STI’s and STD’s
So what is the difference between and STD and an STI?
There are more than 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites known to be transmitted through sexual contact. Eight of these pathogens are linked to the greatest incidence of sexually transmitted disease. Of these, 4 are currently curable: syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. The other 4 are viral infections which are incurable: hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV or herpes), HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Infection vs Disease
Most Common Types of STI’s and STD’s
Bacterial
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis
Viral
Hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus 2 (genital herpes), HIV, HPV
Parasitic
Trichomoniasis
Symptoms to watch out for
- bumps, sores, or rashes in or around the genitals, anus, buttocks, or thighs
- changes in the amount of, color, or smell of vaginal discharge
- penile discharge
- unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods or after sex
- painful or burning urination
- pain during vaginal or anal penetration
- pelvic pain
- painful or swollen testicles
- tingling or itching around the genitals
- swollen and painful lymph nodes, especially in the groin and neck
- genital or anal rash
- rectal bleeding
Get Tested
To get tested you can contact your pediatrician, primary care doctor, gynecologist or OB/GYN. There are also typically low or no cost clinics set up in your community as well. It may be scary to take that step of getting tested, but you need to know so you can get treatment as soon as possible and so you do not risk infecting anyone else. At Clearway Clinic, we offer free testing for two of the most common STI’s, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea as these two can cause complications if left untreated, particularly in regards to pregnancy or surgical abortions. If you are experiencing active symptoms we recommend you contact your doctor for further testing as it may be something other than what we test for and we do not want to delay your treatment or care.
