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Don't Be In The Dark Next Time You Sleep With Someone
While some are quite painful and include visible sores and discharge, others can go unnoticed for quite some time, while they are unwittingly passed on to others. As well, some are curable, while others are not. That's why it's important for anyone on the dating scene to use protection with new partners and to get regular check-ups and testing.
These are the most common STDs, as well as how they are transmitted, their symptoms and treatments. Read on and arm yourself with the facts before you decide to get under the sheetswith anyone.
GonorrheaTransmission: Oral, vaginal, and anal contact, or mother to child during birth.
Symptoms: For men, the symptoms include thick, yellowish penile discharge, and burning during urination. For women, the symptoms include increased vaginal discharge, burning during urination, and irregular menstrual bleeding.
Treatment: Antibiotics; several years ago, a new "superbug" emerged that is resistant to existing treatments.
SyphilisTransmission: Oral, vaginal and anal contact or by touching an infectious chancre.
Symptoms: Within two to four weeks of transmission, a hard, round, painless chancre or sore forms at the site of infection.
ChlamydiaTransmission: Oral, vaginal and anal contact, or by touching eyes after touching the genitals of an infected partner.
Symptoms: For men, the symptoms include painful urination, penile discharge, and sore throat from oral contact. For women, the symptoms include painful urination, vaginal discharge, and sore throat from oral contact.