STD's
By: Peyton Borel & Jasmine Johnson
Chlamydia
What is it?
Chlamydia is a small parasitic bacterium that multiples within the body just like a virus does.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms are not always apparent. Symptoms in women can include vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, extremely painful periods, pain during sex, itching or burning around the vagina. Symptoms in men can include discharge from penis, painful urination, itching or burning around the penis, pain and swelling around the testicles.
Treatment
Antibiotics are given and then the person is retested in three months.
Prevention
Talk with your partner if you have it, or if your partner does. Sexually active people can lower their chances by being in a long term monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD results and you should also always use a condom.
Complications
In women if left untreated, can cause pelvic inflammatory disease which can lead to infertility. It could also lead to an ectopic pregnancy where the baby grows outside the uterus. Also if the woman has chlamydia while giving birth it can lead to blindness in the baby.
Gonorrhea
What is it?
A sexually transmitted bacterially infection.
Signs and Symptoms
Sometimes there are no symptoms present. Symptoms in men include, greater need for urination, green or pus-like discharge, swelling or redness around penis, swollen and painful testicles. Symptoms in women include, discharge, frequent urination, pain during urination, sharp pain in lower abdomen, and a sore throat.
Treatment
Most antibiotics can treat it. Some cases have developed resistance to antibiotics so stronger treatment must be used.
Prevention
Use a condom and ask your partner before becoming intimate. It can be spread orally so do not have oral sex.
Complications
In women it can create scarring of the fallopian tubes making it very hard or impossible to get pregnant. Men can have scarring of the urethra which can make it hard to urinate and they can also develop abscesses on the interior of the penis.