Your Sexual Health
is Your Responsibility
Screening Is Necessary To Rule Out Risk
Just because you are infected and don’t show symptoms doesn’t mean you can’t spread the disease.
If You Have An STI
You may not have recognizable signs of an infection. However, untreated infections can cause long-term damage.
26 Million1
New cases of STIs are diagnosed every year in the United States.
Sixteen Billion Dollars2
Is the estimated annual medical cost related to STI’s in the United States?
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
Diseases and Their Definitions
Chlamydia
A bacterial infection caused by a pathogen (germ), Chlamydia trachomatis that usually infects the genitals of both men and women.
Gonorrhea
A highly contagious bacterial infection that causes a thick discharge from the penis or vagina.
Trichomoniasis
A common sexually transmitted disease caused by a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis and is a cause of vaginal infections in women and urethral infections in men.
HSV I & II
Are viral infections characterized by periodic outbreaks of painful sores.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
A group of viruses, some of which can lead to cervical cancer. Several strains of HPV cause external genital warts.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
Results from an overgrowth of one of several organisms that are normally present in the vagina, upsetting the natural balance of vaginal bacteria.
Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma
Species are the smallest free-living organisms that can cause invasive infections in susceptible populations of women.
Those Who Should Consider Testing:
- Sexually active women
- Women who douche
- Women with a new sex partner
- Women with more than 2 sex
- partners in previous 6 months
- Couples not using barrier protection
- Women who lack peroxide
- producing lactobacilli
- Women with a previous STI infection
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 8). Chlamydia - STD information from CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 19). STD Facts - Trichomoniasis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rittenschober-Bohm, J., Waldhoer, T., Schulz, S., Pimpel, B., Goeral, K., Kasper, D. C., Witt, A., & Berger, A. (2019, June 1). Vaginal Ureaplasma parvum serovars and spontaneous preterm birth. Original Research Obstetrics.
Chow, J. M. (2017, April 30). Updates to the USPSTF Chlamydia Screening Guidelines: A Delicate Balance Between Evidence and Action. Chlamydia Coalition.
Additional Resources:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
3. New York State Department of Health:
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention