Nearly 20 million adults contract a sexually transmitted disease in the United States, every year. Your first defense against STDs is sexual health education. The next is to practice safe sex and to get free STD testing Los Angeles. Here is a list the most common STDs today.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
There are more than 41,000 new cases in the United States every year. HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS. It attacks the immune system by killing the white blood cells that fight off infections. With a low white blood cell count, your body will develop serious diseases like tuberculosis or pneumonia.
The HIV virus is spread via contact with the blood or semen of an infected person during vaginal or anal sex or the sharing of syringes and needles. While it is possible to contact HIV through oral sex, it is not common. Pregnant women can pass HIV onto her baby while breastfeeding or pregnancy. There is no cure for HIV but there are different types of medication that can help maintain an active lifestyle and live longer, all while reducing the chance of spreading it to others.
Syphilis
The USA sees about 55,000 cases of syphilis a year. It is a bacterial infection that may cause sores on the lips, genitals, and inside the mouth. It is spread through contact with the sores during oral, vaginal, and anal sex. Once the sores appear a skin rash can appear on hands and feet or all over the body. Leaving syphilis untreated can cause more serious heath problems, such as paralysis, blindness, brain damage, and dementia. Extreme cases have ended in death.
Gonorrhea
More than 800,000 cases of gonorrhea are reports in the U.S. every year. Gonorrhea occurs when the lining of a woman’s reproductive parts are infected with the bacteria. It can develop in the mouth, throat, eyes, anus, and urethra of men and women. While many who have contracted gonorrhea show no symptoms, some experience pain during urination or yellow, white, or green discharge. Two different antibiotics are used to treat the infection and without that treatment, it can lead to serious health problems.
Genital Herpes
Approximately 800,000 people contract genital herpes each year from having oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone that has been infected. Some experience mild to no symptoms at all, while others have painful outbreaks of lesions and sores. You can become infected if you come in contact with the sores as it is passed through the skin. It is possible to pass the virus on even if there is no outbreak, and there is no cure. While outbreaks will continuously occur, they will typically become less severe and shorter over time.
Trichomoniasis
The trichomoniasis parasite infects over one million people each year through sexual intercourse. It is spread from women to men, men to women, and from women to women. The infection is developed inside a man’s penis or inside a women’s urethra or vagina. Typically there are no symptoms except in some cases of burning or itching during urination or vaginal discharge. Trichomoniasis can be cured with antibiotics.
Chlamydia
Three millions cases of the bacterial infection, chlamydia are reported each year. Potential signs that one is infected by the infection are burning during urination or discharge from the vagina or penis but many don’t experience any symptoms. Spreading occurs when sexual contact with an infected person takes place either with the vagina, penis, anus, or mouth. Serious health problems can occur if not treated. Serious health problems include infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease in women, or painful inflammation in a male’s sperm carrying tube.
Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
The Genital Human Papillomavirus infects more than 14 million people in the United States every year, making it the most common STI. HPV can infect the mouth, throat, and genitals and there are over 40 different types o the virus. There are vaccines that protect against most types of HPV. Most types are not harmful and disappear in two years.
Unfortunately, there are certain types of HPV that lead to health problems, including genital warts, and more seriously, cervical cancer. Be sure to get free STD testing Los Angeles as most people will show no symptoms until those serious health issues occur.
About Vermont Urgent Care
Since most STDs show no symptoms it is important to get free STD testing Los Angeles to make sure that you are keeping yourself and your sexual partner safe and healthy. Vermont Urgent Care offers a variety of sexual health services so be sure to contact them with any questions or concerns. In the meantime, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more health tips and news.
