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Perhaps you’ve hooked up with someone whose sexual health you’re uncertain about, and you don’t know how to ask them, or you can’t ask them. To make matters worse, you think you may be pregnant.
If you know how many people your partner has slept with, you can use a sexual exposure calculator to help you determine your exposure level. However, regardless of your exposure, if you think you have an STD and are wondering if it will go away on its own, it depends on the STD. This is why you should always get tested after you have sex with a new partner and annually if you have the same partner. The good news is the five most common STDs are treatable.
#1 Chlamydia
In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported approximately 128.5 million new infections with Chlamydia among adults aged 15 to 49 years. Additionally, Chlamydia is also the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States, with two-thirds of new Chlamydial infections occurring among ages 15-24.
What are the symptoms?
Unfortunately, symptoms may not appear until up to three weeks after having sex with someone who has Chlamydia. Additionally, some may not exhibit signs of Chlamydia at all. If you do, the common signs are:
abnormal vaginal discharge
burning sensation when peeing
discharge from the penis
pain and swelling in one or both testicles (less common)
rectal pain, discharge, and bleeding
Contracting Chlamydia during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriage, premature births, and infertility. You should always and frequently get tested for STDs if you’re sexually active.
#2 Gonorrhea
The most recent statistics from WHO, reported that 82 million people worldwide have Gonorrhea. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States.
What are the symptoms? Like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea often has no symptoms. However, if symptoms are
present they would be:
painful or burning sensation when peeing
increased vaginal discharge
vaginal bleeding between periods
white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis
painful or swollen testicles (less common)
rectal discharge
anal itching, soreness, bleeding
painful bowel movement
Untreated Gonorrhea can lead to Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which, if not treated, can cause ectopic pregnancies and infertility.
#3 Syphilis
According to the CDC, approximately 176,000 Syphilis cases were reported in the United States in 2021, with approximately 6 million new cases occurring worldwide. A Syphilis epidemic is happening in the United States, with a 2,140% increase in Syphilis cases from 2000 to 2021.
What are the symptoms?
There are several stages to Syphilis.
Primary stages of Syphilis include sores (often round, firm, and painless) usually occurring in, on, or around the penis, vagina, anus, rectum, and lips or in the mouth. The sore, which sometimes is noticeable, lasts 3 to 6 weeks and heals regardless of whether you receive treatment.
Secondary stage may present signs of skin rashes and/or sores in your mouth, vagina, or anus.
Latent stage of Syphilis has no visible signs or symptoms. Yet, without treatment, Syphilis can still be doing damage to your body.
Tertiary stage is when untreated Syphilis develops in your body for 10-30 years. It is rare, but when this stage of Syphilis happens, it affects many organs and systems, including the heart and blood vessels, the brain and nervous system. Tertiary Syphilis is very serious.
Keep in mind that Syphilis is curable with the right antibiotics from your healthcare provider. The unfortunate thing is that the treatment cannot undo any damage Syphilis has already caused. Additionally, 150,000 early fetal deaths and stillbirths were due to untreated Syphilis during pregnancy. This is why it is imperative you get tested if you’re pregnant.
#4 HPV (Human papillomavirus)
Nearly all sexually active people are infected with HPV within months to a few years of becoming sexually active. In fact, more than 90% of sexually active men and 80% of sexually active women will be infected with HPV in their lifetime, many of which are high-risk HPV cases.
What are the symptoms?
A low-risk HPV infection may have no symptoms or minor ones like warts. A high-risk HPV infection can include lumps, bleeding, and pain and cause cell changes, leading to the following cancers:
Cervical cancer
Anal cancer
Types of oral and throat cancer
Vulvar cancer
Vaginal cancer
Penile cancer
90% of women with HPV will experience a clearing-up of the virus on its own within two years. If you have HPV, you and your healthcare provider should always monitor it.
#5 Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis (Trich) is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection globally. Approximately 3.7 million people in the United States have contracted the infection. Yet, only about 30% of people have symptoms.
What are the symptoms? When Trich does cause symptoms, they can present themselves 5 to 28 days after exposure. Symptoms can come and go, which is why it is important to get tested.
Men:
Itching or irritation inside the penis
Burning after peeing or ejaculating
Discharge from the penis
Women:
Itching, burning, redness, or soreness of the genitals
Discomfort when peeing
A clear, white, yellowish, or greenish vaginal discharge (i.e., thin discharge or increased volume) with a fishy smell
Without treatment, Trich can last for months or even years as well as increase the risk of getting or spreading other sexually transmitted infections, such as genital inflammation, making it easier to get HIV or pass HIV onto your sex partner. Additionally, if you’re pregnant and have contracted Trich, you are more likely to have premature babies.
STDs are not something to be passive about. Untreated STDs can be detrimental to your health. If you think you may be pregnant and have an STD, don’t wait. Contact us today!
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