Sexual Health
When you are sexually active, pregnancy is usually the greatest concern. You may be afraid of what your parents or boyfriend will do if you become pregnant. You may also be concerned that you will not be able to finish school or pursue your career. While pregnancy is something to be very concerned about, sexually transmitted infections are equally, if not more, worrisome. You are at risk for pregnancy if you have sex around ovulation (about 3 days a month), but you are at risk for getting an STI every time you have sex.
Care Net Pregnancy Center provides Limited STD/STI Testing and Treatment.
You could have an STD. (Sexually Transmitted Disease)
Anyone who has sex can get an STD. Many STDs don't have symptoms. You or a partner could have an STD and not know it. The only way to find out for sure is to get tested.
How do you get an STD?
STDs are passed from one person to another during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Some STDs can be passed by genital touching.
You can get treated.
Most STDs can be cured. All STDs can be helped with treatment. An STD won't just go away. It can cause damage if it's not treated.
We offer...
Free and confidential screening for Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Bacterial Vaginosis, and Trichomoniasis. Treatment for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Bacterial Vaginosis, and Trichomoniasis are provided at no cost if needed. Additionally, information on health care as it pertains to sexually transmitted infections and related subjects will be provided. For more information about our services, please click here.
Below is information on eight of the most common Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's). The Center for Disease Control has discovered at least 30 significant STD's For more information on these or other STD's, you can contact us or your local health department.
|
Name |
Symptoms |
Damage |
Numbers/Stats |
Cure |
|
Chlamydia |
Men - Usually none. Some experience discharge from the penis and burning with urination. Women - Usually none. Some experience pain and/or vaginal discharge. |
Men - Sterility Women - Considered to be the most common cause of sterility. Advanced stage may require removal of uterus, tubes, & ovaries. |
1) 3 million cases reported annually. 2) 75% are unaware they are infected. 3) 40% of those sexually active are suspected carriers |
Yes |
|
Gonorrhea |
Men - Pus from urethra. Burning upon urination. Women - Pelvic pain. Painful urination and pus-like discharge. |
Men - Sterility. Scarring of the urethra and urinary tract problems. Women - Sterility. Surgery in severe cases. |
1) 650,000 new cases reported annually. 2) 80% are not aware they are affected in the early stages. |
Yes |
|
Syphilis |
Men - 1st stage: swollen non-painful ulcers on the external genitalia. 2nd stage: changes of skin, fever, enlarged lymph nodes. Women - 1st stage: often unnoticed. 2nd stage: same as men |
Men - Brain disorders, heart disease, blindness, dementia, and death.
Women - Same as men. Can cause birth defects of death in newborns if mother is infected. |
1) 70,000 new cases reported annually.
2) 50% are not aware they have this disease. |
Yes |
|
HIV/AIDS |
Men - Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands.
Women - Same as man. |
Men - Immune system breakdown, death.
Women - Same as men. |
1) 6th leading cause of death among persons 15-24 years. 2) infected during teen years. |
No |
|
Genital Herpes |
Men - Lesions appear at the site of infection, periodic eruptions of painful blisters and ulcers anywhere on body.
Women - Same as men. |
Men - Continuos outbreaks. Eventually may lead to hospitalization. Lifetime medication required. Women - Same as men. Causes infant death. |
1) 45 million infected. 2) 1 million new cases annually. 3) 75% show no symptoms. 4) 25% of women have this disease. |
No |
|
Human Papilloma-virus |
Men - Wart-like genital growths. Women - Often no visible symptoms. Some experience vulvar burning itching and pain. Abnormal pap smears. |
Men - Cancer of the penis and anus. Women - Initially pre malignant changes difficult to eradicate. Develops into cervical cancer is not treated. |
1) 20 million people are thought to be carriers. 2) 80 different strains exist today. 3) 75% of reproductive population infected with this virus. |
No |
|
Hepatitis B |
Men - Often none. Some experience yellowing of the skin (jaundice), tiredness, dark urine, and gray colored stool. Women - Same as men. |
Men - Severe liver damage. Can eventually lead to cancer of the liver and cirrhosis.
Women - Same as men. |
1) 120,000 new cases annually.
2) 40%-50% children born to infected mothers develop liver cancer. |
No |
|
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease |
Men - This disease affects only women.
Women - See Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Often symptoms are minor and mistaken for menstrual cramps. |
Men - This disease infects only women. Women - Ectopic Pregnancy (fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of uterus). Can be life-threatening. Sterility and cancer common. |
1) 1 million new cases annually, most in the 15-19 year age group.
2) 100,000 women become infertile as a result of PID each year. |
Yes |
This information is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.
Sexual Health