The month of April is Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Awareness Month. The annual initiative raises awareness about the transmission, treatment, and prevention of STIs. There is never a better time than now to take charge of your sexual health. Through the spreading of knowledge, you can avoid the spreading of infections and diseases by practicing safe sex every time you engage in intercourse with a sexual partner.
The Most Common STIs Women Get
There are many different STIs women get. Each range in severity and treatment options. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis can cause great harm if left untreated. The first two are known for causing chronic pelvic pain as well as infertility. The latter causes infant deaths in 40 percent of pregnant women with the STI.
Hepatitis B and the Human Papillomavirus or HPV are also common STIs. Women are diagnosed with an infection in one of several ways. A pelvic or physical exam often is what the OBGYN does to confirm the STI’s presence in a woman’s body. Blood tests, urine tests, and fluid or tissue samples are also ways that a gynecologist discovers STIs in patients.
Treatment Options That Exist for STIs
There are several treatment options for STIs. They are antibiotics and antiviral drugs. A single dose of a good antibiotic is often enough to clear up an infection.
Your gynecologist will discuss the different options available for your specific issue. That way, you’re understanding of what you should and shouldn’t do in the meantime. It’s important that sexual contact with others doesn’t occur while your STI is being treated and that protection in the form of a condom is used every time after.
Sexually Transmitted Infections Deserve Awareness
Do your part to raise awareness about STIs. Have regular screenings at OBGYN High Desert. Refrain from engaging in sexual intercourse with anyone who is recovering from an STI because it can still be very contagious. Share what you’ve learned with other people as a way of increasing their knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infection and encouraging them to take a proactive stance in protecting themselves and others from infections and diseases.
