Getting yourself and your partner tested for STD’s and infections and making sure that you are sexually healthy is very important, especially if you are trying to get pregnant. Monitoring your sexual health will not only protect you from STD’s but also prevent you from spreading it to your unborn baby and other people. So, if you think you might have an STD, get yourself tested and get treated immediately.
STD’s which stands for Sexually Transmitted Diseases are infections passed from one person to another through sexual, oral, or anal intercourse, sharing needles, mutual masturbation, contact with infected bodily fluids etc. They cause a lot of symptoms and complications such as genital itching, painful sex as well as infertility. So, if you plan to have kids in the future, it’s very essential to be aware of STD’s and protect yourself while having sex. Most young women and men today between ages 15 to 25 are carriers of STD’s and infections.
There are several types of STD’s and infections that cause serious problems. Some STD’s are less serious ones that can be treated with a few doses of medication. While others, like HIV/AIDS are life threatening and can cause death. Therefore, if you think you may have contracted an STD, do not wait! Get it treated immediately before it is too late.
One of the most common STD’s is Chlamydia which affects millions of men and women every year. Chlamydia is a bacterium, which is found in vaginal fluid and semen and it is transmitted via sexual intercourse. If you leave it untreated, it can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which wounds the fallopian tubes and causes infertility.
Another STD that you hear a lot about is Gonorrhea, which is also caused by bacterium in bodily fluids and transmitted via sexual intercourse. It also causes PID and infertility. Syphilis, on the other hand, causes psychological disorders and blindness if left untreated. But it is important that you don’t wait and leave it untreated because Syphilis can be treated if caught in the early stages.
HIV which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus is another common STD. It causes AIDS and is very dangerous and life threatening, spreading mostly through sexual intercourse, blood transfusions, sharing needles as well as through breast milk. Therefore, getting you and your partner tested for HIV is important before you have your baby.
Other STD’s and infections include Herpes, Hepatitis B, Trichomoniasis, and Pubic Lice. Herpes is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact and can cause itching and burning of the genitals and anus. While Hepatitis B is transmitted by sharing needles, and sexual contact and can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite, abdominal pain and even liver damage. Trichomoniasis causes swelling of the fallopian tubes and leads to infertility and pubic lice feed on blood and causes itching and irritation.
