Condom broke? Could I have an STI? What is HPV? Should I have sex with him? I had unprotected sex…now what?

Sexual Health

We believe that great sex is full of wonder, fun, thrills and passion. It also involves putting things on hold, developing into a mature individual and having an intimate relationship with one person within marriage. Study after study shows that the best (and most plentiful) sex in the United States is between those in a committed marriage relationship. The following is simple overview of physical consequences of sex outside this type of relationship. Remember, there are also emotional and spiritual consequences as well. If you would like to talk more about this, please call us. Our certified abstinence trainers are always ready to listen and share. No judgment, no blame. We just want to help.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is primarily transmitted through sexual activity. It can also be passed from a mother to her newborn during childbirth. Other types of chlamydial infections do exist, but are acquired from non-sexual activities. Symptoms include vaginal or urethral discharge, burning with urination, pelvic pain in women, swelling and tenderness in the scrotum in men and, rarely in the US, genital ulcers. It can be properly diagnosed with physical findings and evidence of Chlamydia organism in the genital fluids or urine. Infection may remain in the cervix for some time, spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes. This spread is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID. The most serious complication of Chlamydia is PID which can damage the fallopian tubes and result in tubal scarring and infertility.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes in humans. This includes the tissues that line the mouth, cervix, vagina, urethra and anus. Of the more than 100 strains of HPV, approximately 30 cause genital infections. HPV is spread primarily by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or by contact with body fluids contaminated with the virus. This means most cases of genital HPV are acquired through sexual intercourse, but transmission of HPV through oral sex, genital touching and inanimate objects is also possible. The risk from these activities is not well documented. Most people infected have no visible signs of infection. About 1% of those infected and 7% with current HPV infection have genital warts. Most infected women discover their infection when they have an abnormal Pap smear. Most asymptomatic men do not know they are infected. The pre-cancer (intraepithelial neoplasia) that typically causes an abnormal Pap smear can develop into cervical cancer. It is the cause of most cervical cancers and is also associated with a number of other cancers including oral, vaginal, vulvar, penile and anal cancer.

Trichomonas

Trichomonas vaginalis is a single celled organism that is bigger and more complex than a bacterium and infects the genital tracts of both men and women. It is almost always transmitted sexually and is one of the most common STD’s. In women, Trichomonas causes vaginitas or inflammation of the vagina and cervicitis or inflammation of the cervix. Symptoms may include vaginal discharge, abnormal bleeding (typically after intercourse), swelling and irritation of the genitals, itching of the vulva and abdominal pain. In men, the urethra (or tube that carries fluid from the bladder and out the penis) is the most common sight of infection. His symptoms can include discharge from the penis and burning with urination. Patients are diagnosed when the clinician finds physical findings along with the Trichomonas organism in genital fluids or urine. Testing isn’t normally done without symptoms so an asymptomatic individual may transmit the infection to their sexual partner without being aware of the risk. Long term effects can include a premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor in pregnant women. If a Trichomonas infected person has sex with an HIV infected person, his/her risk of contracting HIV may be increased.

Gonorrhea

Neisseria gonorrhea is a bacterium that causes genital infections and other infections in humans. It is spread primarily through sexual contact including sexual intercourse, oral sex and anal sex. A newborn baby can also become infected during the birth process if the mother is infected. Symptoms vary depending on what part of the body is infected and usually begin within a week of exposure. In women, genital infection typically causes vaginal or urethral discharge, pain with urination and at times, abnormal vaginal bleeding. Men may have swelling and pain around the testicles. PID may occur when a woman has vaginal intercourse with an infected man. (See Chlamydia for more information on PID) Oral and rectal infections can also occur and produce irritation, pain, discharge and other symptoms in the infected area. Some individuals may not experience symptoms and may not know they are infected. PID is the most common complication for women although disseminated gonorrheal infection, or one that spreads throughout the body, occurs in about 1% of patients who don’t get treated. This can lead to endocarditis and meningitis. For pregnant women, problems can include increased risk of spontaneous abortion, premature rupture of membranes and preterm birth. It can also affect the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus.

Genital Herpes

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth and genital areas. Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in the United States. It is estimated that 45 million people are infected or over one in five Americans over the age of 12. An additional one million are infected each year. HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted disease which typically causes genital infections although it can also cause oral infections that can be spread by kissing and other non-sexual activities. HSV-1, which usually causes oral herpes infections can be transmitted to the genitals through oral sex and then is considered a sexually transmitted disease. This infection is spread by skin to skin contact and is not limited to the genital or oral area. It can be transmitted to the abdomen, thighs, hands and other areas. The more sexual partners, the greater the risk of infection and women seem to be at a greater risk than men. Symptoms may include fever, headache and muscles aches beginning 6 or 7 days after exposure. About 8 days after exposure, lesions appear on the area of exposure. They often start as small blisters and then break and become ulcers. They can be painful, and burn or itch. Other symptoms can include burning with urination, vaginal or urethral discharge and tender lymph nodes in the groin area. The symptoms usually resolve in two or three weeks but outbreaks are common just without the fever and headaches. A viral culture can be done by a physician to determine the presence of the virus. There are antiviral medications available to reduce the intensity and duration of the symptoms. The bottom line is that once infected, it is probably for life and an infected person can transmit the virus even when not experiencing symptoms.

Thank you to WAIT Training for their help.

For more information, contact them at www.waittraining.org