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Unfortunately, people with STDs (or STIs,
sexually transmitted infections, as we now refer to them), may
be more common than you think. Chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of
the most commonly occurring STIs in the United States are
spread easily through sexual contact -- vaginal, anal, and
oral. The tricky part of these infections is that they exhibit
little-to-no symptoms in women. So, it’s possible to live
with an infection and infect others without ever knowing you
have it. (In the case of gonorrhea, infected women will
occasionally observe a thick, green discharge, or an infected
male partner will notice a green discharge and experience
painful urination, according to The Harvard Guide to Women’s
Health.)
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are often
responsible for cases of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID),
which does exhibit symptoms, such as persistent pain in the
abdominal region. PID can lead to infertility in the most
severe cases, so it’s a very good idea to get checked
regularly (once a year at your GYN exam if you practice safer
sex) for STIs.
But there is good news: Chlamydia and
gonorrhea are easily curable with antibiotics once they are
identified. And during a routine GYN exam ($13) down in Health
Services, an STI screening test only costs an additional ten
dollars. If you suspect that you are symptomatic, Health
Services at no cost as part of your medical visit.
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