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Like chlamydia, if left untreated, gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to chronic pelvic pain and permanent damage to a woman's reproductive organs. This damage may lead to ectopic pregnancy (in which the fetus develops outside of the womb, a condition that can be life-threatening) and infertility . 2
Prenatal STI testing can determine whether a pregnant woman has an infection that can be cured or controlled with drug treatment, which decreases the chances that the infant will contract the disease. 1 The pregnant woman and her health care provider can take other steps to protect her health and her infant's health if the STI is one that ...
STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are typically caused by bacteria or viruses and are passed from person to person during sexual contact with the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth. The symptoms of STDs/STIs vary between individuals, depending on the cause, and many people may not experience symptoms at all.
Viruses such as HIV, genital herpes, human papillomavirus, hepatitis, and cytomegalovirus cause STDs/STIs that cannot be cured. People with an STI caused by a virus will be infected for life and will always be at risk of infecting their sexual partners. However, treatments for these viruses can significantly reduce the risk of passing on the infection and can reduce or eliminate symptoms. STIs ...
In addition, sharing contaminated needles, such as those used to inject drugs, or using contaminated body piercing or tattooing equipment also can transmit some infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. A few infections can be sexually transmitted but are also spread through nonsexual, close contact.
Although BV can be cured, it does carry certain risks. Women with BV are at a higher risk for: Delivering an infant preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) Delivering an infant with a low birth weight (generally, 5.5 pounds or less) More easily contracting certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including gonorrhea, herpes, and HIV/AIDS
Treatments can reduce the symptoms and the progression of most of these infections. For example, medications are available to limit the frequency and severity of genital herpes outbreaks while reducing the risk that the virus will be passed on to other people.
Some infections—such as Zika, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis—can pass to the fetus during pregnancy or to the infant during delivery, causing short- and long-term health problems. However, the risk of transmission can be lowered or even eliminated with appropriate treatments.
There were more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in the United States in 2022. NICHD research aims to prevent these and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among women, infants, children, and adolescents. Focus areas include addressing the need for additional STI prevention methods for women and curbing the rise in congenital syphilis cases.
Although BV can be cured, it does carry certain risks. Women with BV are at a higher risk for: Delivering an infant preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) Delivering an infant with a low birth weight (generally, 5.5 pounds or less) More easily contracting certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including gonorrhea, herpes, and HIV/AIDS