Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can also be transmitted from pregnant mothers to their babies at birth.

Gonorrhea most commonly affects teens and young adults. Experts believe that hundreds of thousands of cases go undetected and untreated because the infection does not always have noticeable symptoms. Many people who have gonorrhea also have another common STD called chlamydia. So when doctors diagnose or suspect a case of gonorrhea, they often screen for and treat other STDs too.

Gonorrhea is preventable — and treatable — so anyone having sex (oral, anal, or vaginal) should take precautions against STDs and get screened for them regularly.

Symptoms

Many times gonorrhea does not produce any symptoms. When there are symptoms, the infection can cause painful urination and a cloudy discharge from the penis or vagina. This discharge may be thick and may have a greenish-yellow color. Males may have swelling or pain of their testicles. Females may have lower abdominal pain, painful intercourse, and abnormal bleeding from the vagina.

Gonorrhea can cause rectal pain, especially during a bowel movement. A sore throat can result from a gonorrhea throat infection.

If gonorrhea goes undetected and untreated, it can lead to more serious health problems. In males, it can cause scars inside the urethra, which can make urination difficult. In females, untreated gonorrhea can spread upward from the vaginal area to cause acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. It can lead to abscesses in the fallopian tubes and even infertility.

In males and females, gonorrhea that goes undetected can spread through the blood to parts of the body that are far from the reproductive organs, and lead to inflammation in the joints, the skin, the bones, tendons, heart, or even the area around the liver.

Prevention

Because gonorrhea is spread through sexual contact, the best way to prevent it is to abstain from having sex. Sexual contact with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of contracting any STD.

When properly and consistently used, condoms decrease the risk of STDs. Latex condoms provide greater protection than natural-membrane condoms. The female condom, made of polyurethane, is also considered effective against STDs.

Although birth control pills offer no protection against STDs, they may provide some protection against PID by causing the body to create thicker cervical mucus, making it more difficult for bacteria to reach the upper genital tract.

Using douche can actually increase a female's risk of contracting STDs because it can change the natural flora of the vagina and may flush bacteria higher into the genital tract.

Treatment

Like other STDs, gonorrhea may seem to get better but still be present. The fact that a discharge lessens or disappears after a few days with no treatment does not mean that the infection has gone away. And untreated STDs can spread and cause other complications.

If gonorrhea is suspected, the doctor will send urine or samples of fluid from the urethra (at the end of the penis) or the cervix to a laboratory for examination. If the doctor thinks it has spread, more tests may be necessary.

If gonorrhea is caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics. Because the symptoms of gonorrhea are similar to those of chlamydia, and because a person can be infected with both, people with gonorrhea are sometimes treated for both diseases.

A teen who is being treated for gonorrhea also should be tested for other STDs, and should have time alone with the doctor to openly discuss issues like sexual activity. Not all teens will be comfortable talking with parents about these issues. But it's important to encourage them to talk to a trusted adult who can provide the facts.

All teens who have had any type of sex (vaginal, oral or anal) should be screened regularly for STDs so that they don't lead to other more serious health problems. It's also important for them to notify any sexual partners if they have an STD.

Getting Help

If your teen is thinking of becoming sexually active or already has started having sex, it's important to talk with him or her about it. Make sure your teen knows how STDs can be spread (during anal, oral, or vaginal sex) and that these infections often don't have symptoms, so a partner might have an STD without knowing it.

It can be difficult to talk about STDs, but just as with any other medical issue, teens need this information to stay safe and healthy. Provide the facts, and let your child know where you stand.

It's also important that all teens have regular full physical exams — which can include screening for STDs. Your teen may want to see a gynecologist or a specialist in adolescent medicine to talk about sexual health issues. Community health organizations and sexual counseling centers in your local area also may be able to offer some guidance.

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Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. When transmitted through sexual contact, the bacteria can infect the urinary and reproductive organs.

The term chlamydia typically refers to Chlamydia trachomatis, the STD. But two other types of this bacteria also can lead to illness: Chlamydia pneumoniae, which can be spread through coughing and sneezing, and Chlamydia psittaci, which birds can pass to humans.

Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. But in many cases, it causes no symptoms, so people can be infected without even knowing it. If chlamydial infections go untreated, they can lead to more serious health problems, such as infertility. So it's important to take the precautions to prevent chlamydia, and if it's suspected, to seek treatment as soon as possible.

Symptoms

In many cases, chlamydia causes only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. So an infection can last for weeks or months before it is discovered.

In females, chlamydia symptoms can include:

• vaginal irritation
• vaginal discharge
• lower abdominal pain
• burning feeling with urination

If chlamydia infections go untreated in females, they can lead to such serious health problems as scarring of the fallopian tubes and chronic pelvic pain, both of which can affect fertility.

Untreated chlamydia also can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can affect the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. In some cases PID has no symptoms, but often causes abdominal or lower back pain, painful urination, pain during intercourse, bleeding between menstrual periods, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or fever.

