What Kind of STD Do I Have?

The rate of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) is on the rise. The cause is unknown but doctors believe it is due to the lack of knowledge of symptoms and treatments, as well as unprotected sex. STDs are disorders that affect your genital organs after having sexual contact with an infected person. STDs can sometimes cause pain, discomfort and/ or itching and can be categorized by the color of discharge and/or foul odors from the genitals.

Candida Vaginitis is a type of STD cause by Candida albicans. Females present with an itchy vagina and a thick, whitish discharge. There is little to no odor associated with this "yeast infection", which is normally caused by a change to the vagina's normal flora. Men may have yeast, but it is less common and far less noticeable. This can be due to moisture for extended periods of time from wearing tight clothing, sweating, damp swimsuits, increased glucose levels in the urine of Diabetics, or taking antibiotics for a long period of time that kill bacteria in the body, allowing the yeast to flourish.

Bacterial Vaginosis is another type of STD where females present with a foul "fishy" smelling vagina and grayish discharge. They complain of an itchy vagina and upon a vaginal smear, you can see normal epithelial cells with the bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis attached to them.

Trichomonas is another type of STD where men and women experience a severe itch on their genitals and pain with sex and urination. Women will have such an itch with a greenish discharge, and upon a vaginal smear, parasites are seen crawling upon epithelial cells. Men may experience irritation inside their penis and have discharge. Trichomonas is caused by the bacteria Trichomonas vaginalis that can be transmitted by women and men to their partner without them knowing about it.

Gonorrhea is a type of STD contracted by men and women by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea. Only fifty percent of women will know they have contracted gonorrhea, but one hundred percent of men will know they have it. Their chief complaint is burning or discomfort upon urination. Some people may notice a yellowish discharge from their genital organs.

Chlamydia used to be the most common STD diagnosed, but now it is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Chlamydia is usually undiagnosed in men because they may not experience any symptoms. Women are usually diagnosed incidentally, but they may notice a clear, mucous-like discharge from the vagina. HPV is a viral infection that infects men who spread it to women during sexual contact. Patients present with genital warts and if not treated, HPV can lead to cervical cancer and anal cancer. Cryotherapy and LEEP are done to remove the genital warts, and now vaccinations are given to prevent the spread of the disease.

All these Sexually Transmitted Diseases can be cured with medications. Candida is treated with Fluconazole. Both Bacterial Vaginosis and Trichomonas are treated with Metronidazole. Gonorrhea is treated with Ceftriaxone, and Azithromycin is also given for the possible undiagnosed co-infection with Chlamydia. But there are some STDs that cannot be cured.

Herpes is a STD caused by a viral infection. Women and men complain of very painful lesions on their genitals or any place where there was sexual contact, such as the mouth. There is no cure, but its symptoms can be treated by Acyclovir. Herpes can be transmitted through sexual contact, even when a person does not appear to have an outbreak.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is another STD caused by a viral infection. People may complain of extreme exhaustion, fever, and swollen lymph nodes and should be questioned about their sexual and drug abuse histories, examined, and tested thoroughly to rule out other diseases. Again there is no cure for HIV, but there are several treatment plans doctors can prescribe to keep women and men healthy. Medications from such drug classes as Nucleoside and Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, Protease Inhibitors, and Fusion Inhibitors can be used alone but more so in combinations of three or more to help treat people with HIV.

Even though some symptoms are similar, there are differences that help decipher between the Sexually Transmitted Diseases. These key differences will help you determine if you may have a STD or not and need to take action by seeing your primary care physician. So remember, if you are sexually active and experience any genital pain, discomfort, itching, discharge, odor or not feeling well overall, ask yourself, "What kind of STD do I have"?

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how Sexually Transmitted Diseases are diagnosed and treated, please contact Dr. Adrienne Hicks-Lillard at adriennelillard@yahoo.com.

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