Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases
What are STDs?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases that are spread through sexual contact. If you have sex with someone who has an STD you can get it too. STDs are among the most common diseases in Bermuda.
What are the dangers?
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can make you sterile so you can never have a baby.
Herpes causes sores on the genitals. The sores can come back again and again.
Some types of HPV cause genital warts. Other types of HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women.
HIV can kill you.
How do you get STDs?
STDs can be spread through vaginal oral or anal sex. Some STDs can also be spread through any contact between the penis vagina mouth or anus - even if you don't have intercourse. STDs can be spread from man to woman woman to man man to man and woman to woman. Some STDs like HIV are also spread by sharing needles.
It's hard to tell who has an STD because many people who are infected look and feel healthy. They may not even know that they have an STD infection but they can still spread the STD to you.
How do you prevent STDs?
The surest way to prevent STDs is don't have sex. There are many ways to show love and feel good without having sex. For example you can touch kiss cuddle or talk. In general using your hands to give pleasure is safe.
How can I make sex safer?
Before you have sex talk with your partner. Agree to use condoms (rubbers).
Use a condom every time you have vaginal oral or anal sex. Male and female condoms are now available.
Be prepared. Both men and women should carry condoms.
Don't use lotions creams or Vaseline with latex condoms. The oil in these products can weaken the condom. Use water-based lubricants such as K-Y Jelly or glycerine.
For extra protection a woman can put spermicidal foam gel or suppositories in her vagina. use spermicides with condoms not in place of them.
Limit the number of your sex partners You are more likely to get an STD if you have more than one partner.
Get tested for STDs if you or your partner have had other partners.
Do STDs cause special problems for women?
Yes. Many STD infections cause no signs or symptoms in women. Women may be infected deep inside where symptoms are not easily seen. Untreated STDs can lead to infertility tubal pregnancies or miscarriages. Often a woman has no idea that she has an STD until the infection has caused lasting damage.
STDs can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or at birth. However early treatment can often protect the baby from illness or death.
What are the symptoms of STDs?
Most people who have an STD have no symptoms. A test from your health care provider or local health clinic may be the only sure way to tell if you're infected.
If you do have symptoms they may appear right away or they may not show up for weeks or even months. They might come and go. Even if the signs and symptoms do disappear the disease may still be active.
Here are some signs or symptoms that may mean you have an STD:
Possible symptoms for women
sores bumps or blisters near your genitals or mouth
burning or pain when you urinate
itching a bad smell or unusual discharge from your vagina or anus
pain in your lower belly
bleeding from your vagina between periods
Possible symptoms for men
sores bumps or blisters near your genitals or mouth
burning or pain when you urinate
drip or discharge from your penis
itching pain or discharge from your anus
What is treatment like?
Treatment often involves taking pill to kill the organism that causes the STD. Some STDs cannot be cured but treatment can relieve symptoms and may prevent further damage to your body.
Avoid sex until treatment is finished.
Take all of the medicine you are given even if you start to feel better.
Never take anyone else's medicine or give your to someone else.
Return to the clinic or your doctor for more tests if you are told to do so.
Tell everyone you have had sex with that they may have an STD and need to be tested. The Health Department can help you with this.
Do STDs lead to AIDS?
STDs do not by themselves lead to HIV infection or AIDS. But recent studies have shown that HIV is more easily spread among people who have had certain STDs. Some STDs cause breaks in the skin which permit the virus to enter the bloodstream more easily. Get tested if you think you might have any STD.