 
|
|
|
| Monday, May 12, 2008 |
What is an STD?
A Sexually Transmitted Disease is serious, sometimes painful, and can cause a lot of damage. Some STDs infect your sexual and reproductive organs. Others (HIV, Hepatitis B, Syphilis) cause general body infections. Sometimes you can have an STD with no signs or symptoms. Other times, the symptoms may go away without treatment. Either way, you still have the STD until you get treated. A few STDs cannot be cured. But most STDs can be cured if you get treated.
How is STD Spread?
STD is spread during close, sexual activity and during vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STDs (HIV and Hepatitis B) are also spread by contact with infected blood. Most STD germs need to live in warm, moist areas. That's why they infect the mouth, rectum and sex organs (vagina, vulva, penis and testes).
What to do?
If you think you might have an STD, get checked out. Don't just hope the STD will go away. It won't! The Orange County Health Department and private doctors test for and treat STDs. If you don't know where to get help, or have general questions, call the Orange County Health Department's STD staff at (407) 836-2650 for information. Your information will be kept confidential (private).
You may feel embarrassed about having an STD. It may be hard for you to go to a doctor or clinic for help. But you MUST get treatment for the STD, even if it is a hard thing for you to do. This is the only way you will get well.
Most STDs can be treated with antibiotics. Do exactly what your doctor tells you. Be sure to use all of your medicine.
You must tell your sexual partner(s). If they aren't treated, they can get sick. They can spread the STD. They might even give it to you again!