More questions I hear from teens...
Which Sexually Transmitted Diseases can be cured? Trichomonas (a parasite), crabs (public lice), gonorrhea & chlamydia (both bacteria) can all be completely CURED if caught early and treated. If gonorrhea & chlamydia sit around for months or years untreated, they can cause permanent damage that leads to infertility or pelvic pain- and though the infection can still be cured, the damage to the genital tract cannot.
Which STDs can NOT be cured? Right now, we have treatments but no cures for the viral diseases: HIV (which causes AIDS), HPV (the human papilloma virus), Herpes (both oral and genital) and Hepatitis A, B & C.
When should I get tested- after how many partners? In a perfect world, you really should be tested after intimacy with any new partner. Since most STDs are silent, the only way you can no for sure that you will not be giving a new partner disease is to go and get tested.
How do they test for these diseases? A simple urine test can be used for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas. A blood test is required for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, and herpes. Pap tests with DNA testing check for different strains of HPV. Pubic lice can be detected by simple visual inspection, sometimes aided with looking at a pubic hair under a microscope.
More on testing tomorrow...too many questions for one post!
BOTTOM LINE: Let's answer teen questions about sex and STDs!
PS. For more details, FAQ, answers & stories, check out Seductive Delusions
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