It's clear that having an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI) increases the risk of transmitting the infection to others. Even if you use condoms and practice safer sex, the risk of transmission remains significant. This is especially true for STIs, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), for which condoms only provide partial protection.
Gonorrhea
often has no symptoms, but it can cause serious health problems, even without symptoms. If left untreated, syphilis can kill and gonorrhea can cause infertility.Non-viral STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can be cured. However, they usually have no symptoms, or symptoms may come and go, making it look like an infection went away when it actually didn't. You can't know your STD status without getting tested, and you can't self-diagnose an STD based on symptoms and then assume that the infection is gone when your symptoms go away. Getting tested can uncover a problem and pave the way for treatment. Men can get trichomoniasis, but they usually have no symptoms and are not tested for trichomoniasis as part of routine STI screening.
Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease in the country, and it is estimated that it infects about 3.7 million Americans at a time, 70 percent of whom have no symptoms. If you have an untreated STD for too long, you may be at risk of developing serious health complications. For example, untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. PID can cause infertility or an ectopic pregnancy, which is a life-threatening condition. Syphilis can cause blindness or paralysis if left untreated.
In addition to these physical complications, having an untreated STD can also lead to psychological distress. The best way to protect yourself from the risks associated with having an untreated STD is to get tested regularly and practice safe sex. If you think you may have been exposed to an STD, get tested right away so that you can start treatment if necessary. If you are diagnosed with an STD, make sure to follow your doctor's instructions for treatment and follow-up care. If you are sexually active, it's important to get tested for STDs regularly. This will help ensure that any infections are caught early and treated before they cause serious health problems.
