Northeast Nebraska Family Health Services

What is a STD?

A STD (sexually transmitted disease) is a virus, bacteria or other small organism that can be transmitted through genital or intimate contact with some who has the disease.  STDs are very common; over half of us will get a STD in our lifetime.

How do I prevent getting an STD?

Not having sex is the best way to protect yourself from STDs.  Having sex with only one uninfected partner who only has sex with you is als safe.

Most of us want to protect ourselves and each other from STDs. Abstinence is the only 100% method to protect against STD's.  Abstinence means not having vaginal, oral or anal sex.  It is possible to get an STD even without having intercourse through skin to skin contact.

Practicing safer sex allows us to reduce our risk of sexually transmitted diseases.  And if we’ve done anything that puts us at risk of infection, getting tested allows us to get any treatments we may need.

Consistent and correct use of condoms provides the best available means of reducing the risk of STD transmissions for sexually active individuals.

How will I know If I have a STD?

74% of people who have a STD have no symptoms.

If you do become infected, symptoms may appear right away or they may not show up for weeks, months or even years.

You may notice the following signs or symptoms:

• For a Male
  •  discharge from the penis
  •  burning on urination
  •  sore(s) on or around the penis or anus
• For a Female
  •  unusual vaginal discharge
  •  intense itching
  •  stomach cramps, but not related to menstrual cycle
  •  sore(s) on or around the vagina or anus

How & where can I get tested for STD's?

Fremont Family Planning offers STD testing for both males and females.  All you have to do is come in and give us a urine sample.  We will be able to test you for bacterial STD's (chlamydia & gonorrhea) and have results within a week. 

When a woman has her annual pap smear, we will automatically test her for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trich if she is under the age of 25.  If a woman is over the age of 25, we will test if you have STD symptoms, multiple partners or just want to be tested.

We can only test for viral STD's (herpes, genital warts) if you are having a outbreak.

If you are unsure which STD's you are being tested for, please ask.

What to do

Get Checked

• Don't just hope the STD will go away.  It won't!
• You may feel embarrassed about having an STD.  It may be hard for you to go to a provider or clinic for help.  But you must ge treatment for the STD.  This is the only way you will get well.
• Call your local family planning clinic for more information.  Your case will be kept private.

Get Treated

• Many STDs can be cured.  Others cannot be cured.  But all STDs can and must be treated.
• Many STDs can be treated with antibiotics.  Do exactly what your provider tells you.  Be sure to use all of your medicine
• You also must tell your sexual partner(s).  If they aren't treated, they can get sick.  They can spread the STD and might even give itto you again.

STDs Are Serious

• Some STDs infect only your sexual and reproductive organs.  Others (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis) cause general body infections.
• Sometimes you can have an STD with no signs or symptoms.  Or the symptoms may go away.  Eitherway, you still have the STD until you get treated.

How STDs are spread

• STDs are spread during vagial, anal and oral sex, and sometimes by genital touching.
• Some STDs (HIV, hep B) are also spread by contact wih infected blood.
• STD germs need to live in warm, moist areas.  That's why they infect the mouth, rectum and sex organs (vagina, vulva, penis and testes).

Common STD's

Chlamydia:

• Symptoms show up 7-28 days after having sex
• Spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia
• Symptoms include: discharge, burning or pain when you pee; need to urinate more often; swollen or tender testicles
• If not treated, it can lead to more serious infection.  Reproductive organs can be damaged & possibly may no longer be able to have children (men & women)
• Can be easily treated and cured  (a single dose of Zithromax is commonly used)
• All sex partners should be tested and treated. Persons with chlamydia should abstain from sexual intercourse (one week) until they and their sex partners have completed treatment, otherwise re-infection is possible.

Gonorrhea:

• Symptoms show up 2-21 days after having sex
• Symptoms for women include a thick yellow or gray discharge from vagina; burning or pain when you pee; abnormal periods or bleeding between periods; abdomen (belly) pain.
• Symptoms for men include: thick yellow- greenish drip from the penis, burning/pain when you pee; swollen or tender testicles
• Can damage reproductive organs & you may not be able to have children.  A mom with gonorrhea can give it to her baby in the womb or during childbirth
• Can be easily treated & cured with a shot of rocephin.  Have your partner(s) treated and abstain from sex for a week and your infection will be cured.

Trichomoniasis ("Trich")

• Symptoms show up 3-14 days after having sex
• Many people have no symptoms however signs of symptoms include: itching, burning or irritation in the vagina; yellow or greenish discharge from the vagina; watery, white drip from the penis; burning or pain when you pee; need to urinate more often
• Trich is a parasite
• Metronidazole, the medication used to treat the infection, is given orally and usually only requires one dose. Alcohol should not be used while taking the medication or for at least 24 hours after treatment is completed. Abstain from sex during treatment for trich. Both you and your partner(s) should finish treatment completely before engaging in sexual activities, ensuring that you do not pass the bacteria again before being cured. 

 Genital Warts (HPV):

• Symptoms show up 1-8 months after contact with HPV, the virus that causes genital warts (another type of HPV is linked to cervical cancer in women)
• Spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex and sometimes by genital touching with someone who has warts
• Looks like fleshy raised growths with a cauliflower shape.  They often appear in clusters
• After warts go away, the virus stays in the body & the warts can come back throughout your lifetime.  There is no cure.
• GARDASIL is the only vaccine that may help guard against diseases that are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).  Gardasil is for women ages 9-26 and protects against HPV types 16 and 18 which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and HPV types 6 & 11 cause 90% of genital warts cases.  Gardasil is given in 3 injections over a 6 month period of time.  Contact Three Rivers District Health Department (402-727-5396) or your family doctor to make an appointment to get this shot.

Genital Herpes:

• Symptoms can show up 1-30 days or longer after having sex
• Caused by a virus that can be treated but not cured
• Spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex and sometimes by genital touching with someone who has herpes
• Symptoms include small, painful pus- filled blisters on the sex organs or mouth; itching & redness or burning before the blisters appear; pain while urinating; outbreaks typically last about a month
• Blisters go away, but you will have herpes the rest of your life
• Outbreaks can be less severe by taking Valtrex