Graphic by Sunny Wei ‘23.
By Catelyn Fitzgerald ’23
Science and Environment Editor
Sexually transmitted infections are infections passed from one person to another during sexual activity, according to Planned Parenthood. STIs are common and often occur without symptoms, but can cause serious health problems if left untreated. For each STI, corresponding symptoms, testing and treatment vary. Some common STIs include:
Chlamydia: Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs and most people who contract it show no symptoms. According to Planned Parenthood, “Chlamydia can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, eyes and throat.” When symptoms do occur, they may take several weeks to appear following the start of the infection. Symptoms include pain while urinating or during sex, abnormal discharge and spotting between periods, Planned Parenthood explained. If left untreated, chlamydia can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and eventually cause pelvic inflammatory disease.
Human Papillomavirus: HPV is a very common STI and can often go away on its own. Planned Parenthood reports that “most people who have sex get HPV at some point in their lives.” While often harmless, certain types of HPV can create serious health problems, such as cervical cancer, if left untreated. HPV can infect the genitals, mouth and throat. “High-risk” types of HPV have no symptoms, making regular testing important, according to Planned Parenthood.
Syphilis: Syphilis is an STI that occurs in four stages if left untreated, an article from the Center for Disease Control stated. Symptoms of the primary stage include sores on the genitals or mouth. During the secondary stage, rashes around the genitals and mouth may appear during or following the healing process of the initial sores, the article said. After the secondary stage, the infection remains in the body with no symptoms. According to the CDC, most people do not experience the final, or tertiary, stage of syphilis, which occurs anywhere from 10 to 30 years following the time of infection and can lead to serious health problems.
Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is a common STI among people between the ages of 15 and 24, the CDC reported. The infection can affect the genitals, rectum and throat. Gonorrhea usually does not have symptoms, and when people do experience symptoms they tend to be mild and easy to mistake for other infections, the CDC said. Gonorrhea can be treated with medication once diagnosed, but if left untreated can lead to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease among other complications, according to the CDC.
Getting tested regularly is crucial for spotting STIs before they develop into serious conditions, the CDC said. According to the Mount Holyoke College website, testing is available for students at the Health Center.