What are 3 Most Commons STDs?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are about 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States each year. In many cases, STIs or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) do not have noticeable symptoms. As a result, the people who are infected may be not even be aware they are spreading the disease. In the United States, the most common sexually transmitted infections are human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Human Papillomavirus
The most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Nearly everyone who is sexually active, will catch it in their life. While some types of HPV cause minimal symptoms and do not result in any medical issues, other forms can lead to serious side effects including genital warts or cervical cancer. The CDC estimates that each year there are about 360,000 cases of genital warts and 10,000 cases of cervical cancer. In addition, HPV can cause cancer of the throat or oropharyngeal cancer.
HPV often does not display any symptoms prior to genital warts, a bump or collection of bumps around the genital region. Patients may not be aware of various forms of cancer from HPV until they are detected during a routine screening.
Vaccinations are available which can protect men and women from HPV. It is optimal for the vaccinations to be given to the patient when they are between the ages of 11 and 12. Catch-up vaccinations, however, can be effective if they are administered before the patient is 26.
Chlamydia
Based on information from the CDC, chlamydia is the most common notifiable STI in the United States. A notifiable or reportable disease is an illness which requires reporting to local health departments upon diagnoses. The reporting of chlamydia aids local, state, and national agencies in identifying trends and controlling outbreaks.
Women and men can both contract chlamydia. While the disease can be easily cured, when it remains untreated, it can cause severe and permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system. This makes it difficult or impossible for the woman to become pregnant. Chlamydia can also cause an ectopic pregnancy, a serious condition which occurs when an egg is fertilized outside the womb. It is also possible for a mother to pass chlamydia to her child.
Patients who have chlamydia often don’t experience noticeable symptoms, and are unaware they are spreading it to others. It is possible for anyone who is having unprotected sex to catch chlamydia.
Gonorrhea
The second most commonly reported notifiable disease in the US is gonorrhea. Gonorrhea successfully can be treated, however, delaying treatment can cause serious medical issues. In addition to increasing a person’s risk of getting HIV, untreated gonorrhea can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) for women. It is possible for PID to result in infertility and also increase the patient’s risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. It is also possible for women to transmit the infection to their child. Gonorrhea can also result in rectal infections. Anyone who has unprotected sex is at risk for contracting gonorrhea.
The only method which absolutely prevents gonorrhea is abstinence, however, being in a monogamous relationship or using latex condoms can help minimize your risk for contracting the gonorrhea. Patients who have more sexual partners are at a higher risk for developing gonorrhea.
Follow up with your physician right away if you suspect you may have a sexually transmitted infection or want to be tested. Early detection helps avoid possible long-term and serious medical consequences.