The PRC provides free screening tests for Chlamydia & Gonorrhea. These are screening tests and are provided based on nurse assessment.
Just the Facts: STDs
(Sexually Transmitted Diseases)*
Bacterial STDs Viral STDs
ChlamydiaGenital Herpes
GonorrheaHepatitis B
SyphilisHIV & AIDS
Trichomoniasis**HPV
General Facts about STDs Over 70 million Americans currently have an STD and there are 19 million new cases reported to health officials every year.
Occurrence About 10 million new cases of STDs occur yearly in people under age 25. Most STDs can be spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Condom Effectiveness Even if a condom is used 100% of the time there is still a risk for both STDs and pregnancy. It is very uncommon for condoms to be used 100% of the time and to be used correctly every time.
Symptoms Many people with STDs do not have any symptoms. STDs can be passed on to others even when a person has no symptoms.
Treatment Most STDs are caused by either bacteria or a virus. Antibiotics can cure many, but not all STDs caused by bacteria. Most STDs caused by a virus cannot be cured, yet some may in time clear up on their own.
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies Women are more likely to become infected with STDs than men. Long term complications may include infertility, problems in pregnancy, and cancer of the cervix. Many STDs can be passed on to babies during childbirth.
Long Term Effects STDs can bring serious long term effects on a person's health, well being, life span, and quality of life.
Bacterial STDsAntibiotics can cure many, but not all STDs caused by bacteria.
CHLAMYDIA The most common type of bacterial STD.
Occurrence About three million new cases occur each year. In 2004 there were over 4,000 reported cases of chlamydia in the Richmond Metro area.
Condom Effectiveness 100% condom use only reduces the risk of getting infected with chlamydia by about 50%. Chlamydia is spread through body fluids.
Symptoms Discharge, pain, and painful urination. 75% of women and 40% of men with chlamydia do not have symptoms.
Treatment Antibiotics
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies If untreated, the infection can spread from the cervix to the uterus and tubes causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can become a life threatening infection that can cause tubal scarring, infertility, and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (i.e. in the tube). Pregnant women with chlamydia can pass the infection on to their newborns.
Long Term Effects Being infected with chlamydia makes a person more susceptible to getting the HIV virus.
GONORRHEA Second most common reportable bacterial STD.
Occurrence 700,000 new cases of gonorrhea occur each year. In 2004 there were over 1,700 reported cases of gonorrhea in the Richmond Metro area.
Condom Effectiveness 100% condom use only reduces the risk of getting infected with gonorrhea by about 50%. Gonorrhea is spread through body fluids.
Symptoms Discharge, pain, and painful urination. May not have symptoms.
Treatment Antibiotics
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies Untreated, the infection can spread from a woman's cervix to her uterus and tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can become a severe, life threatening infection that can also cause tubal scarring, infertility, and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (i.e. in the tube). Pregnant women with gonorrhea can pass the infection on to their newborns and cause serious problems.
Long Term Effects If not treated the disease can impact the whole body including joints, the heart, and the brain. Being infected with gonorrhea makes a person more susceptible to getting the HIV virus.
SYPHILIS Centuries old and highly infectious bacterial disease.
Occurrence In 2002 the CDC reported 32,000 cases.
Condom Effectiveness 100% condom use only reduces the risk of getting infected with syphilis by about 50%.
Symptoms First stage is a single sore (chancre) which is round and painless. Most people infected with syphilis are unaware of it because the symptoms are similar to other disease symptoms. Can advance to second and third stage if untreated.
Treatment Antibiotics can cure syphilis only if taken during the first or second stages of the disease.
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies Pregnant women with syphilis can pass the infection on to their newborns. The infections in newborns can lead to severe health problems or death.
Long Term Effects Untreated syphilis can advance over the years to damage internal organs such as the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, liver, and bones. The damage can lead to death. Being infected with syphilis makes a person more susceptible to getting the HIV virus.
TRICHOMONIASIS **Caused by a protozoan which is larger than bacteria.
Occurrence Estimated 7.4 million new cases every year.
Condom Effectiveness Condoms provide incomplete protection against trichomoniasis.
Symptoms Discharge, burning, and irritation. May not have symptoms.
Treatment Medication called Flagyl which is similar to an antibiotic.
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies Pregnant women with trichomoniasis are at risk for preterm labor or having low birth weight babies and can pass the infection on to their newborns.
Long Term Effects Being infected with trichomoniasis makes a person more susceptible to getting the HIV virus.
Viral STDsMost STDs caused by a virus cannot be cured, yet some may in time clear up on their own.
GENITAL HERPES (HSV) Most common sexually transmitted viral infection.
Occurrence 45 million infected - 1 in 5 age 12 or over.
Condom Effectiveness 100% condom use only reduces the risk of getting infected with herpes by about 50%.
Symptoms Painful lesions, fever, headache, and muscle aches. May not have symptoms.
Treatment No cure, treatment of symptoms with anti-viral medications.
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies Pregnant women with active herpes sores can pass on a possibly fatal infection to their newborns. Need to have cesarean section to avoid this complication.
Long Term Effects May be infected for life, may or may not have recurrences. Being infected with herpes makes a person more susceptible to HIV infection.
HEPATITIS B Common blood-borne viral infection that can also be spread through sexual activity.
Occurrence About 1 in 20 Americans have been infected. 60,000 new cases each year.
Condom Effectiveness May reduce the risk somewhat.
Symptoms May have yellowing of the skin and eyes, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea. May have no symptoms.
Treatment After exposure given immunoglobulin to help prevent disease.
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies Pregnant women with Hepatitis B can pass the infection on to their newborns.
Long Term Effects Many may have lifelong problems causing liver failure, cancer, and death.
HIV & AIDS HIV is a virus that destroys the immune system.
Occurrence Estimated that over 1 million Americans are infected with HIV/AIDS. About 40,000 people are infected with HIV each year.
Condom Effectiveness 100% condom use only reduces the risk of HIV transmission by about 85%.
Symptoms Initial symptoms are tiredness, fever, and aches. May have no symptoms. Signs of AIDS may not occur for 10 years.
Treatment Complex system of using anti-viral medications.
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies Pregnant women with HIV can pass the disease on to their newborns. HIV can be passed through breast milk.
Long Term Effects Most infected with HIV develop AIDS. Become very susceptible to other infections. Taking medications daily can prolong life.
HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV) There are over 100 strains of HPV and about 30 cause genital infections.
Occurrence Over 6 million new cases each year. 20 million currently infected.
Condom Effectiveness 100% condom use may reduce the risk of contracting HPV by about 50%.
Symptoms Majority have no symptoms. Some develop warts.
Treatment No cure although most infections eventually go away. Topical or laser treatment available for warts.
Impact on Pregnancy & Babies During pregnancy warts usually increase in number and size. Pregnant women with HPV can pass the infection on to their newborns causing warts on the vocal cord.
Long Term Effects Vast majority of abnormal pap smears due to HPV. Untreated abnormal pap smears may develop into cervical cancer. 4,000 women die every year from cervical cancer.
*References include:www.medinstitute.org;www.cdc.gov; Leveno et al., Williams Manual of Obstetrics, 21st Edition. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2003; Ratcliffe et al.,Family Practice Obstetrics, 2nd Edition. Philadelphia, PA, Hanley & Belfus, 2001.

Please note that information on this web site is a public service of the Pregnancy Resource Center of Metro Richmond and should not be construed as a substitute for medical evaluation or advice.