STD Testing Updates

Most people are familiar with common sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and herpes. However, what you may not know is that there are also hundreds of rarer STDs that, if left untreated, can have devastating consequences for your health. 

Knowing about diseases such as granuloma inguinale, also known as donovanosis, can help you seek treatment sooner and prevent its spread to your sexual partners.

The Cause of Granuloma Inguinale (aka Donovanosis)

Granuloma inguinale, aka donovanosis, is the result of a Klebsiella granulomatis infection. The bacteria penetrate and eat the cell but grow relatively slowly, meaning that disease progression can take up to 12 weeks to reach its peak. 

Donovanosis is a sexually transmitted infection contractable through anal or vaginal sex with an infected partner. We know of some instances of patients developing oral lesions, but these are usually secondary symptoms, with the primary lesions growing on the genitals. Due to its rarity, most same-day STD testing kits do not test for this disease.

Symptoms of Granuloma Inguinale

Granuloma inguinale symptoms generally start as mild, but if left untreated, the disease can wreak havoc on your genital area. The infection can result in extensive blood and mucous leakage from open sores and potentially fatal secondary infections by other pathogens.

Stage One

The first stage of granuloma inguinale or donovanosis starts with a small pimple or lump in the genital region. The bump will spread and become pink or faintly red. The bumps eventually turn into raised red nodules that are painless but will bleed profusely if scratched or disrupted.

Stage Two

During the second stage, the bacteria continue eating away at the surrounding tissue and will start attacking the epidermis. This attack leads to shallow ulcers that spread from the initial area into the rest of the genital area, even extending into the thighs and lower abdomen. 

At this point, the ulcers develop a granular-looking halo of tissue while the inner part of the ulcer starts to weep or bleed frequently. This granulation tissue contains higher amounts of Donovan bodies, which are granular cellular components that form as a response to the infection.

Stage Three

The final stage is a deepening of the lesions and formation of scar tissue. In extreme examples, the disease can eat away enough flesh to cause severe injuries in affected individuals.

Five Main Types of Donovanosis Ulcer

A donovanosis ulcer can present in several unique ways, affecting diagnostic and treatment considerations.

Ulcerogranulomatous or Ulcerovegetative

The most common clinical presentation of this genital ulcerative disease, ulcerogranulomatous granuloma inguinale, starts with a single lesion or multiple hard, small pimple-like lesions that turn into soft, painless ulcers. These ulcers bleed easily and eventually develop sharp margins with rolled borders and a red granular base. Left untreated, these ulcers will continue to grow. 

Hypertrophic

Hypertrophic ulcers are much bigger than a traditional donovanosis ulcer. These lesions look like walnuts and result from large masses growing into each other.

Necrotic Ulcers

In most cases, granuloma inguinale ulcers contain living tissue, so the ulcers bleed heavily when injured. In some situations, the tissue in the ulcers starts to die, resulting in secondary infections and deep, foul-smelling ulcers.

Fibrous Ulcers

Fibrous ulcers contain large amounts of scar tissue and tend to develop during the later stages of the disease.

Nodular Type

Nodular donovanosis presents as a mixture of small, firm lesions (papules) and larger nodules that are soft, red, and contain small amounts of granulation tissue.

Diagnosing Donovanosis (Granuloma Inguinale)

Unlike many common STDs, donovanosis doesn’t have a rapid STD test to make an accurate and fast diagnosis. Since the initial bumps are small and painless, most people wait until the second or third stage before contacting their healthcare professional. 

Since Klebsiella granulomatis is difficult to grow in the lab, doctors rely on microscopy to make a diagnosis. In most cases, the presence of Donovan bodies in the granular tissue is enough to confirm the diagnosis.

Flesh-Eating STD Treatment Options and Prevention

The most common treatment for granuloma inguinale is a course of antibiotics for a minimum of three weeks, or until the lesions heal. Individuals should not participate in sexual activity during their treatment, and most doctors also recommend follow-up testing to confirm a complete recovery before starting sexual intercourse (Learn whether giving someone an STD is illegal). 

Like almost all other STDs, safe-sex practices can reduce the chance of catching donovanosis. Thankfully, most cases of granuloma inguinale occur in tropical areas, such as South East Asia, India, and South America, with only rare cases reported in the United States. 

However, while your risk of catching this flesh-eating STD may be low, your risk of catching more common STDs is significantly higher, and it’s vital to take the necessary precautions.

Test Regularly to Catch STDs Early

While you won’t detect donovanosis with Rapid Testing’s 10-panel STD test, these tests are still incredibly valuable in discovering the presence of more common STDs. If you engage in unprotected sex or have multiple sexual partners, order an STD test or visit your local testing center to keep you and your partner healthy and safe. Call us at Rapid STD Testing at (866) 872-1888 if you have any questions.

