You may be uncomfortable discussing sexually transmitted diseases. However, STDs kill thousands of people in the United States each year. Even if you don’t talk about these diseases with friends or family members, speak to your doctor if you are sexually active. Learn when you should get screened for STDs. Talking to a qualified physician can spell the difference between life and death.
Talking to Your Doctor about Sexual Health
There is a lot of misinformation floating around. Speaking to your doctor means you will get reliable answers. For instance, you may wonder, “how hard is it to contract HIV?” STD Aware says that you should not assume a routine check up includes STD testing. This is not the case most of the time. Ask your doctor about specific diseases. Answer his or her questions. This enables a physician to determine which STDs to test you for. Getting tested before you have symptoms is critical. Early diagnosis means you can be treated before it is too late. There are now effective vaccines for some sexually transmitted diseases as well. Even people who contract HIV can live long and healthy lives when treatment begins promptly. Tell your doctor if you have engaged in recent risky behavior. He may want to schedule another screening because some STDs can take up to six months to become detectable.
STDs to Watch
There are several STDs that can be deadly if not treated. You should discuss these with your doctor.
- HIV/AIDS causes more deaths than any other sexually transmitted disease. It can take up to 10 years before the disease shows symptoms. However, HIV is treatable. You can live many healthy years with proper treatment.
- Human Papillomavirus is the deadliest STD after HIV. However, there is now an effective HPV vaccine.
- Herpes can be deadly. Over 2,000 cases of encephalitis related to this disease occur every year with a 70 percent fatality rate.
- Hepatitis is another dangerous viral STD. There is a vaccine for the hepatitis A type of this disease.
- Syphilis is not as prevalent as in the past. Syphilis is extremely dangerous. However, it is also entirely treatable if you get prompt medical attention.
- You should also ask about testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea. These are also dangerous diseases.
Conclusion
Even if you contract a sexually transmitted infection, you don’t have to become another tragic statistic. Talking to your doctor and getting testing and treatment can save your life. You will occasionally encounter a physician who does not want to deal with STDS. If this should happen, don’t hesitate to press the issue. If a doctor still refuses to help, go to another doctor.