When to Seek Medical Care for a Fever
You’re running a fever. Is it time to seek medical attention, or can you ride it out safely at home? Keep reading to learn more about when to reach out to a doctor when you have a fever.
If You're Sexually Active Here's What You Need to Know About STDs
STDs are soaring. More than 2.5 million infections were reported in 2019, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s the sixth consecutive year of the highest STI numbers in this country’s history.
April is STD Awareness Month, making it an ideal opportunity to get educated — and tested. Whether you have one partner or many, contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is possible.
The providers at Macomb Medical Clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan, are recognized for their skill and nonjudgmental approach in testing and treating all your medical conditions, including STDs. Here’s what they want you to know about STDs.
STDs don’t always cause symptoms
Many STDs have no signs or symptoms so mild you may not notice them.
If you’re sexually active, any of the eight pathogens that cause STDs may lurk in your body without you are your partner realizing it. What you can’t see can be detected with testing.
Early detection is essential
All STDs can be prevented, and most can be treated and cured. The key is early detection.
Whether you came to our clinic with STD symptoms or no signs of infection, learning you have an STD is scary.
The Macomb team helps you navigate the medical side by beginning treatment (typically a round of antibiotics) and the complicated process of identifying the source and disclosing the information to others.
While not all STDs are curable, many are when caught early. The professionals at Macomb Medical Clinic offer the best treatments for managing symptoms and reducing transmission for those with no cure.
Who should get tested for STDs?
Regular wellness exams don’t include STD testing. Here’s how to know you should get tested:
- You’re a sexually active woman under age 25
- You’re a sexually active woman over age 25 with multiple partners
- You’re pregnant
- You’re a sexually active gay or bisexual man
- You engage in unprotected sex (no condom)
- You share injection needles with others
Also, everyone between the ages of 13-64, whether sexually active or not, should get tested at least once for HIV.
Untreated STDs can cause severe complications
Having an STD is bad enough but left untreated, it can lead to serious long-term health, especially for young women. Each disease has a different set of complications, but in general:
- HIV can lead to cancer: 570,000 people get cervical cancer, and 300,000 of them die
- Herpes and syphilis increase your chance of getting HIV by a factor of three
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility
Pregnant women with STDs put their babies at risk for:
- Stillbirth
- Low birth weight
- Neonatal death
- Pneumonia
- Sepsis
- Neonatal conjunctivitis
- Deformities
The good news is that early detection and treatment can prevent most of these tragic scenarios. If you have any symptoms of STDs — vaginal discharge, abdominal pain, burning when you urinate, genital sores, warts, or ulcers — schedule a consultation with the team at Macomb Medical Clinic by calling the office today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Are You at Risk for Diabetes?
Are you at risk for diabetes? Find out if you’re among the increasingly large percentage of people who need to be aware of their risk level as they age.
Why It's More Difficult for Women to Lose Weight and How We Can Help
Your male friends eat ice cream without gaining an inch. It seems that if you even look at ice cream, your waistline grows. It feels as though it’s easier for women to gain weight, and it may be harder to lose weight, too. Here’s why and what to do.
6 Common Illnesses and How to Avoid Spreading Them
As fall and winter draw closer, we want to review some steps you can take to avoid spreading some common respiratory viruses. Not to mention, these steps protect you, as well.
STIs 101: Symptoms, Treatments, and Risks
Have you thought about STIs since high school health class? If not, it may be time to brush up on the basics, including their symptoms, treatments, risk factors, and prevention.
Here’s What to Expect at Your Upcoming Physical
Carving out time for a doctor's visit when you feel fine is a huge accomplishment. Now that your annual exam is on the books, here’s a sneak peek at what happens during this crucial visit.