Common STDs and How to Prevent Them

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) move from person to person when body fluids come into contact. You can contract an STD regardless of your age, orientation, or marital status from any kind of sexual contact, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex.

Condoms are an excellent form of protection, but they aren’t completely effective against STDs. It’s possible to have an STD and show no symptoms, so regular medical screening is the best way to keep yourself and your partner safe.

At Ovation Wellness in Madison, Mississippi, our team supports your sexual health in a comfortable, nonjudgmental environment. We offer STD testing, as well as treatments to relieve symptoms and prevent future complications.

Let’s take a look at some common STDs, and the signs and symptoms associated with them. Don’t forget, you or your sexual partner could have no symptoms yet still transmit an STD, so regular tests are vital to stay healthy. 

Chlamydia

A bacterial infection, chlamydia gets transmitted through body fluids contacted during sex. It’s the most widely reported bacterial STD in the United States, with 1.4 million people diagnosed annually.

Like some other STDs, chlamydia often shows no symptoms. In some cases, it takes up to three weeks for these to develop. Symptoms can include:

• Pain when urinating
• Lower abdominal pain or inflammation
• Vaginal discharge or bleeding between menstrual periods
• Discharge from the penis
• Pain in the testes
• Anal bleeding or pain

Prompt treatment with antibiotics keeps the bacteria that cause chlamydia from causing permanent damage to your reproductive health.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial STD that can have life-threatening consequences without simple antibiotic treatment. The first sign of syphilis is typically a small open chancre, or painless sore, on your mouth, genitals, or anus. 

Without medical care, syphilis can progress to more serious stages. The second stage of syphilis consists of chronic flu-like symptoms and rash of sores on your palms, soles, or other areas of the body. In late-stage syphilis, paralysis, blindness, and dementia can develop.

Gonorrhea

Symptoms of gonorrhea usually show up around ten days after exposure, though it can take up to several months for symptoms to become recognizable. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea can affect the genitals, anus, or throat.

If a gonorrhea infection is present, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Pain when urinating
• Pain when moving bowels
• Genital or anal itching
• Discharge from penis or vagina
• Bleeding between menstrual periods

Gonorrhea can cause reproductive health complications for both women and men, if untreated. 

Genital herpes 

Herpes is a viral STD that travels via mucus membranes and microscopic cuts in the skin. While some people with herpes may never experience symptoms, others may have one or recurrent episodes of the following: 

• Lesions on the genital or anal region, ranging from small bumps or blisters to open sores 
• Pain, tenderness, or itching in or near genitals, anus, or upper thighs 
• Flu-like symptoms, including headache, fever, and muscle soreness 

Herpes isn’t just spread through contact with sores and blisters, though. Even if you show no symptoms, you can still pass it onto others through skin contact. There is no cure for herpes, but certain drugs can reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 

A viral STD that can cause bumps known as genital warts, HPV causes these to form on or near the penis, vagina, and/or anus. Some forms of the virus put women at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. 

HPV often has no symptoms or indications that you have an infection. If symptoms are present, they can include: 

• Bumps or swelling near your genitals 
• Genital itching 
• Pain during sex 

While there is a vaccine to prevent HPV, there isn’t currently a cure for it. Genital warts can be treated with topical medications or removed surgically. 

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 

HIV is a serious viral infection that can rob your body of the ability to fight off other viruses, bacteria, and diseases. Untreated HIV can develop into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a chronic and sometimes fatal condition. 

Symptoms can take several weeks to develop after you are exposed. These can often be mistaken for common flu symptoms, like headache, fever, fatigue, or a sore throat. Over time, the virus weakens your immune system even further, causing shortness of breath, diarrhea, and weight loss. 

There are medications on the market today that can help those with HIV live long, healthy lives, though there is no cure for HIV or AIDS. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP) are medications taken to prevent contracting HIV if you’re exposed to it. 

Get tested today 

The only effective way to prevent STDs is for you and your partner to get tested before beginning a new sexual relationship. Call Ovation Wellness and boo