The U.S. has a significant history with HIV and AIDS due to the tragic epidemic that started in the early 1980s, and many people still think of that time when someone mentions HIV. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) destroys the body’s immune system, eventually leading to AIDS. Someone with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) typically has a life expectancy of about three years without treatment. 

Fortunately, researchers have discovered a treatment that slows the body’s progression through the stages of HIV, meaning that the numbers of severe cases are much lower today than they were 40 years ago. Antiretroviral therapy, or ART, describes an HIV treatment regimen that involves taking medications every day to help the immune system and reduce the risk of spread to other people.

HIV Overview

HIV attacks the cells of your body’s immune system, weakening its ability to fight off illness. HIV can eventually develop into AIDS. Though no cure currently exists, effective treatments allow people living with HIV to maintain a long, healthy life. 

Learn more about STDs that have no cure yet

Where does HIV come from?

The virus originally came from chimpanzees in Central Africa. Some people speculate that humans contracted SIV (the simian version of the virus) from the blood of chimpanzees after hunting them for food in the late 1800s. HIV inched its way across Africa, eventually spreading to various parts of the world.

How can I determine if I have HIV?

You must get an HIV test to find out if you have the virus. The most common test detects antibodies, but it may take up to three months after infection for them to show up. If you believe you have had exposure to HIV, Rapid STD Testing offers a 10-panel STD test that can detect the virus.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

Flu-like symptoms can appear within two to four weeks after infection, including: 

• Fever
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Rash
• Mouth ulcers
• Night sweats
• Body aches
• Swollen lymph nodes 

These symptoms could last for a few days or weeks. Some people don’t experience any symptoms at this stage, though the virus continues to multiply in their bodies. While not a direct symptom of HIV, thinning hair is also common in patients due to conditions related to their compromised immune system.

Learn more about STDs and hair loss. 

How does HIV spread?

HIV transmission happens through contact with certain bodily fluids, such as: 

• Semen
• Pre-seminal fluid
• Blood
• Rectal fluids
• Vaginal fluids
• Breast milk 

The most common ways that people contract HIV are:

• Vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HIV without a condom or preventative medication
• Using the same needles as someone with HIV

What are the stages of HIV?

Without treatment, HIV naturally progresses through different stages. If you get a rapid STD test early and receive treatment, you can slow the progression and avoid developing AIDS.

Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection

In the first stage of HIV infection, the virus is rapidly multiplying in the body. Some people will experience flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, and sore throat within days or weeks of exposure. However, some never feel sick in the earliest stage. 

In reaction to the virus replicating in the body, the immune system produces antibodies, which tests can detect three months after the initial infection. A person in this stage of HIV infection is highly contagious.

Stage 2: Chronic HIV Infection (Asymptomatic)

The second stage can be risky because there is no sign or symptom of an HIV infection. The virus continues to develop and hurt the immune system’s function but at a much slower pace. This stage can last for up ten years. 

A person in this stage may never know they have HIV, but they are still infectious. Treatment slows down the progression of HIV, and someone taking medication could live the rest of their life in this asymptomatic stage.

Stage 3: Chronic HIV Infection (Symptomatic)

Eventually, HIV causes a person’s immune system to stop working correctly, making them vulnerable to opportunistic infections. These severe illnesses can bring about symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, thrush, mouth ulcers, and diarrhea. 

Opportunistic infections earned the name because they take advantage of an infected person’s weakened immune system, spreading through bodily fluids, air, or contaminated foods. These infections include toxoplasmosis, pneumonia, Salmonella bacteria infection, and tuberculosis. Taking HIV medications can prevent damage to the immune system, helping your body resist illnesses.

Stage 4: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

The body’s immune system has taken a significant beating, and the HIV infection has developed into AIDS. Untreated HIV at this stage means numerous opportunistic infections and a rapid decline in health. 

Doctors test for AIDS by checking a person’s CD4 cell count, the primary infection-fighting cells in the immune system. They also take note of the viral load and opportunistic infections. Someone at this stage has a high amount of HIV in their blood, and they’re very contagious.

Rates of HIV Disease Progression

The rate of HIV progression depends on immune function and genetics. There are two main categories of progressors: 

• Rapid progressors: HIV rapidly progresses to AIDS, taking only a few years versus the standard ten.
• Long-term nonprogressors: the infected person shows no symptoms of HIV, and progression to AIDS can take over 12 years.

Test Markers of HIV Disease Progression

Running lab tests can reveal the progression of HIV by using specific test markers, giving doctors and researchers a better idea of how HIV develops in the body. These markers of HIV development correspond to low immune system cell count, viral load, and increased immune response.

CD4 cell count for T cells

CD4 cell count was the first marker doctors used to predict the rate of HIV progression to AIDS. CD4 cells, aka T cells, are white blood cells that find and eliminate invading germs. Measuring the number of these cells in the body allows doctors to determine a person’s risk of contracting opportunistic infections like pneumonia.

