The common Asymptomatic STDs

Getting an STD is quite easy if you are sexually active. The CDC reports about 20 million cases in U.S of new STD infections.  It is vital to be cautious and get regularly tested as well as transparency between partners. It is ideal to note that not all STDs show symptoms and therefore, protection should always be used. The asymptomatic STDs can even cause severe damage.

Human papilloma virus

It is a common infection transmitted through sex and commonly known as HPV.  HPV is a complicated one since the condoms will not always protect against it and everyone can be a carrier at some point and pass it without knowing according to Michael Cackovic, M.D an Ohio State Wexner Medical Center ob/gyno.  People below the age of 30 will not have HPV as part of their regular STD testing because it fades away within a less period and no treatment is available for it. The above 30 years always gets regular testing accompanied by a smear pap.  A smear Pap is recommended since some HPV strains are known to cause cervical cancer.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia affects mostly women below 25 years old.  Most people do not show any symptoms although a burning sensation when urinating or abnormal vaginal discharge may occur after several weeks of sex with an infected person. Such symptoms can be assumed for bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections, which are less severe infections. Untreated Chlamydia can result to pelvic inflammatory disease according to a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, Meike L. Uhler, M.D of Fertility Centers of Illinois. The PID causes fallopian tubes to scar, which can cause permanent damage thus infertility. Uhler explains that Chlamydia increases the women’s chances of contracting HIV, premature births as well as the baby contracting the disease during birth.

Gonorrhea

 

Gonorrhea is akin to Chlamydia given that it affects women under 25 years old and shows no symptoms. Uhler says that the mild symptoms occur for gonorrhea are analogous to those of Chlamydia characterized by burning sensation, abnormal vaginal discharge, breakthrough bleeding and pain mistaken for vaginal infection.  The untreated disease causes pelvic inflammatory diseases, reproductive organs damage and scarring. Chances of contracting HIV are also high and infections to other parts of the body such as the heart, brain blood and joints.  Health complications of both the baby and mother are elevated in pregnant women infected with gonorrhea.

Herpes

Herpes affects people between 14 to49 years where one out of every six people is infected with the disease. The red blisters associated with genital herpes do not occur on everybody. Surprisingly, 90% of people with HSV-2 are never diagnosed. It is mostly associated with the genitals while HSV-1 is associated with mouth sores although it can cause genital herpes if passed through oral sex.  It is the most infectious disease in case of a break out even though it can still be passed with the absence of sores. Condoms do not 100 % protect from herpes if the skin is not n the condom. 

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