What Is Considered a High-Risk Pregnancy?
Being pregnant means a lot of changes in your body over a nine month period. It always comes with some level of risk but when does a pregnancy become high risk, and what can be done about it?
I Think I Have an STD: What Should I Do?
America has one of the highest rates of STDs in industrialized countries with 20 million new cases annually. If you think you have one, you’re not alone but there are things you can do to manage the condition and keep it from coming back.
If you live in Las Vegas, Nevada and you’re struggling with an STD, Dr. Staci McHale and her experienced medical staff at New Beginnings OB-GYN are here to offer solutions. Here we explore what STDs are, the most common types and symptoms, and your options for treatment and prevention.
Types and symptoms of STDs
This is the broad term for several infections you can get from various types of sexual contact, including vaginal, oral, or anal contact or penetration. These are the most common types:
Chlamydia
Chlamydia can cause burning urination, vaginal discharge, rectal pain, and rectal bleeding. While it’s easy to treat, it sometimes has no symptoms. If left untreated, it can lead to infertility and be passed on to unborn children.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a condition whose symptoms change over its four stages. The first stage starts with a sore which may be painless around the rectum, mouth, or genitals.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea thrives in moist areas of the body. It may be asymptomatic or appear as painful urination, vaginal discharge, genital swelling, and bleeding between periods.
Trichomoniasis
Another frequently asymptomatic condition, trichomoniasis can present with unusual discharge, painful sex, painful urination, and can increase the risk of HIV.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a series of viruses that affect the skin mucous membranes of your mouth, throat, cervix, and anus.
HIV/AIDs
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and can increase the risk of other STDs.
How to prevent and treat STDs
Today, we can treat or at least manage most STDs with modern medications and regular check-ups. Here are some important things to know about how to deal with STDs:
Methods of prevention
Several precautions can help prevent STDs, such as using condoms and dental dams, getting checked for STDs regularly, limiting your number of sexual partners, and avoiding sex with people who may have an outbreak.
Getting treatment
If you have one of these infections, take prescriptions as instructed, and avoid sex until the condition clears. In cases with incurable conditions such as HIV/AIDS, pre-exposure prophylactics (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylactics (PEP) can help prevent further transmission.
Informing your partners
Be open with your partners about STDs and make sure they’re regularly checked as well. If you have an STD, advise your partners to get tested and inform anyone they’ve had sex with.
Left untreated, many of these infections can affect long-term fertility or unborn children. That’s why regular STD checks are important for your safety and health. If you have signs of any of the conditions above or other symptoms, make an appointment with Dr. McHale and New Beginnings OB-GYN today for quick and compassionate treatment.
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