STDs and their consequences

Becoming sexually active is a major part of becoming an adult. Sexual activity can lead to unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), if unprotected. There has been, and continues to be an increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, especially amongst adolescents and young adults around the world.

It is very important that adolescents have a clear understanding of sexually transmitted diseases and other consequences of sexual activity. This includes knowing the definitions of common STDs, their symptoms, and their possible treatments.

Everyone, young or old, rich or poor, sexually active or not, needs to know a few important facts about sexually transmitted diseases.

What is STDdefine?

It is Sexually transmitted disease; infections passed from one person to another during sexual intercourse; includes syphilis, gonorrhea, cancroids and HIVdefine/AIDS.
It may not surprise you to know that the majority – two-thirds – of all sexually transmitted diseases occur in teenagers and young adults under the age of twenty-five years old. Even with all the education and resources available today, sadly, the number of cases of STDs continues to rise.

For women, the signs and symptoms of STDs are sometimes difficult to recognize simply because often there are no obvious symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases in women.
Another reason is misdiagnosis because the signs of STDs are easily confused with other reproductive health problems and the proper treatment may not be prescribed. This makes it urgent that you are honest with your health care provider about your current and prior sexual history.

Unfortunately, women are more at risk of getting STDs than men and young women are at even greater risk. This is due to vaginal friction that occurs during sexual intercourse that may cause small rips or tears in the vaginal walls and make women more susceptible to possible sexually transmitted diseases, infections, or HIV/AIDS.
Several risks are always associated with STDs. The risks are:

Ectopic or tubal pregnancies which can be fatal to the mother and are always fatal to the unborn baby.
• Babies born to women with sexually transmitted diseases may suffer death or severe damage as a result of the mother's STD.
• Cervical cancerdefine is almost always caused by an STD called the human pappilloma virus or HPV.
• Women who have a current or prior history of certain sexually transmitted diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease or PID have a significant chance of experiencing infertility.
• Sometimes sexually transmitted diseases cause damage to other organs including the heart, kidneys, and brain.
• The sad fact is that certain STDS such as HIV or AIDS are eventually fatal.
See a doctor if you have any of these symptoms of STDs:
• Discharge from the vagina, penis, and/or rectumdefine
• Pain or burning during urination and/or intercourse
• Pain in the abdomendefine (women), testicles (men), and buttocks and legs (both)
• Blisters, open sores, warts, rash, and/or swelling in the genital area, sex organs, and/or mouth
• Flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, aching muscles, and/or swollen glands

Physicians and other health-care providers play a critical role in preventing and treating STDs. Different types of treatments are given for each STD. For some, treatment involves taking pills or getting a shot to kill the organism that caused the STD.

Some STDs are viruses and cannot be cured, but treatment can ease the symptoms. Treatments for viruses can include pills, topical creams, or procedures done in the clinic.

Treatment Tips:

• Take ALL the medicine you are given, even if you start to feel better before the medicine runs out.
• Talk to your health care provider (doctor or nurse) about when you can have sex again and make sure your partner goes to a clinic, too. With many STDs, your partner could give the disease back to you if they aren’t treated (even if they feel OK).
• Never take anyone else's medicine or give yours to someone else. Never split prescription medicines with someone.
• Go back to the clinic for more tests if you are asked to do this.
• Tell the people you've had sex with that you've learned you have an STD.

Most STDs are curable. Some are not. If you have sex with someone who has an STD, you can get it too. Many people who have an STD don't know it. They may look healthy, but they still could have a STD. Some people won't tell you, even if they know. A proper care needs to be taken and one can sail through it.