In males, chlamydia symptoms can include discharge from the tip of the penis and a burning feeling during urination. Untreated infections can lead to epididymitis, an inflammation of the coiled tubes in the back of the testicles. This can result in testicular swelling, pain, and even infertility.

Contagiousness

Chlamydia is contagious. It can be transmitted through sexual contact, in semen and vaginal secretions. If it comes into contact with the eyes, it can cause conjunctivitis.

Chlamydia does not spread through casual contact such as shaking hands or using the same toilet as someone who is infected. If someone is diagnosed with chlamydia, all of that person's sexual partners need to be notified and treated with antibiotics, even if they don't have any symptoms, so that they don't develop any long-term complications or spread the infection to others.

Treatment

If detected early on, chlamydia can easily be treated with antibiotics and the symptoms alleviated within 7 to 10 days. If untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious complications that can appear months or even years after the person is infected.

Because the symptoms of genital chlamydia are similar to those of gonorrhea, and someone can have both infections, people with chlamydia are sometimes treated for both diseases.

Like other STDs, chlamydia may seem to get better even when it's still present. The fact that the symptoms disappear after a few days with no treatment does not mean that the infection has gone away.

The sexual partners of anyone who has or is suspected of having chlamydia or any other STD should be examined and treated. Those diagnosed with any STD should inform their partners as soon as possible so that they can be examined and treated, prevent complications, and avoid spreading the infections to others.

Prevention

Because chlamydia is spread through sexual contact, the best way to prevent it is to abstain from having sex. Sexual contact with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of contracting any STD.

When properly and consistently used, condoms decrease the risk of STDs. Latex condoms provide greater protection than natural-membrane condoms. The female condom, made of polyurethane, is also considered effective against STDs.

Although birth control pills offer no protection against STDs, they may provide some protection against PID by causing the body to create thicker cervical mucus, making it more difficult for bacteria to reach the upper genital tract.

Using douche can actually increase a female's risk of contracting STDs because it can change the natural flora of the vagina and may flush bacteria higher into the genital tract.

A teen who is being treated for chlamydia also should be tested for other STDs, and should have time alone with the doctor to openly discuss issues like sexual activity. Not all teens will be comfortable talking with parents about these issues. But it's important to encourage them to talk to a trusted adult who can provide the facts.

Getting Help

If your teen is thinking of becoming sexually active or already has started having sex, it's important to talk with him or her about it. Make sure your teen knows how STDs can be spread (during anal, oral, or vaginal sex) and that these infections often don't have symptoms, so a partner might have an STD without knowing it.

It can be difficult to talk about STDs, but just as with any other medical issue, teens need this information to stay safe and healthy. Provide the facts, and let your child know where you stand.

It's also important that all teens have regular full physical exams — which can include screening for STDs. Your teen may want to see a gynecologist or a specialist in adolescent medicine to talk about sexual health issues. Community health organizations and sexual counseling centers in your local area also may be able to offer some guidance.

Read More

Genital Warts

Genital warts, sometimes called venereal warts, are growths or bumps contracted through sexual contact. They're caused by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Symptoms

In females, genital warts appear in and around the vagina or anus or on the cervix. In males, they appear on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. Genital warts can be raised or flat, small or large. Sometimes they're clustered together in a cauliflower-like shape. Most of the time, they're flesh-colored and painless. Sometimes, the warts are so small and flat that they may not be noticed right away.

It may take several months or years after infection for symptoms to appear — if there are symptoms at all.

In females, the virus can lead to changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer, so it's important that it is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Males infected with HPV can also be at risk for cancer of the penis and the anus.

Contagiousness

Genital warts are transmitted through sexual contact (anal, oral, and vaginal) with an infected person, and warts can appear within several weeks or months afterwards.

The virus is passed through skin-to-skin contact, but not everyone who's been exposed to the virus will develop genital warts.

Prevention

A vaccine for females 9 to 26 years old is approved to prevent HPV infection, which causes most cervical cancers and genital warts. The vaccine, called Gardasil, is given as three injections over a 6-month period. It doesn't protect females who've already been infected with HPV, and doesn't protect against all types of HPV, so be sure your daughter gets routine checkups and gynecologic exams. If you have questions about the vaccine, talk with your doctor.

Because genital warts are spread through sexual contact, the best way to prevent them is to abstain from having sex. Sexual contact with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of contracting any STD.

When properly and consistently used, condoms decrease the risk of STDs. Latex condoms provide greater protection than natural-membrane condoms. The female condom, made of polyurethane, is also considered effective against STDs.

Using douche can actually increase a female's risk of contracting STDs because it can change the natural flora of the vagina and may flush bacteria higher into the genital tract.

