Talking about the diseases no-one wants to talk about

For some reason, there's a reluctance to talk about the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In a country where abstinence before marriage is one of the main measures to prevent STDs, actually talking about these problems is perhaps a little difficult. But, for once, we're going to break with convention and talk about one of the these diseases and the standard form of treatment. Chlamydia is the most common bacterial infection, mainly affecting younger people. You are at risk if you have multiple partners. The problem is that, in most people, there are no immediate symptoms and most are completely unaware that they have caught the disease. The bad news is that failure to get treatment once the symptoms do become apparent can lead to serious complications. So let's get the ST element out of the way. You catch this disease by having conventional sexual intercourse, although it can also be transmitted by both oral and anal sexual activity. The symptoms to watch out for are fairly obvious. In men, you will find it painful to pass urine and/or you will find a discharge coming from your penis. In women, you will feel a burning sensation when urinating and/or produce a vaginal discharge. In both men and women, a failure to get treatment can cause infertility. However, if you have been engaging in oral or anal sex, the bacteria responsible can simply sit there without producing any symptoms. This leaves you as a carrier and the next time you have oral or anal sex, you can pass the bacteria on to your next partner. If there are no symptoms, the only sure way to test for the condition is through swabs. In men, a urine test is not unreliable. The presence of the bacteria cannot be diagnosed from a blood sample. The standard form of treatment is the use of an antibiotic such as zithromax. Under normal circumstances, a single dose can be sufficient to clear up the problem. Some people find they experience some nausea and stomach cramps after taking the dose. This usually passes quite quickly. However, you should always wait at least one week before having sexual intercourse again. If your partner is also treated (which is a sensible precaution), you should both wait a week until resuming sexual activity. The final thing to note is that zithromax affects the way in which an oral contraceptive works. There is an increased risk of pregnancy if you resume sexual activity before the zithromax is completely clear from your system. Using a condom is desirable until you are sure pregnancy cannot result.