The most dangerous viral sexually transmitted disease is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to AIDS. Other incurable viral STDs include human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and genital herpes. In this presentation, genital herpes will be referred to as herpes. Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease that can be treated with the right medication.
If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause very serious health problems. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplants. Research to develop vaccines for genital herpes and HIV is advanced, and several candidate vaccines are in the early stages of clinical development. There is increasing evidence to suggest that the vaccine to prevent meningitis (MenB) provides some cross-protection against gonorrhea.
More research is needed on vaccines for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. Syphilis falls firmly within the realm of the type of STD that is only dangerous to adults when left untreated for a considerable period of time. However, if left untreated, it can cause a veritable flood of problems, from internal organ failure to blindness, paralysis and, yes, death. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.
There are more than 40 types of HPV. They can infect the genitals, mouth, or throat. Most men and women who are sexually active will contract at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. Possible signs of infection include discharge from the penis or vagina and burning when you urinate.
However, most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. Chlamydia is spread through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected person. A pregnant woman can transmit chlamydia to her baby during delivery. Even if you've been treated for chlamydia in the past, you can get the infection again.
Your doctor can treat chlamydia with antibiotics. Without treatment, chlamydia can cause serious health problems. It is also known to cause infertility. Women may develop pelvic inflammatory disease.
Men may develop a condition that causes painful inflammation of the tube that helps carry sperm. This infection comes from a parasite that passes from one person to another during sexual intercourse. It can be transmitted from a man to a woman, from a woman to a man, or from a woman to another woman. Women often develop the infection inside the vagina or urethra.
Men can develop trichomoniasis inside the penis. The infection usually doesn't spread to the mouth, anus, or other parts of the body. Most people with trichomoniasis don't have symptoms. Sometimes, infected people experience itching or burning when they urinate.
Discharge from the penis or vagina is another sign of trichomoniasis. These symptoms can come and go. Antibiotics are needed to clear the infection. This STD occurs when bacteria infect the lining of a woman's reproductive system.
Gonorrhea can also develop in the urethra, mouth, throat, eyes, and anus in both men and women. Gonorrhea spreads through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected person. A pregnant woman can transmit gonorrhea to her baby during delivery. People with gonorrhea often have mild symptoms or no symptoms.
Signs of infection include painful urination and white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis or vagina. Men may develop pain in the testicles. Women can also have vaginal bleeding between periods. Without treatment, gonorrhea can cause serious health problems.
This increases women's risk of infertility and serious complications during pregnancy. Men with untreated gonorrhea may develop inflammation of the tube that helps carry sperm, which can lead to infertility. The fluid inside the herpes sores contains the virus. You can get infected if you come into contact with it because the virus can spread through the skin.
Infected people can transmit the virus to their partners even if they don't have sores. Genital herpes outbreaks can happen again and again. However, outbreaks tend to be shorter and less severe over time. If you are diagnosed with a positive STD, know that all of them can be treated with medication and some are completely curable.
Not all STDs are life-threatening; however, all STDs have the potential for additional complications if not treated properly. The fact that some STDs cause symptoms and others isn't one of the reasons why STD testing is so important. Many are treatable, even curable, with antibiotics or antiviral drugs, and some STDs go away on their own. Some of the most common STDs don't cause symptoms, but they can still cause serious health problems.
Thanks to advances in modern science, mortality rates from sexually transmitted diseases are generally lower now than in the past. In fact, unlike other diseases, STDs tend to be shrouded in mystery and the dangers of STDs are often misrepresented. In addition, sexually active people over the age of seventy should also be more aware of the threat posed by STDs. The good news is that most STDs are curable and even those that have no cure can be effectively controlled or minimized with treatment.
Read How to Get Tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases to learn more about who should be tested and where you can get tested. However, it's important to keep in mind that STDs transmitted to fetuses in the womb or to their mothers' newborns can be much more dangerous and deadly. This is particularly bad news for people who mistake certain STDs for being safe; even if an STD is curable or treatable, it doesn't mean you should ignore it. However, it's important for all sexually active people to understand the dangers associated with untreated STDs.
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