Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) is the transmission of contagious viruses or bacteria through sexual intercourse, whether it is vaginal, anal, oral or any skin to skin sexual contact between two individuals.
The incidents of these diseases being transmitted from one individual to another are rising among people of various ages but the most worrisome reports are of young adults aged between 18-25 years old.
According to WHO reports, around 1 million new cases of STIs are reported in the US every day which are prevalent in people aged between 15-49 years old. Talking about Florida specifically, the STD cases have seen an increase of 42%, recording 932 cases per 100,000 residents in Hillsborough County of the greater Tampa Bay area.
Some other research shows that of these cases, half of all STD diagnoses happen in people between the ages of 15 and 24. In the United States, adolescents and young adults have the highest prevalence rates of certain STDs. For example, reported rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are highest among females during their adolescent and young adult years (US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention).
STD is though highly prevalent among young adults, but it’s also important to know what kind of population is most commonly exposed to these diseases and who should consider getting tested for STDs from Tampa STD clinics
Other Common Carriers
- Sexually active women under age 25
- Women older than 25 and at increased risk of STIs (having sex with a new or multiple partners)
- Gay or bisexual men
- Men and women who have unprotected sex (without the use of condom)
- Individuals who use injected drugs
- People with HIV
- Transgender women who have sex with men
- Rape victims
- Having been in jail or prison
- Pregnant women
Common STDs
There are over 25 different types of sexually transmitted diseases found in the US population of which a few are the most common and dangerous for an individual’s health. Adolescents who indulge in sexual activities from early ages, such as at 16 or 17 years or sexually active young adults can be exposed to any of these sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
One of our previous articles discusses the different Types of STD Checks in Tampa, in depth, but let’s take a brief look at the most common types of STDs:
Major STDs and Their Causes
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a widespread infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It can affect both adolescent or young men and women, often without showing symptoms. If left untreated, it can cause serious damage to the female reproductive system and their fertility in their adult life.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is caused by two types of herpes simplex viruses:
- HSV-1: Often responsible for oral cold sores but can also affect the genital area.
- HSV-2: Primarily causes genital sores.
The virus spreads through direct contact and can be transmitted even when visible symptoms are absent.
Gonorrhea
This bacterial infection, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, targets the reproductive tract and can also infect areas such as the throat, eyes, and rectum. Without treatment, gonorrhea can lead to complications like infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Syphilis
Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum, is a serious condition that progresses through four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Congenital syphilis occurs when an infected mother passes the disease to her unborn child, which can result in severe health issues or stillbirth.
Trichomoniasis (Trich)
Trichomoniasis is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. While some people experience symptoms like itching and unusual discharge, many remain asymptomatic, making it important to test regularly for early detection.
Monkeypox
Although not a traditional STD, monkeypox can be transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual activity. Symptoms include rashes, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, and the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, skin lesions, or respiratory droplets.
If Left Untreated
“A survey report by CDC National Overview of STIs states that over 2.4 million cases of syphilis (209,000), gonorrhea (600,000), and chlamydia (1.6 million) were diagnosed and reported in 2023.”
The statistics show the increasing prevalence of STD cases in a year, yet still a high number of cases go unreported due to the public’s unawareness about the importance of getting tested. Untested and undiagnosed STDs which are ultimately left untreated, can cause long lasting and detrimental effects to an individual’s health and body. Some of these effects are:
Impact of STDs on Health
Problems During Pregnancy
Women who have had sex since they were young are more likely to have been exposed to a variety of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which can subsequently create major problems during pregnancy. These sexually transmitted diseases can raise the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth, and uterine infections if they are not detected and treated in a timely manner. Diseases like trichomoniasis and chlamydia can potentially prevent conception and cause problems like ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb).
Defects at Birth
Early-life exposure to several sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can cause congenital abnormalities and health issues in the newborn and subsequent children of the mother. Prematurity, low birth weight, stillbirth, neonatal illnesses, or developmental delays can all be consequences of transmission from a mother who has been exposed to sexually transmitted diseases to her child.
Infertility and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
PID, which causes discomfort, inflammation, and scarring in the reproductive system and frequently leads to infertility, can be caused by infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea in women. Fertility problems may also affect men who have untreated sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) brought on by early sexual activity.
AIDS and HIV
STIs including syphilis, gonorrhea, and herpes make adolescents and young women more vulnerable to HIV infection. HIV can develop into AIDS if therapy is not received, which will seriously weaken the immune system.
Cancer
In same-sex relationships, unprotected sex and undetected sexually transmitted diseases can lead to HPV infections, which can cause anal cancer in males and cervical cancer in women.
Additional Illnesses
Fatigue, stomach ache, fever, and jaundice are some of the symptoms of liver diseases caused by hepatitis A, B, and C. Cirrhosis and liver cancer can result from hepatitis B, which killed over a million people in 2022.
Importance of STD testing (for adolescents)
- Early detection of preventable long term complications
- Help protect your fertility against any kind of risk in the future
- Risk free pregnancy
- Avoid transmission to partners or future children
- Protects unborn baby from transmission of infections or disease
Our article about STD testing, Better Safe Than Sorry; STD Testing Tampa, discusses the importance of staying safe by going through STD testing in Tampa, Florida. It aims to educate viewers about common STDs, symptoms and testing options that can help in early detection of diseases.
Fighting STDs
The adolescents and young adults in Tampa who are sexually active, are at high risks of getting sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases can prove to be detrimental for their health and their partners well being with outcomes like infertility, AIDS or cancer and also harmful for their future generation, raising chances of prematurity, stillbirth or developmental delays.
So that is why it’s important that they get tested from Tampa STD clinics to prevent future complications and fight off STDs before it’s too late.
