WHAT IS AN STD AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE

WHAT IS AN STD AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE Jul,24,2020

The term STD refers to Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and is contracted via unprotected sex. If you are a sexually active person, it is very important to get tested for STDs and many of the low income clinics out there offer free STD and HIV testing.

In addition to offering screening and treatment for STDs like Chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV, our community health care center also offers detailed information on STDs; tips to have safe sex, treatment options like Cryotherapy for genital warts, and referrals to physicians who are specialized in HIV treatment for people who test positive for HIV.

You can just walk in to our low income clinics to get tested for STDs when you feel comfortable and convenient. We make sure that your health details are kept confidential and private, as per your needs. Below are details of some of the most common STDs in the United States.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an STD that is caused by bacterial infection and the disease affects penis, anus, urethra, cervix, vagina, and rarely the eyes and throat. People contract the disease usually through vaginal or anal sex. Persons with Chlamydia would not show many symptoms or might show some mild symptoms, meaning that they can spread the infection unknowingly.

HPV and Genital Warts

HPV or Human Papilloma Virus is another common STD with different strains. Studies about HPV prove that more than half of the total population of the US will have HPV infection at some point in their lives. The infection is spread via skin-to-skin contact and can spread through unprotected sex. Some of the types of HPV cause genital warts and a majority clear the HPV infection on their own. However, it is likely for the infection to last longer if you are a smoker or your immune system is weak.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is often referred to as “the drip” or “the clap” and is a bacterial infection that affects the penis, anus, urethra, cervix, throat, and vagina. The infection is similar to Chlamydia in that it affects the same body parts and do not show many symptoms. Moreover, this STD also spreads through oral, anal, or vaginal sex. However, the presence of semen is not necessary to contract Gonorrhea, meaning that having oral sex without a condom is a risk, even if you ejaculate outside the mouth.

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    About the Author

    Dr. Ghassan M. Al-Jazayrly, MD

    A graduate of University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Al-Jazayrly or, as he is colloquially known: Dr. AJ, is an oncologist and hematologist of a Complete Care Community Health Center (CCCHC) with more than 36 years of experience. In recent years, he’s been involved with a non profit organization known as Every Woman Counts (EWC) which provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to California’s underserved populations in order to eliminate health disparities for low-income individuals.

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