The last time I was tested was two years ago so I’ll admit that I was a little nervous, to say the least. I wanted to get the results right then and there but was informed I would have to wait a week. The waiting was the worst part. I kept thinking of the people I had been with and then I was trying to remember how they looked the last time I saw them and if they looked healthy. Then I thought that since I’ve been gaining weight I have to be healthy because if I were sick then I would be losing, right?

Just every single scenario went through my brain until I started praying. I think that was the longest week ever, but the closer the day came, the further I wanted it to be. Thankfully, the tests came back negative so I am all right but what a week. I can sort of understand why some people never get tested because of fear but that is not a valid reason. There are some STDs out there that can be cured if caught early and be detrimental to your health if not treated. This issue I will discuss three common STDs. I know some of you say that you already know about them but do you really know or do you just know the myth?

Herpes Simplex There are two types of this STD, type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). The only difference between the two is where they’re located. HSV-1 causes what is called cold sores and fever blisters that are located on the mouth or facial areas. But I’ve heard of people getting it in their eye and on their legs. HSV-2 causes sores on the genitals.

The symptoms vary from each person. They could be mild for one and painful for another. Outbreaks can last up to four weeks. Symptoms range from one or more sores, blisters, cuts, pimples, bumps or a rash; itching, burning or tingling in the genital area; aches or pains in the genital area; painful urination and a discharge (vaginal or penile). These outbreaks occur more frequently during the first year and get less and less severe as time goes on. You can control the frequency by maintaining a healthy diet, getting exercise and managing your stress levels, to name a few.

More than 90 percent of the U.S. population has herpes and don’t know it. Since some people have outbreaks that heal quickly and cause no pain they probably mistake it for an insect bite, yeast infection, jock itch or something else.

And even if herpes isn’t present, there are times when you can be asymptomatic shedding, which means you are contagious without having a symptom.

This fun little virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Let me clarify. If you are having an outbreak on your lips and you kiss someone, they are going to get it where you kissed them, only. This is a good reason not to let people kiss your children.

If you think you are having an outbreak, it is recommended that you get a culture test within the first 24 hours or you might get a false negative. If you are not having any symptoms you can take a blood test. Alas, there is no cure for herpes as of yet, but there are medications to take such as Zovirax®, Famvir® and Valtrex® that can help reduce outbreaks and transmission but they are not 100% guaranteed to work.

Genital Warts/Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genital warts are caused by a group of viruses called human papillomavirus. Genital warts are soft, moist, or flesh colored and appear in the genital area within weeks or months after infection. They sometimes appear in cauliflower-like clusters and are raised or flat, small or large. Genital warts can show up in women on the vulva and cervix, and inside and surrounding the vagina and anus. In men, genital warts can appear on the scrotum or penis. They are highly contagious and spread by oral, vaginal and anal intercourse with an infected person.

Some symptoms of this STD are tiny, gray, pink or red swellings in the genital area that grow quickly; itching or burning in your genital area; or discomfort, pain or bleeding during intercourse, to name a few. However, there are cases when there are no symptoms or the bumps could be so small you can’t see them. If a woman has an abnormal pap smear test, it might mean that she has a strain of HPV which if not treated can become cancerous. Your healthcare provider can diagnose genital warts by seeing them, or they can apply an acetic solution to your genitals to whiten warts that are present and then can view them through a special microscope. Currently there is no cure for this STD but there are medications such as Imiquimod (Aldara), Podofilox (Condylox), and Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) that can help. And if the warts are really big and not responding to the medications you might have to have it surgically removed.

Chlamydia Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. The symptoms of Chlamydia are usually mild or unnoticeable and can occur before a woman ever recognizes a problem. For women, if left untreated it can cause irrevocable damage to a woman’s reproductive organs, including infertility and can cause a man to discharge from the penis. It is transmitted during vaginal, anal or oral sex and can be passed from a mother to her child during vaginal childbirth. This STD is diagnosed by a healthcare provider taking a urine sample or sample taken from a site on the penis or cervix.

This is the only one of the three that can be cured by taking antibiotics and both partners must abstain from having sex until the treatment is over or they risk re-infect each other.

This is just a brief summary. I have included links below so you can further your research, if need be. Also, if you have an STD and are having trouble copping, there are support sites where you can get information and talk to other people who are infected. Take care of yourselves.

Related Resources Herpes http://www.ashastd.org/hrc/educate.html#wwwh HPV http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdhpv.htm Chlamydia http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdclam.htm

This site will direct you to many support sites http://b.webring.com/hub?ring=std