1. How do I know if I have an STD??+
Many STDs do not show any signs or symptoms, and those that do often display symptoms that mimic other illnesses. It is important to get tested, so that a person knows his status and does not unknowingly transfer STDs to others. To complicate matters more, a person can have multiple STDs at once, making it very tough to diagnose without testing. .
Yes, a person can get STDs even if he is virgin. Some STDs spread by sharing needles, from unsterilized tattooing equipment, from kissing, or skin-to-skin contact. Sometimes, STDs affect areas of skin apart from sexual organs. For example, herpes can spread by kissing or shedding skin cells that contain it.
Some STDs have a cure, while others do not. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is preventable via vaccine if the immunization is received prior to getting it. Sexually transmitted diseases that are caused by bacteria are curable, especially when treated early on. Bacterial STDs include trichomoniasis (trich), chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Viral STDs are currently not curable, but all viral STDs have some sort of treatment available. Viral STDs include HIV/AIDS, herpes simplex 1, herpes simplex 2, and HPV.
It can take days or weeks after exposure for the bacteria or virus to be in the body at a level noticeable by testing. It is recommended to get retested in case you initially got tested too soon.
STDs transmitted to fetus during pregnancy may cause mild to life threatening conditions in the baby. Pre-pregnancy testing for sexually transmitted diseases is highly recommended to prevent transmissible diseases of the newborn.