|
Women's Conditions / Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Page: 10
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases |
Prepare for questions
You and your doctor will try to match your symptoms with an STD. You should also expect to be asked what may seem like very personal questions. This is called taking a sexual history. Here are some questions that doctors and nurses often ask in order to know what infections to test for, plus the reasons they ask them:
- Q: Have you had a sexual experience with another person in the past year?
- R: Gives your doctor or nurse an idea of what else to ask you.
- Q: (If yes) With how many different people in this year?
- R: Your doctor needs to know because the more partners you've had, the greater your risk for having contracted any STD. There is no wrong answer.
- Q: (If yes) What kind of sex have you had, vaginal, oral, or anal?
- R: Different kinds of sex can cause trauma to different parts of the body. Knowing this can help your doctor make his or her diagnosis.
- Q: Can you tell me about your sexual life before this last year?
- R: You may be married or monogamous now, but might have put yourself at risk a year ago.
- Q: Have you ever had a sexually transmitted disease of any kind?
- R: People who've had an STD before are often at higher risk for other infections.
- Q: Have you ever shared a needle or injection equipment with another person for any reason?
- R: Sharing needles can infect you with someone else's blood. It is a main mode of transmission for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- Q: What do you do to protect yourself from STDs?
- R: Your answer will help your doctor or nurse understand how much you know about the infection process.
If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted disease, or you've recently been told by a sex partner that he has been diagnosed with one, you'll want to seek medical attention as soon as possible. There are a number of different options.
- Schools and universities generally provide care to enrolled students at the school or campus clinic for free, or, at reasonable rates. The clinic may or may not offer comprehensive care, including testing, counseling, and education.
- Hospital clinics sometimes offer STD screening and treatment. Costs and services will vary by hospital.
- Community clinics offer free or low-cost health services. They may be non-profit organizations, such as Planned Parenthood affiliates, or be related to the state or county health department. Rates are sometimes on a sliding scale depending on income. Some community clinics may not offer comprehensive care.
- State clinics treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. The state health department's STD clinic is most likely to offer comprehensive services because it is mandated by the federal government to control STDs in the state. The state public health department can be a wealth of information about services in your area if you are too far away to attend the state clinic.
- Private doctors vary in their interest and knowledge of STDs and might not offer comprehensive care. However, if you have an ongoing relationship with an ob-gyn who knows your history, or you can get a referral, this can be a good option, although it is also probably the most expensive.
The level of privacy and confidentiality can vary by state due to different reporting laws, and even by clinic and doctor. Your best bet is to ask your doctor or nurse about their accommodations for keeping information private. Ask these questions:
- (1) What precautions do you take to ensure that no one can find out why I was here?
- (2) What will be done with my records? and
- (3) Do I have a right to keep my records from being sent to others, such as future health care providers or insurance companies?
After you are diagnosed with an STD, your doctor will either let you know your treatment options or simply give you a prescription. It is extremely important that you finish all medications completely, even if you're feeling better in a day or two. Incomplete drug treatments are responsible for the super bugs those germs that don't respond to the treatment that once knocked them out. Being exposed to a small amount of the medication instead of all of it allows germs to mutate and become stronger.
As far as sexual activity, it's best to avoid any type of contact that could infect your partner or delay your healing. Check with your doctor about what to avoid and for how long.
If you are asked to return to your doctor or the clinic for follow-up, plan to do so. Even if you feel well, they will want to ensure that you are completely cured or at least, that you were properly treated. This follow-up could save you from pain and suffering later if they find that further treatment is needed.
You may be asked how you plan to notify past sexual partners about your infection. Partner notification is essential in stopping the spread of STDs. If you can't bear to tell past partners yourself, many health workers (especially those working at the state health department) will do it for you without using your name. For guidance in telling current and potential partners, see “Finding the Support You Need, later in this chapter.
- Always take your medicine as directed. If you feel it is not helping, call your doctor. Do not quit taking it on your own. If you are taking antibiotics, continue to take them until they are all gone, even if you feel well. If you stop treatment too soon, some germs may survive to reinfect you.
- Don't have sex (including oral sex) while you and your partner are being treated for a STD.
- Tell all your sex partners that you are being treated for a STD. They may be infected also and need treatment.
- Wash your hands often, especially after you urinate or have a bowel movement. To avoid spreading an STD to your eyes, do not touch them with your hands.
- If you are pregnant, tell your doctor that you have a sexually transmitted disease. Your STD could spread to your unborn child.
- Women should wear cotton underwear or pantyhose with a cotton crotch so that wetness will not be trapped in the vaginal area.
- Ask your doctor for the instructions on practicing safe sex and using condoms.
- If you have had a test, be sure to call your doctor for the results.
- To keep from getting an STD, you should practice safe sex or avoid all sexual contact. The only completely safe sex occurs between two faithful partners who do not have STDs.
- You can improve your chances of avoiding an STD by using condoms. Although condoms do not provide foolproof protection, they reduce your risk of being infected. Other kinds of birth control (pills and diaphragms, for instance) can help prevent pregnancy, but they do not stop infections.
- The more people you have sex with, the greater your chance of developing a sexually transmitted disease. The fewer your sexual partners the better.
- You have a rash, itching, or swelling after taking your medicine.
- The symptoms or problems for which you were seen get worse or come back after treatment.
|
CHECKUPS: HOW OFTEN
IS RIGHT FOR YOU? |
|
You are at high risk and should be checked every one to three months if...
- You currently have many sexual partners
- You currently have casual sex with partners you know nothing about
- Your sexual partner currently has many partners
- You or your nonmonogamous sexual partner live in a city with high STD rates
You are at moderate risk and should be checked every three to six months if...
- You exchange body secretions or make contact with the oral or anal mucous membranes of others during sexual intercourse
- You or your partner sustain slight damage to the tissues of the vagina or anus during sex
You are at low risk and should be screened every 12 months for two years if...
- You and your partner have been monogamous for a long time.
|
Based on which organ systems are affected, the following supplements are indicated:
The following reflexes will often be active:
These reflexes should be tested and treated with the proper supplementation. You should take this preliminary free test or be examined by a competent health care practitioner for testing. A liver/gallbladder flush and intestinal detoxification program may also be recommended.
Most sexually transmitted diseases have yeast/and/or parasites as a common denominator. The yeast diet should be followed.
Chiropractic in itself does not address STD's directly, however, the immune system can be influenced with chiropractic care. Go here for information regarding chiropractic care. Take this preliminary to see if your condition could respond to treatment.
Not sure on your treatment options? For a limited time you can schedule a
to talk with a licensed doctor or clinician regarding your condition.
Use our Physician Locator to find a doctor in your area.
|
