Believe it or not, at least one in four Americans will contract a sexually transmitted disease at some point in their lives. Dictionary.com defines an STD as any disease characteristically transmitted by sexual contact. There are more than 20 different diseases, so STDs are one of the most common infectious diseases in the United States. There are roughly 19 million people infected each year; two-thirds of those infected are age 25 or younger.
If you are sexually active, it is important to know the facts about STDs. You must know what they are and how to protect yourself from them. Since many STDs are hard to detect or show no symptoms, the American Social Health Association recommends at least annual testing. Left untreated, STDs can make you sick or infertile, and may even cause death.
Chlamydia is the most common treatable bacterial STD. It is so common, in fact, that according to the American Social Health Association, it is estimated that one in ten adolescents test positive for it. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and can infect the urethra, vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, anus, eyelids, and even the throat. It can be passed through vaginal, anal, and even oral sex. If symptoms occur, they usually show up in the first 1-3 weeks after infection.
For women, symptoms include vaginal discharge, bleeding in between periods, and painful urination. For men, it is the most common cause of non specific urethritis (NSU), which is basically inflammation of the urethra. This can cause painful and very frequent urination, and also a cloudy discharge. These symptoms may show up at any time. In fact, most women and some men never show any symptoms. If you test positive for this infection, you will be prescribed an antibiotic treatment based on your particular needs.
Left untreated, Chlamydia can cause complications such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and infertility.
If you are sexually active, it is important to know the facts about STDs. You must know what they are and how to protect yourself from them. Since many STDs are hard to detect or show no symptoms, the American Social Health Association recommends at least annual testing. Left untreated, STDs can make you sick or infertile, and may even cause death.
Chlamydia is the most common treatable bacterial STD. It is so common, in fact, that according to the American Social Health Association, it is estimated that one in ten adolescents test positive for it. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and can infect the urethra, vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, anus, eyelids, and even the throat. It can be passed through vaginal, anal, and even oral sex. If symptoms occur, they usually show up in the first 1-3 weeks after infection.
For women, symptoms include vaginal discharge, bleeding in between periods, and painful urination. For men, it is the most common cause of non specific urethritis (NSU), which is basically inflammation of the urethra. This can cause painful and very frequent urination, and also a cloudy discharge. These symptoms may show up at any time. In fact, most women and some men never show any symptoms. If you test positive for this infection, you will be prescribed an antibiotic treatment based on your particular needs.
Left untreated, Chlamydia can cause complications such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and infertility.
