Not only does unprotected sex bring the worry of an unplanned pregnancy, it can also leave you susceptible to STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases. When you have sexual contact with someone (vaginally, anally or orally), you also inadvertently share your sexual history with everyone that person has had sexual contact with as well. That’s why it’s imperative that you get tested after having unprotected sex. At Reliance Center, we provide cost free STD/STI testing and treatment.
Because many STDs do not show any symptoms, you may not even know you are infected. Below are some of the most common STDs and the characteristics associated with each.
Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs, with more than 90 million cases reported each year globally, and more than half of those cases occurring in women. If left untreated, Chlamydia can lead to PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and puts women at a high risk for infertility and ectopic pregnancies. While Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics, many women never experience any symptoms.
The main Gonorrhea symptom is thick discharge from the penis or vagina. However, one-half of women will not experience any symptoms at all. Gonorrhea may also infect the rectum, throat, eyes, blood, skin, and joints. Most strains of gonorrhea can be cured but there is a new strain that is currently resistant to all antibiotics.
HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, is the most common STD. There are more than 100 different strains of HPV and most of those strains exhibit no symptoms. While some cases of HPV will disappear over time, there are some that can cause cervical cancer or other types of cancer. HPV warts may be treated a variety of ways, but cancer-causing HPV must be monitored and cannot be cured with antibiotics.
Trichomoniasis affects about 5 million people in the US every year. It is one of the most common causes of vaginal infections in women and can cause urethra infections in men as well. While trichomoniasis can be contracted sexually, it can also live on infected objects, which makes it even more easy to contract.
It’s estimated that 75 percent of women will experience at least one yeast infection during her lifetime. Typically, the vagina holds a steady balance of both bacteria and yeast. When something happens and harms that balance, a yeast infection occurs. Yeast infections can be caused by many things including sex, hormonal changes, and antibiotics. Symptoms of a yeast infection are:
Getting tested for a yeast infection by a doctor is the first step to getting the treatment you need.
Some experts estimate that, if you are a woman, your risk of getting a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in your lifetime is as high as 50 percent. A UTI occurs when harmful bacteria from the large intestine invades the urethra and travels up to the bladder. Symptoms of a UTI include:
Treatment for a UTI is antibiotics that must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you have had unprotected sex, it’s important to get tested for STDs. Contact us to make your free and confidential appointment today.