Plasma HIV viral load

Viral load is the amount of HIV in each millimeter of blood. At the beginning of an HIV infection, the viral load is very high. During the asymptomatic stage, the amount of HIV in the blood drops and stabilizes until AIDS starts to develop, at which point the viral load shoots up.

CD38 expression on CD8+ T cells

CD38 is a protein that appears on the surface of white blood, such as CD8+ T cells. A higher expression of CD38 on CD8+ cells indicates an imminent decline of CD4+ T cells at the beginning of an HIV infection. Later in the disease’s development, it can predict progression into AIDS.

The Basics of HIV Prevention

Since HIV only passes through specific bodily fluids, you can reduce your risk of infection by avoiding contact with those fluids or taking preventative medications.

Prevention of HIV Perinatal Transmission

A woman infected with HIV could pass the virus to her infant during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or breastfeeding, known as perinatal transmission. To prevent this type of infection, women should get tested for HIV before becoming pregnant, take HIV medications if they are infected, and use formula instead of breast milk.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

PrEP is a medicine for people who don’t have HIV, but who want to prevent contracting it through sex or sharing needles. They must take the drug every day for it to be effective. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that PrEP reduces HIV infection through sex by 99% and injecting drugs by 74%.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP is for HIV exposure emergencies, and you should not substitute other prevention methods with it. You should use it as soon as possible after HIV exposure (within at least 72 hours). If you take it within those first three days, it can prevent HIV infection.

Protect Your Partners – Get Tested for HIV

Are you freaking out over potential exposure to HIV after reading this article? Give yourself peace of mind and try same-day STD testing. Visit a Rapid STD Testing center near you.

People don’t often associate STDs with the eyes, but some sexually transmitted infections can spread to the wet, mucousy part of your eye, known as the conjunctiva. This vulnerable area is similar to surfaces on or around the genitals that STIs commonly infect, but getting an STI in the eye can lead to severe damage and vision loss.

Eye Infections Due to STDs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) spread through mucosal surfaces, the tissues on your body that produce mucus in areas such as your mouth, genitals, and urethra. The area around your eyes, the conjunctiva, also has porous mucus membranes where STIs can find their way into the body. 

Only certain STIs are a danger to your eyes since not all of them are infectious through the skin or mucosal surfaces.

Chlamydia

The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis can cause eye infection through direct or indirect contact, meaning you could pick it up from a person who has chlamydia or surfaces they’ve touched. If you have chlamydia, you can also spread the bacteria by rubbing your eyes after touching infected areas like the genitals. 

The infection, also known as trachoma, causes inflammation of the conjunctiva (the eye’s surface and inner eyelid) and scarring, leading to vision damage or blindness in severe cases. 

Developing countries with high cases of chlamydia struggle with infectious blindness due to the widespread bacteria. Since the bacteria spread through contact, these countries encourage frequent hand and face washing. However, swift treatment with antibiotics by mouth or drops in the eye can prevent severe infections that cause eye damage. 

Symptoms of a Chlamydia trachomatis eye infection include: 

• Swollen eyelids
• Irritation
• Redness
• Tears and discharge
• Swollen lymph nodes near eyes
• Light sensitivity

Gonorrhea

The bacterium that causes gonorrhea is Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which passes on through contact with the body’s mucus membranes during sexual activity. These susceptible areas include the throat, urethra, rectum, and cervix. 

While the risk is low for adults, it’s possible to contract a gonorrhea eye infection if fluids like semen, urine, or vaginal discharge get into your eye during sex with a partner who has gonorrhea. However, it’s more likely for adults to infect themselves by touching their eyes after getting the infected fluids on their hands. 

Gonorrhea eye infection is more common in newborns who contract it while passing through their mother’s infected birth canal during labor and delivery. 

Gonorrhea STI eye symptoms include: 

• Discharge or crust around the eye
• Swelling of the eye
• Light sensitivity
• Pain or difficulty opening the eye
• Redness 

Without antibiotic treatment, gonorrhea eye infections can lead to corneal damage that causes partial vision loss or blindness.

Syphilis

A syphilis eye infection, also known as ocular syphilis, can happen as a result of catching the STI and leaving it untreated. It can show up at any stage of the infection, and the symptoms can be hard to recognize because they imitate the signs of other eye conditions. 

During the early stage of syphilis (primary syphilis), sores might appear on your eyelid or in the eye’s conjunctiva. After several weeks when secondary syphilis develops, you might notice a rash on your eye or more severe symptoms, such as: 

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Loss of eyelashes and eyebrow hair
• Redness
• Light sensitivity
• Blurry vision
• Inflammation
• Yellowish lesions in the retina 

Symptoms of ocular syphilis can come and go throughout the development of the disease, but complications can lead to serious eye conditions, including loss of vision. Doctors can treat ocular syphilis with penicillin injections and other medications to control symptoms and prevent damage to the eye.

