The Risks
Chlamydia
Over 50% of infected women with C. trachomatis are asymptomatic (having no symptoms).3
Gonorrhea
The CDC estimates that, annually, 820,000 people in the United States get new gonorrheal infections, and less than half of these infections are detected and reported to CDC.4
Trichomoniasis
Symptoms usually appear in women within 5 to 28 days of exposure, but up to 50% of women may not show any symptoms.5
Mycoplasma & Ureaplasma
Ureaplasma species can be found on the mucosal surfaces of the cervix or vagina of 40 to 80% of sexually mature asymptomatic women, whereas Mycoplasma hominis may occur in 21 to 53%.6
Bacterial Vaginosis
50-75% of women with bacterial vaginosis are asymptomatic.7
Herpes 1 & 2
Most people--one out of six people between the ages of 14 to 49--have genital herpes, and those with oral herpes, were infected during childhood from non-sexual contact. However, there are many infected individuals who do not have symptoms.8
HPV
Most HPV infections are asymptomatic, non-recognized, or subclinical. Oncogenic, or high-risk HPV types (e.g., HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, & 68), are the cause of cervical cancers. Asymptomatic genital HPV infection is common and usually selflimited; it is estimated that more than 50% of sexually active persons become infected at least once in their lifetime. Persistent oncogenic HPV infections is the strongest risk factor for development of precancers and cancers.9