A teen who is being treated for genital warts also should be tested for other STDs, and should have time alone with the doctor to openly discuss issues like sexual activity. Not all teens will be comfortable talking with parents about these issues. But it's important to encourage them to talk to a trusted adult who can provide the facts.

Treatment

Though there's no cure for an HPV infection, the genital warts can be treated and removed with prescription medication or other medical procedures, such as freezing or laser treatments.

Because the HPV remains dormant in the body, genital warts may reappear at any time after treatment. Those who have had one outbreak of genital warts still carry the virus and can infect others. Someone who has had HPV can also get a new HPV infection from another partner.

Getting Help

If your teen is thinking of becoming sexually active or already has started having sex, it's important to talk with him or her about it. Make sure your teen knows how STDs can be spread (during anal, oral, or vaginal sex) and that these infections often don't have symptoms, so a partner might have an STD without knowing it.

It can be difficult to talk about STDs, but just as with any other medical issue, teens need this information to stay safe and healthy. Provide the facts, and let your child know where you stand.

It's also important that all teens have regular full physical exams — which can include screening for STDs. Your teen may want to see a gynecologist or a specialist in adolescent medicine to talk about sexual health issues. Community health organizations and sexual counseling centers in your local area also may be able to offer some guidance.

Read More

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that's usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2), although it can also be caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), which normally causes cold sores around the mouth.

In some cases, genital herpes causes blisters and pain in the genital area, but in others, it doesn't cause any symptoms, so someone who is infected could unknowingly pass it on to others. Sometimes people who have genital herpes only have one outbreak. Others have many outbreaks, which are less painful and shorter than the first episode.

There's no cure for herpes. Once someone has been infected with the herpes virus, it stays in the body. Medications can alleviate the discomfort of outbreaks or limit their frequency. But it's better to prevent herpes infections. Anyone having sex (oral, anal, or vaginal) should take precautions against STDs and get screened for them regularly.

Symptoms

Symptoms of herpes outbreaks typically begin with pain, tenderness, or itching in the genital area and may also include fever and headache. Bumps and blisters may appear on the vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, thigh, or buttocks. Blisters soon open to form painful sores that can last up to 3 weeks.

Other symptoms may include: pain or a burning sensation during urination; muscle aches; and tender, swollen glands in the groin area. After the first herpes infection, the virus can lie dormant without causing any symptoms. But the virus might reactivate later, leading to sores that usually don't last as long as those during the first outbreak. The virus tends to reactivate following some type of stress, like a cold, an infection, hormone changes, menstrual periods, or even before a big test at school.

After the herpes blisters disappear, a person may think the virus has gone away — but it's actually hiding in the body. Both HSV1 and HSV2 can stay hidden away in the body until the next herpes outbreak, when the virus reactivates itself and the sores return.

Contagiousness

Herpes is contagious and can be passed from person to person through any form of unprotected sex. This can occur even when there are no sores or blisters present. So people who are infected can unknowingly spread the infection to another person.

Treatment

To treat genital herpes, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine in the form of an ointment or pills. These medications can't cure HSV2, but they can help make a person feel better and shorten the duration of outbreaks or prevent them.

If someone is being treated for herpes, any sexual partners should also be tested and, if necessary, treated, even if there are no symptoms. This will reduce their risk of developing serious complications of an undiagnosed infection or passing the infection to others. They should avoid sexual contact until they have completed the prescribed treatment.

Prevention

Because herpes is spread through sexual contact, the best way to prevent it is to abstain from having sex. Sexual contact with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of contracting any STD.

When properly and consistently used, condoms decrease the risk of STDs. Latex condoms provide greater protection than natural-membrane condoms. The female condom, made of polyurethane, is also considered effective against STDs.

Using douche can actually increase a female's risk of contracting STDs because it can change the natural flora of the vagina and may flush bacteria higher into the genital tract.

A teen who is being treated for herpes also should be tested for other STDs, and should have time alone with the doctor to openly discuss issues like sexual activity. Not all teens will be comfortable talking with parents about these issues. But it's important to encourage them to talk to a trusted adult who can provide the facts.

Because many STDs might not cause obvious symptoms, teens often don't know when they're infected. It's important for all teens who have had sex to get screened regularly for STDs so that they don't lead to other more serious health problems.

Getting Help

If your teen is thinking of becoming sexually active or already has started having sex, it's important to talk with him or her about it. Make sure your teen knows how STDs can be spread (during anal, oral, or vaginal sex) and that these infections often don't have symptoms, so a partner might have an STD without knowing it.

It can be difficult to talk about STDs, but just as with any other medical issue, teens need this information to stay safe and healthy. Provide the facts, and let your child know where you stand.

It's also important that all teens have regular full physical exams — which can include screening for STDs. Your teen may want to see a gynecologist or a specialist in adolescent medicine to talk about sexual health issues. Community health organizations and sexual counseling centers in your local area also may be able to offer some guidance.

Read More