Your Laguna Beach STD Treatment Clinic Answers Common STD Questions
For many teenagers and adults, few topics are more uncomfortable -or more worrisome- than the matter of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Unfortunately, STDs are a reality for anyone who is sexually active. Ignoring the topic doesn’t make them go away – it just increases the chances a person might catch an STD and not get treatment.
So, your friendly neighborhood Laguna Beach STD treatment clinic team at Surfside Urgent Care wanted to take a minute to talk about some of the questions we commonly hear regarding STDs. Staying informed is the best way to keep yourself safe!
An STD FAQ From Your Laguna Beach STD Treatment Clinic Near You
1 – How many kinds of STDs are there?
All told, more than two dozen different types of STD have been discovered and documented. Some of the more commonly known diseases include herpes, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis, bacterial vaginosis, and human papillomavirus.
2 – What are the symptoms of an STD?
One difficulty here is that STDs can have a wide variety of symptoms, and some may even be asymptomatic. However, if you are experiencing any of the following, you should visit a Laguna Beach STD treatment clinic near you ASAP:
- Itching, blistering, or swelling around the genitals
- Painful urination
- White, yellow, or green discharge from the genitals
- Strong unpleasant smells from the genitals which won’t wash off
- Visible sores around the genitals.
Additionally, many can manifest cold- or flu-like symptoms, which makes them hard to detect.
3 – Can you catch STDs from oral sex?
It’s an unfortunate myth that oral sex prevents STDs. It is true that the risk is less when engaging in oral sex, but the risk is still there. Some STDs – such as herpes – can even infect a person’s mouth, making transmission via oral sex very likely.
4 – Does birth control prevent STDs?
The only form of birth control that’s effective at preventing the spread of STDs is the condom. STDs spread by direct skin-on-skin contact, or through the exchange of bodily fluids. Condoms are mostly (although not 100%) effective at preventing this. Other forms of birth control – including the pill, IUDs, and diaphragms – will do nothing to prevent STDs.
5 – What do I do if I think I have an STD?
Cease having sex with new partners and visit a Laguna Beach STD treatment clinic at your earliest opportunity. The faster you seek treatment, the more quickly you can resume your normal lifestyle.
Surfside Urgent Care Is Here
Contact our STD treatment clinic near you for more information.