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Patient Information: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Sexually Transmitted Disease Risk Assessment
How Do You Know If You Are Really Safe?
We would like to encourage you to take a few minutes to review the risk factors outlined on the next page. Many people think that they are not at risk because they haven’t honestly thought about their possible risk factors.
Think about this:
- Do you want to be tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) today?
- Do you need to change any of your sexual practices?
If you have questions or concerns, please ask the nurse, midwife, or doctor. We can test for most STDs during your visit today.
You May Be at High Risk If:
- You have had more than one sex partner in your life.
- You know or suspect your partner has had sex with other partners.
- You have had oral, vaginal or anal sex without using a condom, glove, or rubber dam (“barriers”).
- You have shared IV drug needles or have had sex with someone else who has.
- You received blood between 1978 and March 1985 or have had sex with someone else who has (It is not a risk to give blood).
- You have had sexual contact with a hemophiliac (a person with a blood-clotting disorder).
- You have had a STD in the past.
- You have been stuck by a needle used on someone of unknown HIV/hepatitis status or have come into contact with someone else’s blood.
You May Be at Moderate Risk If:
- You think your partner is not having sex with other partners, but you are not 100% sure (and you are not using a barrier).
You Are Likely at Low Risk If:
- You are 100% sure that your partner is not having sex with other partners and your partner has tested negative for STDs.
- You have never shared IV drugs or had sex with someone who has.
- You did not receive blood between 1978 and 1985 nor had sex with someone who has.
- You have tested negative for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and have not engaged in unsafe sex since the tests.
- You have had a normal Pap smear in the last year or so.
- You have tested negative for HIV 3 to 6 months since the last time you had unsafe sex.
DIAGNOSIS |
SYMPTOMS |
HOW DO YOU GET IT? |
TREATMENT |
PREGNANCY CONCERN |
Chlamydia |
Often none. If symptoms do appear, it is 7-21 days after contact. Women may experience discharge, bleeding between periods, pain with urination or abdominal pain, fever or nausea |
Vaginal, anal, or oral contact with an infected person. |
Antibiotics |
May be transmitted to baby at birth. May cause serious infection that can prevent future pregnancy. |
Genital Warts |
Small bumps, itching or burning on or around sex organs or anus. Symptoms appear 1-8 months after contact. |
Vaginal, anal, or oral contact with an infected person. |
Treat with topical – may require repeated treatments. Virus may stay in body despite treatment. |
May be transmitted to baby at birth. |
Gonorrhea |
Discharge from vagina, burning with urination, abnormal bleeding, abdominal pain. Symptoms appear 2-21 days after contact. |
Vaginal, anal, or oral contact with an infected person. |
Antibiotics |
May be transmitted to baby at birth causing blindness, arthritis, or meningitis. May cause serious infection in the mother that can prevent future pregnancy. |
Hepatitis B |
Often none or mild symptoms. Symptoms include flu-like feelings that persist, tiredness, yellow skin, dark urine, and light-colored bowel movements. Symptoms appear 1-9 months after contact. |
Vaginal, anal, or oral contact with an infected person.
Sharing needles or exposure to infected blood. |
Medical treatment is available. Some medications may prevent the disease from worsening. May cause permanent liver damage and be incurable. |
Treatment and immunization of the newborn can prevent Hepatitis B. Even with treatment, infected adults may or may not recover completely. |
Herpes |
May have no symptoms. If symptoms, may include flu-like feelings, small painful blisters near sex organs or mouth which last 1-3 weeks. Symptoms appear 1-30 days after contact. |
Vaginal, anal, or oral contact with an infected person. |
Some medications may prevent recurrences or decrease intensity of recurrence. Is not curable. |
May be transmitted to baby at birth causing severe illness in the baby. A cesarean section may be recommended if there are active blisters at the time of delivery. |
Syphilis |
1st stage: painless sore on mouth, sex organs, fingers or breasts lasting 1-5 weeks. Symptoms appear 3-12 weeks after contact.
2nd stage: occurs 1 week to 6 months after sore heals: includes rash, flu-like symptoms |
Vaginal, anal, or oral contact with an infected person. |
Antibiotics |
May be transmitted to baby at birth causing severe illness. Mother may get severely ill if not treated. |
Vaginal Yeast Infection |
Curd-like discharge, redness and itching around vaginal opening. |
Not transmitted sexually usually. May be caused by antibiotic use. |
Anti-yeast medications |
Common in pregnancy, not a risk for the baby. |
Trichomonas |
May be no symptoms. If symptoms, discharge, itching, difficulty urinating. |
Usually transmitted through sexual contact. |
Antibiotics |
May be treated during pregnancy. No risk known to infant. |
Bacterial Vaginosis |
May be no symptoms. Most common symptom is fish-like odor, also increased discharge or irritation. |
May or may not be transmitted sexually. |
Antibiotics |
May be linked to preterm labor and delivery. | Peer Review Status: Internally
Peer Review Date: 2004
Peer Review Status: Internally
Peer Review Date: 2004 |
