When you’re sexually active, you’re at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), otherwise known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some factors about you and your lifestyle put you at higher risk for infection, but anyone can find themselves dealing with common STDs.
Dr. Ulin Sargeant, Dr. Razmik Thomassian, and the team at Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary Care are here to help, with compassion and without judgment. We provide STD testing for new and existing patients from our location in Duarte, California.
If you test positive for an STD, we can also help you get the treatment you need to protect your future health. Here are four of the most common STDs that our team sees in our urgent care practice.
1. Human papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV is the most common STD in the United States, with more than 40 types of HPV that can spread through sexual or skin-to-skin contact. Herpes is a similar sexually transmitted viral infection.
Some types of HPV don’t have any symptoms and won’t cause you any significant health issues. However, other types of HPV can result in dangerous cancers of the cervix, mouth, throat, or penis.
You can get vaccinated against HPV. Your provider at MIMPC can also use a Pap smear to check for early signs of cervical cancer.
2. Chlamydia
Another extremely common STD in the US is chlamydia, an infection caused by bacteria. Symptoms of chlamydia include vaginal or penile discharge and pain during urination, but many people who have and can transmit this STD don’t present any symptoms — one reason why regular STD testing is so important for your sexual health.
If you test positive for chlamydia, a prescription for antibiotics clears up your infection. You should continue to get tests for a few months after treatment to ensure that you’re no longer infectious. Gonorrhea is a similar bacterial STI, with similar symptoms and treatment needs.
3. Syphilis
The signs of syphilis look different in each of the disease’s four stages. What starts as sores can progress to body rashes, genital lesions, and, in later stages, organ, nerve, and brain damage. With Dr. Sargeant’s or Dr. Thomassian’s help, you can catch this STD before it progresses to threaten your and your partner’s health.
We can successfully treat syphilis with antibiotics, and the treatment works better the sooner your doctor detects and addresses the condition.
4. HIV/AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is transmitted through body fluids like semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and breast milk. HIV infection can lead to the chronic condition AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). You can’t contract HIV from kissing, but sexual contact or sharing needles can expose you.
You might not have clear symptoms of HIV, and the condition can be slow to progress. However, full-blown AIDS is often fatal. When we detect HIV early, you can use medications to control your condition, preserving your health and even protecting your sexual partners from infection.
With all STIs, prompt treatment is always best. Get tested and learn more about what you need to do next to protect your sexual health, and that of your community. Schedule your STD testing at Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary Care with our online booking tool, or call 877-254-4496.
