identity, sexual orientation or relationship status, you may get an STI or STD. There are several ways they may be spread. Mostly, STIs and STDs are spread through vaginal, oral, anal or digital sexual contact.
STIs can potentially be spread from pregnant women to their babies while pregnant, delivery or while breastfeeding. They can be spread through blood, as an illustration during blood transfusions or if sharing needles.
Common STD symptoms
Like with any infection or disease, STD symptoms vary. Depending on the STD you’ve gotten, symptoms might appear inside just a few days after exposure, or you might not experience any symptoms for weeks, months or years. And there’s a possibility you might not experience any symptoms in any respect.
STD symptoms in women
STD symptoms in women can easily be mistaken for something else, like a yeast infection, so it’s helpful to pay attention to symptoms. Symptoms can include:
- Pain or a burning sensation when urinating or during a bowel movement
- Changes within the smell or amount of vaginal discharge
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Burning, tingling or itching around or within the genitals
- Pelvic pain
- Sores, rashes, blisters or bumps across the vaginal or anal areas
- Rectal bleeding
- Pain during vaginal or anal penetration
- Swollen and painful lymph nodes, especially within the neck and groin
- Frequent urination
STD symptoms in men
Statistically, while women are more prone to get an STD than men, men can still get them in the event that they have multiple partners or don’t use protection. Symptoms may include:
- Discharge from the penis
- Itching or burning within the penis
- Burning sensation or pain when urinating, or during a bowel movement
- Sores, blisters, rashes or bumps on genitals or mouth
- Pelvic pain
- Testicle pain (though that is less common)
The 9 commonest STIs in men and women, and how they’re treated
The excellent news is that many STIs and STDs may be cured, and even people who don’t have a cure may be successfully managed or minimized with proper treatment. There are lots of different sorts of STIs and STDs, but these are the nine commonest.
1. Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an infection brought on by a form of bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis, and often has few to no symptoms, especially in women. In keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that is essentially the most commonly reported STI within the U.S., especially in females ages 15-24. But since there are frequently no symptoms, it’s difficult to know exactly what number of cases there are every year.
Chlamydia may be cured with antibiotics. Following a physician’s advice and taking antibiotics accurately is the most effective strategy to effectively treat chlamydia.
2. Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an infection brought on by a form of bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and it’s the second mostly reported STI within the U.S. – especially in people ages 15-24 years old. Since most gonorrhea infections don’t have symptoms, the CDC estimates the variety of reported cases is a fraction of the true amount.
Gonorrhea may be cured with antibiotics, but drug-resistant strains are increasing, in keeping with the CDC. When treating gonorrhea, it’s necessary to usually take your antibiotics and if symptoms proceed after receiving treatment, make an appointment to see a physician.
3. Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It could possibly be an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) illness. Probably the most common varieties of hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, that are all viral.
Hepatitis A will likely be spread through contact with food or water that’s contaminated with an infected person’s stool, or through undercooked pork, deer and shellfish.
Hepatitis B and C may be spread by contact with an infected person’s blood, and hepatitis B can be spread by contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
There are vaccines for hepatitis A and B, but there isn’t currently one for hepatitis C. There isn’t any cure for acute hepatitis, but for many individuals, especially those with A and B, the virus goes away by itself.
Hepatitis C can go away by itself, though it’s the sort probably to develop into chronic. Nevertheless, there are specific medications and precautions that help effectively manage Hepatitis C.
4. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
HSV is categorized into two specific varieties of viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is often known as cold sores or oral herpes, and it’s spread through oral-to-oral contact. It could possibly also cause genital herpes through oral-to-genital contact. HSV-2 will likely be sexually transmitted, but it could cause infections in each the genitals and mouth.
Since HSV is a lifelong condition, repeated outbreaks may occur, especially in case you’re diagnosed with HSV-2 – though outbreaks will likely develop into shorter and less severe over time. There’s no cure, but your doctor can show you how to effectively manage outbreaks by prescribing antiviral medicine which will shorten or lessen them.
5. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
HIV is a virus that affects the body’s immune system. Some people haven’t any symptoms, but many individuals experience symptoms inside just a few weeks of infection.
There’s currently no cure, so HIV is taken into account a lifelong condition. And if left untreated, HIV can result in acquired immunodeficieny syndrome (AIDS). Nevertheless, individuals who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives.
6. Human papilloma virus (HPV)
HPV is essentially the most common STI diagnosed in the USA, and there are various various kinds of HPV. Typically, HPV will go away by itself inside two years, but when it doesn’t go away, it could cause health problems like cancer or genital warts.
There’s a secure and effective vaccine to protect against HPV that works for each females and males. The CDC recommends that each one preteens, teens and adults as old as 26 get the vaccine in the event that they haven’t already. It’s not really helpful in adults over 26, but speak to your doctor to make a decision what’s best for you.
7. Syphilis
Syphilis is an infection brought on by a form of bacteria called Treponema pallidum, and may cause serious health problems if left untreated. Per the CDC, reports of syphilis infection have climbed since reaching historic lows in 2000 and 2001.
Syphilis may be treated with antibiotics. And while antibiotics can’t repair damage that may already be done, they will stop the disease progression and prevent serious health complications in the longer term.
8. Trichomoniasis (trich)
Trichomoniasis is an infection brought on by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Lower than half of people that have trich develop symptoms, so many individuals don’t know they’ve it. It’s more common for girls to have it, and older women are more likely than younger ladies to be infected.
Trich is treatable with antibiotics prescribed by a physician, and so long as treatment is accomplished, the infection ought to be completely cleared.
9. Pubic lice (crabs)
Pubic lice are parasites which are normally present in the genital area on pubic hair. They can be found on areas of the body that has coarse body hair, like armpits, legs, beards, mustaches, eyelashes or eyebrows, but that is less common.
Pubic lice may be treated with over-the-counter lice-killing lotion or mousse, but when it looks like over-the-counter treatment wasn’t successful, reach out to a physician for other treatment options.
The way you get tested for STIs and STDs
Getting tested for STIs and STDs is simple. Just make an appointment with a primary care doctor, or your selected women’s health or men’s health specialist. For some STIs and STDs, you might also use a web based clinic like Virtuwell and have a testing kit sent to you.
How often you need to be screened or tested for STIs or STDs is determined by a spread of things, including your age, sex, sexual history and whether you’re pregnant.
In case you think you’ve been exposed to an STI or STD, it’s necessary to get tested. Have in mind, nonetheless, that there’s an incubation period for all STIs and STDs – in case you test too soon, you’ll probably test negative for the disease even when you’ve gotten been infected.
The incubation period is the time it takes from exposure to when you might start experiencing symptoms. Incubation periods for STIs vary from just a few days to weeks and even years. Since many STIs are asymptomatic, it’s necessary to check in case you think you’ve been exposed even in case you don’t have symptoms. But remember that there are some STDs, like HPV and HSV, where your doctor will only test you in case you experience symptoms.
One of the vital effective ways to guard yourself from STIs and STDs is to make use of a barrier protection like a condom each time you’ve gotten sex. When condoms are used accurately, they’re very effective in protecting against STIs and STDs – but they’re not 100% effective.
Only condoms comprised of synthetic materials like latex, polyurethane and polyisoprene help protect against STIs. Natural condoms like those made with lambskin don’t.
Regular testing, especially whenever you’re with a latest partner, can be a very good strategy to protect yourself. Since many individuals experience no symptoms with STIs, the one strategy to know, and to maintain you and your partner secure and healthy, is to check. Also, you may get an STI more than once, so regular testing can catch in case you’ve been reinfected.
Limiting your variety of sexual partners and being in a long-term monogamous relationship with one sexual partner can show you how to protect yourself, too.