Consequences of untreated Sexually Transmitted Infections

 Information is key when it comes to health-related issues. Do not be shy to confide in some one, especially a health or medical personnel, when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

•  Studies show that having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia increases the transmission and acquisition of HIV infection.
• In women, untreated STI such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is an inflammation of the internal female reproductive organs. PID may lead to chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, or infertility. About 75-85% of PID cases are a result of chlamydia or gonorrhea infections that have spread to the reproductive organs
• Untreated STI such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can put young men at risk of testicular infections and in rare cases infertility.
• STI such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can be passed from mother to child during birth causing eye infections, blindness, and pneumonia.
• If left untreated, syphilis can eventually cause damage to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. In extreme cases it can cause difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, mental illness, and even death. If you have syphilis and are pregnant, it can cause serious birth defects and stillbirth.
• Teens and related age brackets should be encouraged to consider or re-consider abstinence. When trying to avoid STI, abstinence means avoiding vaginal, anal, oral intercourse and other behaviors (e.g., genital to genital contact) that expose a person to semen, pre-ejaculate fluid, cervical or vaginal secretions, and blood. (s:teachingsexualhealth.ca)

 Go for a test today to possibly expose any of these infections and also commence treatments...
DO NOT PROCASTINATE!!!