Every year in the United States, millions of women and men are diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs or STIs). While infections are common, the good news is that they can be treated and managed, and the faster you’re diagnosed, the sooner you can feel better.
Shamsah Amersi, MD, offers confidential, compassionate STD testing and treatment, relieving discomfort while helping patients avoid complications. In this post, learn about some of the most common STDs and what to do if you think you might be infected.
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two main types of HSV: HSV-1 is mostly associated with oral symptoms, while HSV-2 is associated with genital infections. You can “catch” the virus by contacting an infected person’s skin, bodily fluids, or mucous membranes.
Symptoms include:
You may experience flu-like symptoms during an outbreak, including fever, headache, or body aches.
HPV is a family of viruses spread mainly through sexual contact with an infected partner. It can also spread from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.
HPV may cause:
Without proper management, HPV infection can increase your risk of certain cancers.
Practicing safe sex is one way to reduce your risk of contracting HPV, and there’s also a vaccine to help prevent infection. Ideally, the CDC recommends vaccination for children aged 11-12 and up to age 26.
Gonorrhea is a very common bacterial infection that’s spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who’s already infected. Like HPV, it can also be spread from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.
Gonorrhea often causes symptoms like:
Unfortunately, infections don’t always cause noticeable symptoms, leading to delays in treatment and increased risks of complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and fertility issues.
Chlamydia is another type of bacterial infection spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact with an infected person, as well as during childbirth. It’s one of the most common STDs, causing about 1.7 million infections per year in the United States.
Chlamydia often causes no noticeable symptoms, leading to delays in treatment and complications like infertility. When it does cause symptoms, they can include:
Untreated chlamydia can also increase your risk of developing PID.
Ureaplasma is a microorganism routinely found in your vagina or your urinary tract, and in small numbers, it usually causes no problems. Sometimes, though, overpopulation leads to infections that can be transmitted through sexual contact.
Ureaplasma infection can cause symptoms like:
Ureaplasma infections can lead to another infection called vaginosis, and it increases your risk of PID and fertility problems, too.
While viruses or bacteria cause the other STDs on this list, trichomoniasis is caused by a tiny parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. At least a million Americans develop trichomoniasis infections every year. The infection is spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person.
Trichomoniasis can cause symptoms like:
Many women experience no symptoms, increasing the risk of fertility problems and additional infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Recognizing STD symptoms is important for getting treatment as soon as possible. If you think you might have an infection, here’s what to do:
Regardless of the results of your test, you can use this opportunity to commit to safer sex practices in the future, including scheduling regular screening visits with Dr. Amersi.
STDs are very common, but fortunately, they can be treated or managed with medication and lifestyle changes. To schedule your confidential STD screening, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Amersi at her Santa Monica, California, office today.
