Preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are spread by sexual contact. Anyone who has vaginal, oral, or anal sex with another person is at risk for catching one or more STDs. STDs are caused by bacterial or viral infections. Those caused by bacteria can usually be cured with antibiotics. Those caused by viruses cannot be cured, but your symptoms can be treated.

One of the challenges of treating STDs is that they often cause no symptoms until the infection becomes more advanced. In fact, you may not even know you are infected for quite some time. Once symptoms appear, they can range from mild irritation to severe pain. In most cases, long-term health problems can be avoided by early treatment. If left untreated, STDs can cause severe damage to your body, even death.

Prevention and early diagnosis are the keys to fighting STDs. There are steps you can take to keep yourself from becoming infected and steps you can take to lower your risk of infection. And even if you have no symptoms but suspect you may have been exposed to an STD infection, you can be tested to determine whether or not you have an STD.

Reducing Your Risks

The only way to absolutely keep from becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is to avoid sexual activities that can transmit the infection, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. The next best preventative measure is to use a latex male or female condom every time you have sex.

There are also steps you can take to reduce your risk of contracting an STD infection:

• Know your sexual partners and limit their number. Your partner's sexual history is as important as your own. The more partners you have, the greater your risk of catching an STD.
• Use a latex condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Condoms lubricated with spermicides have not been shown to reduce the risk of STDs any more than other condoms.
• Use a dental dam when you engage in oral sex.
• Avoid risky sex practices. Sexual acts that tear or break the skin, such as anal sex, carry a higher risk of STDs.
• Get immunized against hepatitis B and the human papillomavirus (HPV).

The Importance of Testing

Once you become sexually active, periodic testing for sexually transmitted diseases is highly recommended, especially if you have more than one sexual partner. As your number of sexual partners increases, so does your risk of becoming infected with an STD. As your likelihood of contracting an STD increases, so does the importance of periodic testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, hepatitis, HVP, and HIV.

There are several types of tests used to detect whether or not you have an STD infection. Serum blood tests and urinalysis are used to determine if STD antibodies are present in your body, indicating an STD infection. In some cases, a genital swab is taken so that a culture can be used to determine if you have an active STD infection. Culture results generally take longer than blood test or urinalysis results.

Your doctor can help you determine if you should be tested for STDs and can recommend the type of test to be performed. Talking openly with your doctor about your number of sexual partners and your sexual activities will allow the doctor to determine which of the STDs you should be tested for and how often you should be tested. Your doctor will also be there to design a treatment plan if any of your test results come back positive.

Warning Signs of STDs

Early treatment can prevent many of the serious side effects of STDs. See your doctor immediately if you have any of the possible warning signs of STDs:

• Any open sores, red or white bumps or rashes, or liquid-filled blisters - no matter how small - in your genital area
• Redness or swelling in your genital area
• Any unusual change in the amount, color, smell, or consistency of your vaginal discharge
• Pain in your pelvis or abdomen, with or without nausea or vomiting
• Pain, soreness, irritation, or other discomfort during intercourse or bleeding after intercourse
• Fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes in your groin or neck
• Unusually severe menstrual cramps
• Recurring yeast infections or other infections.