Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major public health concern, and it's important to understand the risks associated with them. All forms of sexual contact can transmit STDs, and the risk of infection increases with the number of sexual partners. While some STDs are more serious than others, all of them can have serious health consequences if left untreated. The most common STDs are herpes, HPV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.
Herpes is a virus that is spread through skin-to-skin contact, including areas that a condom doesn't cover. It can't be cured, but it can be managed with medication. HPV is the most common STD and is spread through sexual contact. It can cause genital warts and certain types of cancer.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can be cured with antibiotics. Chlamydia is a mild bacterial infection that can cause serious health problems in women if left untreated. Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics, but there has been an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains in recent years. Trichomoniasis is caused by a protozoal parasite and can be treated with medication. The risk of contracting an STD depends on many factors, including the number of sexual partners and whether or not protection was used.
People who have multiple partners or who engage in unprotected sex are at higher risk for contracting an STD. It's also important to get tested regularly for STDs, as some of them don't cause symptoms but can still cause serious health problems if left untreated. The Douglas County Health Department's STD Control Program provides clinical screenings, laboratory tests, treatment, research and anonymous notification to couples, disease surveillance and statistics, as well as community education. It's important to get tested regularly for STDs and to practice safe sex to reduce the risk of infection. It's also important to remember that while some STDs are more serious than others, all of them can have serious health consequences if left untreated.
Testing, treating and managing an STD is the most responsible thing to do for your own health and for that of your sexual partner or partners. Complications that may arise due to an STD include pelvic pain, pregnancy complications, eye inflammation, arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. The RAW Score is a rough estimate of the average number of single Americans with whom you would have to have unprotected penetrative sex to contract that particular STD.
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