STD Information

Today there are at least 25 significant STDs- with many different types of each disease, and new types of STDs are still being discovered.

1 in 4 people in the U.S. has an STD with 2/3 of all STDs occurring in people 25 years of age or younger.

There are many different types of diseases.  Some are bacterial and others are viral.  First let's explain some of the differences between a bacteria and a virus.

  • Antibiotics can cure most bacterial diseases.
  • Bacterial diseases can be cured but contracted over and over much like strep throat.
  • Viral diseases can be treated but they cannot be cured.

 

Chlamydia

The most common bacterial STD is Chlamydia.  One of the problems with Chlamydia is that most people who are infected do not even know it.  85% of infected women and 40% of infected men who suffer from Chlamydia have absolutely NO symptoms- and can continue to spread the disease to their sexual partners without even knowing it. Because the infected person does not have symptoms, Chlamydia often goes untreated.   When Chlamydia goes untreated it allows the infection to go into the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries causing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).  PID is a serious infection which can scar and block fallopian tubes, causing sterility, infertility, or ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.  Chlamydia can be treated and cured with antibiotics.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) -Genital Warts

HPV is the most common viral STD. HPV is highly contagious.  Approximately 2/3 of the people who have sexual contact with a partner with genital warts will contract this disease. 

These are small painless warts in the genital area both on the inside and the outside.  It is very important that you know that a condom cannot cover all the area on which you have these warts.  Chemical burning or surgery can remove these warts but they can return.  There is no cure!  Genital warts causes more than 90% of all cases of cervical cancer in women.

Herpes

Have you ever had a mouth ulcer or a cold soar on your lip?  You know how they hurt.  Well, imagine these soars covering your genital area.

The Herpes Simplex I causes cold soars on the mouth, and about 60% of the population get cold soars.  Genital Herpes is due to Herpes Simplex II, a different virus, which is transmitted by sexual contact with a person who has the Herpes Virus.  The tricky thing is that the genital soars aren't always there, but you can still infect your sexual partner.

THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE FOR HERPES.  However, there are now anti-herpes medications to help control the outbreaks.  You must remember that even if you are not having an outbreak, you can still pass this disease to your partner or vise-versa.

For more information on STD's or to talk to one of our Counselors please contact Family Resource Clinic at 225-686-1123.