Herpes
- May spread it to your sexual partner.
- May spread to child during childbirth.
Genital warts
- May spread it to your sexual partner.
- More warts will grow if not properly treated.
- Warts present on the cervix can lead to pre-cancerous cells on the cervix and vagina. For this reason all women with warts must have annual pap smears.
- Warts can spread to infant during childbirth.
Syphilis
- May spread it to your sexual partner.
- If untreated, infection may progress to cause infection in the brain, heart and eyes.
- Can eventually cause blindness and death.
What can I do to protect myself from sexually transmitted diseases
- Abstain from sexual activity.
- If you are going to have sex, use a condom with foam or jelly.
- Before having sex, discuss with your partner any prior history of sexually transmitted diseases. This is crucial !!!
- If you or your partner has herpes, abstain from sexual activity when lesions are present. There is still a chance of contracting herpes even when lesions are not visible.
- If you get a STD, make sure you and your partner are treated to prevent getting re-infected. Abstain from sexual activity until treatment is complete.
- Get checked for STDs at each annual visit.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.blackwomenshealth.com/)
