The Very Real Dangers of STDs – What you Need to Know

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STD for short, have been around since time began and despite medical and scientific advancement, many of the diseases are still around. In this short article, we outline a few of the common STDs and offer treatment advice.

• HPV – The Human Papillomavirus is a major cause of cervical cancer, cancer of the penis and throat. If you think you may have contracted HPV, make an appointment with your local sexual health clinic in Cairns and have a professional diagnosis. There are more than 100 strains of this virus and it is very common here in Australia and about 40 of them can be sexually transmitted. There are no real symptoms and the only way to know if you have HPV is to get tested at your local STD clinic.
• Herpes – This is an infectious virus with two types; HSVI and HSVII. Oral herpes causes cold sores in and around the mouth, while HSVII causes genital warts. A simple blood test is all it takes to test for the presence of herpes, although a swab or urine test can also be used to detect the presence of HSVI or HSVII.
• Chlamydia – There are no symptoms with this STD, which happens to be the most common STD in Australia and is caused by a parasite that lives in human cells. If not treated, chlamydia can cause lasting health issues in both sexes and it can seriously impact fertility in both men and woman. Testing is painless and stress-free, available at your local STD clinic and we recommend having regular tests for chlamydia. Click here for the many benefits of distilled water.
• Syphilis – A potential life threatening disease, syphilis is transmitted through bodily contact and sexual intercourse. This STD was rife a couple of centuries ago and it can be cured with the right course of antibiotics; testing is available at your local sexual health clinic and you should have regular tests for all major STDs.
• Gonorrhoea – A highly infectious STI, gonorrhoea shows no visible symptoms in the early stages, yet it can cause infertility in women. Testing is quick and painless and this infectious disease has become resistant to antibiotics; we recommend regular testing for this and other STDs.
• Hepatitis – There are 3 types, hepatitis A, B and C. This virus is found in faeces and dirty water and it can be passed during vaginal and anal intercourse. Hepatitis B affects the liver and it is one of the most infectious blood borne viruses and it can survive outside the body for up to 7 days. Hepatitis C is a viral infection and a person might not show any symptoms; testing is available at your local STD clinic.

You can never be too careful with STDs; here is some information from the Australian government about STDs and the importance of regular testing. Many of these conditions show no symptoms, which is why everyone should have regular STD and STI tests at their local STD clinic.