Herpes

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes ocular herpes, which most commonly affects your eye’s cornea. Signs of this infection include pain, redness, inflammation, and lesions on the cornea. If herpes spreads deeper into your eye (the stroma), it can cause loss of vision and blindness. 

HSV affects a large population of the U.S., making it one of the leading causes of infectious blindness in the country. Proper treatment with antiviral medication prevents ocular herpes from getting out of control and causing permanent damage to the cornea. 

Unlike other STIs on this list, ocular herpes doesn’t pass to someone through sexual activity. When someone contracts herpes, it’s in their body for the rest of their life. A person with HSV typically experiences eye herpes symptoms during flare-ups. Learn about contracting STDs without sex. 

Herpes eye infection STI symptoms include: 

• Light sensitivity
• Blurry vision
• Eye pain
• Tearing and mucus discharge
• Redness
• Painful rash 

Find out if you have herpes with same-day STD testing at a Rapid STD Testing center near you.

Treatment for STI in the Eye

Treatment for STI in the eye depends on the STI. Some, like chlamydia, need antibiotics to heal, while others require antiviral drugs, penicillin injections, or medical eye drops. 

If you go to the doctor for an STI eye infection, they’ll clean out your eye with saline and give you the appropriate medication to kill off the infection, which may be a shot in your arm or thigh. Your doctor might prescribe ointments and painkillers for relief, depending on your symptoms. 

The earlier you get medical assistance, the more eye damage you will prevent and the less likely you are to experience vision loss. Since your eye condition might be infectious, your partner should also get a check-up. 

Learn whether urgent care can do STD testing

How to Prevent STI Eye Infections

Since STI eye infections spread through contact, they are easy to prevent if you’re careful. To minimize your chances of catching an eye infection from an STI, you should: 

• Wash your hands and face often
• Not rub your eyes or touch your face without washing your hands
• Not share towels, pillows, or makeup with other people
• Throw away makeup that you used when you had an eye infection
• Always use a condom during sex
• Get a rapid STD test after unprotected sex 

STI eye infections are more common in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, so it’s essential to take extra care when traveling to these regions. Practice good hygiene, avoid flies, and ensure that you have access to clean water.

Conclusion

An STI in the eyes can cause symptoms that range from mildly uncomfortable to severely damaging to your vision. Take care of your eye health before it’s too late. At Rapid STD Testing, we offer a 10-panel STD test so you can identify STIs before they get out of control. Call us today at (866) 872-1888.

For most people, getting an STD is an embarrassing incident that they feel would be best forgotten. Unfortunately, some STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can come back even after STD treatment. This recurrence can be due to several factors. 

Knowing the conditions under which STDs can come back after treatment can help you avoid common mistakes and ensure that you’re finally cured for good.

Why Does Repeat Infection Happen Even After Treatment?

Many STDs result from a bacterial infection that requires a course of antibiotics to treat. However, the STD can come back if you don’t get rid of all the bugs (i.e., bacteria) causing the disease or if you get a repeat infection from a new sexual partner.

Taking the Incorrect Medication

Some overworked STD clinics treat general symptoms instead of focusing on a specific disease. Most bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, so it’s easy to prescribe a broad-spectrum treatment and hope for the best (learn more about antibiotics for STDs). 

Unfortunately, not all STDs stem from the same type of infection, and some may even be viral, protozoan, or fungal infections. Identifying an STD by taking a 10-panel STD test is essential in getting the correct treatment for chlamydia or other STDs.

Improper Medication Intake

It’s tempting to stop taking your chlamydia medication once you’ve stopped experiencing symptoms, but this will almost certainly lead to a recurring infection with chlamydia. The main reason is that while the antibiotics have killed enough of the bacteria to stop producing symptoms, they need more time to eliminate every organism. Leaving even one chlamydia bacterium behind can cause it to reproduce and result in a repeat infection. 

Another huge problem that not completing your course of antibiotics can cause is that it encourages antibiotic resistance. If you stop a course early, you’ve eliminated all susceptible bacteria while leaving the tougher, more resistant, ones alive. These will reproduce and be much more resistant to common antibiotics, resulting in longer and harsher treatments. 

An Untreated Partner

If you have a stable sexual partner, you both need treatment for your STD, and you both need to wait until you’ve completed the treatment before having unprotected sexual activity. Failing to do so may result in your passing the bug back and forth every time you have sex, leading to a prolonged treatment cycle.

Exposure to Another Person With an STD

Successful treatment of an STD doesn’t result in immunity to that disease in the future. If you have unprotected sex with a new sexual partner, you risk catching the same STD again. 

The best way to avoid this scenario is to take Rapid Testing’s rapid STD test, which tests for the most common STDs and delivers results within 24 hours. Regular testing can help ensure that both you and your partner get the treatment you need without putting the other person at risk from an STD.

