Everyone who has unsafe sex is potentially at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). STDs do not care if you are young or old, rich or poor, male or female. But all things considered, a woman has a higher risk of getting an infection and suffering long-term consequences of the disease such as loss of fertility. While you can blame the former squarely on anatomy (the vagina has a thinner and more delicate lining than the skin on the penis, which makes it easier for the disease-causing bacteria or viruses to enter), the latter occurs mainly because some of these diseases are asymptomatic in many women. In addition, women are also likely to confuse the symptoms of an STD, when they do appear, with other conditions such as a yeast infection, delaying diagnosis. Regular STD checkups are the best way to go if you want to stay on top of your sexual health.
Here are some of the most common STDs in women, along with the symptoms caused by each infection.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common STD in the United States. A huge part of it has to do with the fact that this bacterial infection does not cause symptoms in most people, because of which the disease is often passed unsuspectingly from person to person through unprotected sex. Chlamydia usually starts out as an infection of the cervix, and in the absence of proper treatment, spreads to the ovaries and fallopian tubes. If not treated in time, this “silent” infection can cause serious health complications in women such as pelvic inflammatory disease,infertility,and ectopic pregnancy.
While symptoms do not appear in 75% of the women who have an infection, symptoms, when they do appear, start becoming apparent 7 to 21 days after exposure and may include lower abdominal pain, pain while passing urine, discomfort or bleeding during sex, abnormal vaginal discharge, painful periods, and bleeding between periods. If a pregnant woman with this infection does not get treatment, she can pass the infection to her child during vaginal delivery, causing eye infections or pneumonia in the newborn.
Gonorrhea
More than three million cases of gonorrhea occur in the U.S. every year. Though it is considered a curable STD, some strains of the bacterial infection have been observed resistant to traditional antibiotics in recent years causing concern. And another important thing to be noted here is that medication can only stop the infection – it cannot undo any long-term damage done by the disease to your body before starting treatment.
Gonorrhea can be spread through unsafe oral, vaginal or anal sex. A pregnant woman who has not got treatment can also pass the infection to her child during childbirth. Just like chlamydia, gonorrhea is often asymptomatic in women. Symptoms, when they do manifest themselves, occur as abnormal discharge, spotting, or pain while passing urine, because of which the disease is often mistaken for a UTI or yeast infection.
HPV
Another common STD, HPV (Human papillomavirus) is spread through anal or vaginal sex with an infected person. The CDC believes that 80 million people in the U.S. currently have an HPV infection.
Though HPV does not cause serious health problems in most people and often resolves on its own, some strains of the infection can lead to genital warts and cancer of the anus, vulva, or vagina in women. A person can also unknowingly carry the disease for a long time without developing symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is no way to predict who will develop cancer due to HPV. People with stronger immune systems may be able to fight off the disease and have lesser long-term complications from it. HPV vaccinations are available to protect women against certain types that cause cancer and genital warts in women. Women in the age group 21 to 65 can also prevent cervical cancer by going for routine screening.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is more seen in women than men and is spread through unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex. While most women with genital herpes may not have symptoms, in some cases, symptoms may be severe and may appear two to 12 days after infection. Most common symptoms include sores at the point through which the virus entered the body, fever, pain, itching or burning in the genital area, and unusual vaginal discharge.
At present, there is no cure for genital herpes. However, the right medication can help prevent outbreaks and reduce the risk of transmission to sexual partners.
Syphilis
Syphilis is an STD that spreads through direct contact with an active sore during sex. You can also get syphilis if you use unhygienic needles. Though the disease is more common in men than women,a recent CDC report indicates a dramatic rise of 23% in syphilis among women during 2013 – 2014.
The disease usually starts out as a chancre near the genitals or mouth. In later stages, it can cause hair loss, rashes, headaches, brain damage, and even death. Untreated syphilis in pregnant women can cause serious health problems such as seizures and developmental delays in the child. Nearly 40% of such cases result in fetal death or stillbirth.
If detected in time, syphilis can be easily cured. However, at a late stage, treatment can only stop the infection from progressing further. It cannot undo the damage already caused to the body.