Known STDs That May Come Back Even After Treatment

The good news is that chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis are completely curable, even though they can come back after STD treatment. However, taking the necessary precautions, such as same-day STD testing or STD prevention pills (learn more about STD prevention pills), can ensure that you stay healthy and STD-free.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs in the U.S. — according to the Centers for Disease Control, over four million people had chlamydia in 2018, and around one in 20 sexually active women had the disease. 

What makes chlamydia particularly concerning is the high reinfection rate. Several studies show that up to 26% of females develop a repeat chlamydia infection within a year after STD treatment. 

A large factor in this high reinfection rate is that many chlamydia infections are asymptomatic, meaning that the person doesn’t know they have the disease and can transmit it to their sexual partners. It’s a reason why regular testing with Rapid STD Testing’s service is so important to maintaining your partner’s and your sexual health. 

Typical symptoms of chlamydia include: 

• Abnormal discharge from penis or vagina
• Burning sensation while peeing
• Sores in the genital area 

Chlamydia can also infect rectal tissue during anal sex, leading to pain, discharge, and potential bleeding. 

 Untreated chlamydia infection increases the risk of developing: 

• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Infertility
• Epididymitis in men 

Chlamydia can also pass through from the mother to baby during pregnancy and childbirth and even increases the risk of transmitting HIV. 

The good news is that chlamydia treatments are straightforward and effective. Depending on your circumstances, your healthcare practitioner will prescribe either a single-dose antibiotic or a seven-day course. You should abstain from sexual activity during the treatment period and complete the entire course to avoid reinfection. If your symptoms persist after the seven-day treatment, speak to your healthcare provider for further advice. 

The CDC also recommends testing three months after the STD treatment to ensure that it’s worked and you’re fully cured.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that often causes asymptomatic infections but can still have serious health consequences. Left untreated, gonorrhea can result in infertility, long-term pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancies. Common transmission mechanisms include anal sex, penetrative sex, and even oral sex. 

Gonorrhea treatment can become increasingly complicated due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease. These treatments are often more expensive and take longer to complete than traditional STD treatments, and a follow-up STD test is vital to ensure that the treatment works effectively.

Syphilis

Syphilis can be one of the most devastating STDs. If left untreated, it can cause paralysis, hearing and vision loss, brain damage, heart damage, and changes to your mental state. Luckily, modern STD treatments effectively treat the disease, especially if caught early. 

The longer you leave the disease untreated, the higher the risk of permanent damage and the longer the treatment will take.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is one of the most common STDs in the United States, with over two million infections in 2018. However, only 30% of individuals with the disease develop symptoms, so regular STD testing is so important. 

Treatment for trichomoniasis involves a single-dose treatment, but new evidence shows that a multi-dose treatment lasting seven days is significantly more effective at curing the disease and preventing reinfection.

Why Is Retesting Necessary After Treatment?

Doctors tend to retest for chlamydia three months after STD treatment to prevent complications from reinfections and stop further transmission to sexual partners. These tests generally check for new infections, either from an untreated prior partner or from an untested new partner. 

Retesting isn’t the same as testing to make sure the cure worked. Doctors will only recommend test-of-cure under specific circumstances, such as persistent symptoms or lack of adherence to the treatment.

Stay Informed to Stay Safe

STDs are an ever-present danger, especially if you participate in sexual activity with multiple partners. The best way to stay safe is with regular testing, so call us at (866) 872-1888 to order our rapid tests or book an appointment with an STD testing center near you. 

Many people can live normal lives with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) since excellent treatment options exist, though some still experience treatment failure. Drug-resistant STD concerns only increase each year as we attempt to develop more medications to combat diseases.

At Rapid STD Testing, we want to help you get the same-day STD testing you need with secure, private, and fast results so that you can begin treatment as soon as possible. We believe that everyone should learn about drug-resistant STDs to prioritize their health.

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

Antibiotics successfully treat many different diseases and illnesses, including STDs. Usually, if you have a minor infection, your prescribed antibiotic can rid your body of the bacteria within weeks. If you have to take antibiotics too frequently or for long periods, the dangerous bacteria will learn how to survive and resist the treatment.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious concern for many different diseases, including STDs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that half of the estimated 1.6 million gonorrhea infections per year will resist one or more antibiotics.

Should We Be Alarmed?

Yes. The plague of sexually transmitted diseases is nothing new, though the increasing lack of treatment options should alarm you. Different STDs, like gonorrhea, have grown so much strength that they frequently resist not one but multiple antibiotics.

As of right now, we only have one recommended treatment for gonorrhea that the bacteria haven’t learned to combat. Many scientists assume that this treatment will soon become ineffective as well. Even if researchers can develop additional options, the cycle will likely repeat.

You must also consider the long-term effects of antibiotic resistance. Suppose you contract an STD, take an antibiotic, and fully recover. What happens if you get the STD again but the drug no longer works?

These illnesses and diseases continue adapting and overcoming treatments every day. You should regularly take a rapid STD test to avoid potential issues.

STDs and the Spread of “Superbugs”

Superbugs are diseases that resist multiple antibiotic treatments. Today, gonorrhea is one of the most common superbugs, as it begins to gain resistance to the final treatment option. So why does this happen?

Bacteria evolve the same way any other living organisms do. Think about how animals can adapt to different climates, making them stronger and more resistant to extreme temperatures or weather conditions. The bacteria that we find in certain sexually transmitted diseases can do the same thing.

Each time we introduce a new antibiotic to an infection, the stronger the bacteria become, making it even harder to treat in the future. As bacteria become resistant to each antibiotic, they gain better defense mechanisms and shed weak links.

Aside from the growing strength of superbugs, you must also consider how infectious these types of diseases are. In 2017, the CDC Division of STD Prevention found that syphilis cases doubled in only a few years.

How Do Bacteria Evolve to Be Resistant to Drugs?

Bacteria gain drug resistance by changing their entire structural makeup. As of right now, we understand that STDs, particularly gonorrhea, use one of the two following methods to evolve:

• Change in surfaces: Antibiotics don’t kill all of the bacteria in your body because some of them are necessary to keep us alive. Instead, antibiotics target specific types of dangerous bacteria, like STDs. Bacteria can evolve against this tactic by changing their surfaces to become unrecognizable to the treatment methods.
• Change in enzymes: Bacteria use enzymes to fight off antibiotics or other threats. If we introduce a new antibiotic to combat resistance, the bacteria will create new enzymes to fight it off. Each time we try to find a new way to kill off these diseases, they find new ways to kill off our medicines.

What Sexually Transmitted Diseases Should You Be Worried About?

Not all sexually treated diseases have antibiotic resistance concerns. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus, not bacterial, so doctors usually would never prescribe an antibiotic for treatment.

Susceptibility testing measures the level of resistance in different bacteria. This information can inform doctors on the best treatment options. Using antibiotics, you can only successfully treat very few bacterial STDs, like bacterial vaginosis, without worrying about resistance.

Currently, gonorrhea is the most drug-resistant STD and the largest concern of scientists. Aside from gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia are also beginning to show antibiotic resistance signs.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can spread to other parts of your body if untreated, creating serious problems. The gonorrhea bacteria are called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or gonococci.

• Women with gonorrhea must worry about inflammation spreading to their ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID often results in infertility. Pregnant women with gonorrhea also risk a stillbirth or newborn death.
• Men with gonorrhea must worry about the infection spreading to their testicles. Testicular bacterial infection frequently causes sterility.
• Everyone who lacks adequate treatment must worry about the bacteria migrating into their bloodstream or joints, which can be fatal. Gonorrhea might also increase your chances of getting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Currently, the only way to treat gonorrhea is by combining two different strong antibiotics called azithromycin and ceftriaxone. The bacteria may resist this treatment soon.

You should learn more about gonorrhea symptoms to know what you should keep an eye on. Staying ahead of treatment can help you prevent serious long-term problems like infertility. Test yourself regularly by visiting a local clinic or ordering a test online from Rapid STD Testing.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that creates non-painful sores around the genital region. When someone else’s skin or mucus comes in contact with these sores, the bacteria spread. Syphilis appears in three stages:

• Stage One: Painless sores around the genital region and mouth form.
• Stage Two: The sores heal, but then a rash appears. Swollen lymph glands and fevers may accompany the rash symptoms.
• Stage Three: The rash disappears for as long as many years before the infection spreads to more critical areas of the body, like your eyes, heart, brain, and nervous system. This stage can lead to blindness, paralysis, dementia, numbness, and death.

Penicillin is the main treatment for syphilis, though this antibiotic is harder to obtain in the United States due to shortages. You may also use azithromycin, though the bacteria might resist this antibiotic.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an incredibly common STD that affects men and women, though young women are the most common sufferers. In 2020, the CDC found that over 60% of people with chlamydia were between 15 and 24 years old.

What makes chlamydia so common is that many people can have the infection without any symptoms, causing them to spread it to partners who might experience adverse effects. When untreated, chlamydia can cause PID and sterility.

The beginning symptoms of chlamydia include genital discharge and pain. Treatment options include erythromycin, doxycycline, azithromycin, and amoxicillin. By adhering to treatment guidelines, you can fully recover from the disease without long-term consequences.

As of right now, no drug-resistant chlamydia strains exist, though other diseases have gained resistance to the main treatments above. For example, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to amoxicillin, penicillin, and other antibiotics, which could happen with chlamydia in the future.

How Common Are Drug-Resistant STDs?

The CDC believes that out of all reported gonorrhea cases, less than 1% face antibiotic resistance. A percentage like this might sound small, though when considering the millions that face this STD, even 0.01% would mean thousands of people.

You must also remember that the resistance rates for cheaper and older medications are even higher. The more new antibiotics we develop, the more expensive and unattainable they may become.

Aside from just STDs, the CDC gathered reports of over two million people who contracted some sort of infection that resisted antibiotic treatments just in the United States alone.

Can Antibiotic-Resistant Infectious Diseases Be Treated?

You can still receive treatment for all three STDs mentioned above. For syphilis, you can receive penicillin, though sometimes you might struggle to find it. You could also use azithromycin and risk the potential resistance.

You can treat chlamydia with a few different antibiotic options. As of right now, all of these medications work fine, though the bacteria might resist them soon.

If you have gonorrhea, you only have one potential treatment option that is beginning to fail. If your particular strain resists this treatment, you may not recover unless researchers can develop a new antibiotic option to combat it.

What Should You Do If You Contract an Untreatable STD?

The word “untreatable” is a bit of an exaggeration, as you always have options. When it comes to syphilis or chlamydia, you can utilize one of the available antibiotic treatment options.

If you contract gonorrhea, your doctor will prescribe either azithromycin, ceftriaxone, or both. You must request that you take both of these medications together, as this is the most powerful method.

After receiving the prescription, you should take each pill at the appropriate time. Antibiotics require an intense regimen of multiple capsules per day, following your meal schedule. The antibiotic course typically takes a couple of weeks, and you will wean down on pills per day throughout the treatment period.

After completing your antibiotics, you should see your doctor again and let them know if you still have any symptoms. They might recommend that you go through another round of antibiotics if the first round didn’t work well enough. While infected, you must practice safety precautions and inform all sexual partners of your condition so they can receive treatment as well.

How Can We Prevent STDs From Becoming Antibiotic-Resistant?

You can prevent STD antibiotic resistance by retesting for an infection at a local clinic or by ordering online with Rapid STD Testing.

If you had chlamydia, took the antibiotic, and felt better, the disease might still return. If the bacteria do come back, it may resist the treatment on your second round.

By regularly retesting yourself after a chlamydia diagnosis, you can stay ahead of treatments and reduce the risk of spreading it to other people, which only heightens antibiotic resistance.

Get Tested Early

One of the best ways to reduce the overwhelming development of antibiotic resistance is by testing yourself regularly for STDs. Many STDs do not present symptoms but can still contaminate your sexual partners.

With regular STD testing, you can eradicate your infection and prevent the spread. Not only will you improve your chances of a total cure, but you can reduce the entire societal issue. The more people who need antibiotics for an STD, the more the bacteria will learn to adapt, evolve, and resist these treatments.

You should always conduct regular STD testing, even if you stay with the same sexual partner. Try a convenient online option, like Rapid STD Testing. You can also learn more about using antibiotics for STDs to spread awareness and stay educated on treatment options.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Rather than worrying about curing an STD, be sure to focus on how you can prevent contracting one. Use the following preventative methods:

• Always use condoms correctly during sexual activities.
• Reduce your number of sexual partners.
• Discuss STDs and prevention methods with each partner before having sex.
• Ensure that you and your partner both receive regular STD tests.
• Stay up-to-date on vaccines for HPV and hepatitis B.

Do Your Part to Reduce Antibiotic Resistance by Getting Tested

You can do your part to reduce drug-resistant STD concerns by receiving regular STD screenings. Rapid STD Testing provides a 10-panel STD test with private, easy-to-understand, and fast results.

To stay safe, informed, and prepared, you can order one for yourself and one for your partner or visit a local STD testing center.

Order online today or call our Rapid STD Testing team at (866) 872-1888 with any questions!

Pulling out a condom during a sexual encounter is a no-brainer for many. But have you ever thought about how condoms originated, how they got their name, and how they’ve changed over the years? 

Read on to learn the history of condoms and how safe sex has transformed throughout history. 

Why Is It Called Condoms?

Condoms have an extensive history dating back to 3000 B.C. At first, people used animal horns as condoms. They then transitioned to using condoms made from linen or animal intestines. 

Condoms adapted and changed dramatically over the years, creating a more comfortable, enjoyable sexual experience and enhancing protection against pregnancy and STDs. 

Oddly enough, the origin of the word “condom” is unknown. Historians believe the name originated with King Charles II, whose nickname was Earl of Condom or Dr. Condom. However, condoms had existed for several hundred years before King Charles II came to power. 

How Do Condoms Work?

Condoms help prevent pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases by keeping semen from entering the vagina. These products roll over the tip of the penis and encompass the entire penis shaft, leaving a small amount of space at the tip to catch semen upon ejaculation. 

How Effective Are Condoms? 

Condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly. Unfortunately, however, people often misuse these products. In reality, the failure rate of condom use is closer to 15%. The most common reason condoms fail is because they break or slip off the penis during use, typically when they are too large. 

What Are the Types of Condoms? 

The modern market is filled with a wide range of condom types. The most common are latex condoms, which use non-porous latex because it is cheap, easy to produce, and strong. However, non-latex condoms are also common among people with latex allergies. These products can consist of:

• Polyurethane
• Lambskin
• Polyisoprene
• Nitrile

Lubricated vs. Non-Lubricated Condoms: What’s the Difference? 

Lubricated condoms have a thin layer of lubrication on their exterior that may make them easier to put on. This lubrication sometimes contains spermicides to prevent pregnancy. However, lubricated condoms typically do not have enough lubrication to aid penetration. 

Meanwhile, non-lubricated condoms may be better for oral sex, as they have a more natural taste and texture. 

Condoms During Ancient Times

Condoms have a fascinating history dating back to ancient times — specifically, around 3000 B.C. 

During this period, King Minos of Crete covered his penis with a goat’s bladder sheath during sex to protect his wife from his semen. Medical professionals didn’t understand sexually transmitted diseases at the time, but King Minos was convinced his semen was full of “serpents and scorpions.” 

However, contraceptive use fell dramatically in the 5th century, and there is no recorded use of condoms in the Roman Empire. Meanwhile, Muslims and Jews may have used onion juice or tar as a contraceptive during this time, which likely proved ineffective.  

The next recorded use of condoms wasn’t until the 15th century, when people across Asia began developing creative forms of birth control. Glans condoms — condoms that only cover the penis head — were prevalent at this time. In China, people made condoms from oiled silk paper and lamb intestines. Meanwhile, the Japanese used animal horns as condoms. 

A few thousand years later, the Egyptians began creating condoms to prevent the spread of diseases. They produced condoms from linen sheaths and dyed them different colors for different classes of people. Oddly enough, the Ancient Romans created condoms from the muscles of their slain enemies. However, most condoms consisted of animal products. 

Condoms in the Renaissance Period

During the Renaissance, the primary purpose of condoms was to prevent the spread of STDs. For instance, syphilis was prevalent — and often deadly —  throughout Europe in the 16th century. 

Sperm and its role in pregnancy was not discovered until the 17th century. Upon this discovery, the Church shunned condom use, and many considered condom use as only for prostitutes and immoral people. 

Condoms During the 18th Century 

Condom use became much more common starting in the 28th century. However, opinions about these contraceptives were diverse. For example, John Campbell asked Parliament to make condoms illegal. 

Still, the condom market grew, and these products became widely available in chemist shops, pubs, and barbershops. At this time, condoms were made of a linen blend or animal skins.

Charles Goodyear Started a Condom Revolution 

Charles Goodyear, the founder of the global Goodyear tire company, began a condom revolution in the 19th century with his invention of vulcanization. This process combined sulfur and natural rubber to create a durable, tensile rubber material. Vulcanization launched the creation of the first rubber condom in 1855, which allowed condoms to be mass-produced. 

Condoms in Modern Times 

Condom use became much more popular after the invention of rubber condoms in the 1850s. During World War I, the American military began providing condoms to soldiers to lower STD rates. While condoms were very prevalent during the early 1900s, many people still opposed them.

In the U.S., condom companies could only advertise their products in terms of their disease prevention. Condoms were not openly marketed forms of birth control until several decades later. 

Then, condom sales increased dramatically during the 1980s, as AIDS began to spread like wildfire throughout the U.S. Advertising campaigns marketed condoms as an effective solution to protect against AIDS. 

The Rise of Latex 

Latex was first invented in 1920. Soon after, Youngs Rubber Company produced the first latex condom as part of its Trojan brand. These condoms required a less intensive production process than rubber condoms and eliminated the fire hazard present during rubber condom manufacturing. 

1990 and Beyond: Quality Improvement

Quality testing within condom production has improved slowly over time. Manufacturing regulations tightened significantly in the 1960s and 1970s, making condoms more reliable and effective. In the 1990s, condom advertisements shifted from scary to humorous, reducing some of the stigma surrounding condom use. 

Condoms and Safe Sex Today 

Today, condom use has become standard procedure within safe sex practices. These products are highly effective in preventing pregnancy and the spread of STDs. 

Understanding Sexually Transmitted Diseases

During the AIDS epidemic, condom use became a critical procedure to stop the spread of this deadly disease. Condom use, combined with the invention of same-day STD testing, helped to ultimately contain AIDS.

Current Attitudes to Condoms and Other Birth Control Methods 

Today, condoms are a no-brainer for many. While some object to condoms due to diminished feelings of sexual pleasure, many individuals worldwide view condom use as an essential step in any sexual experience. 

To Wrap It Up 

While the history of condoms is diverse and interesting, today, they are necessary contraceptives for safe sex. However, condoms are still not 100% effective at preventing the spread of STDs. Check out our resources below, then contact us to schedule a rapid STD test or 10-panel STD test. 

• Learn more about pains during sex
• Learn how to talk about sex with your partner and discuss STD history