Women can be afflicted with a couple of common infections that are not transmitted sexually. These include vaginal yeast infection, which is caused by a fungus, and bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is caused by overgrowth of certain vaginal bacteria.
These infections are not considered to be sexually transmitted in nature. This means that the disease is not caused by sexual activity, and not contracted by contact with another person. For that reason, testing or treating the sexual partner is not necessary.
In the case of yeast, it is an organism that is abundantly present everywhere in nature. It is present in the air, waiting for the right time and environment to attach and multiply. Usually it thrives in damp environments, which is the reason it does well in the female genitalia. The best way to prevent it is to keep the area dry as much as possible.
Although these infections do not cause serious health problems, they are nevertheless bothersome because of the symptoms they cause. Vaginal itching, vaginal irritation, vaginal discharge, and sometimes a bad odor are the common symptoms of a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
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We are a community women’s clinic and abortion center that provides low cost, affordable reproductive health care for the women of Southern California, located in Santa Ana, Orange County.
In most cases, a vaginal yeast infection or a bacterial vaginosis is easily treated with a simple course of anti-fungal or antibiotic. Sometimes, getting rid of these infections can be more challenging, and may require multiple courses and more prolonged treatment. It can be very frustrating, because it can keep returning. Some patients have it chronically, whereby it returns almost on a monthly basis.
If a patient suffers vaginitis symptoms (vaginal itching, vaginal irritation, vaginal discharge, or bad vaginal smell), we can treat you based on the symptoms of the likely cause.
A bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) is syphilis. It is also easily treated with penicillin, if discovered early enough. Testing for syphilis is done via a blood test – called RPR or VDRL.
The two common viral venereal diseases (VD’s) are Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), which causes herpes, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The Herpes Simplex Virus causes small painful lesions, and is diagnosed by examination and blood testing. HIV is diagnosed by blood testing.
We offer testing for all of these sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, Herpes Simplex) in our medical clinic, and treatment for all except for HIV (which would need to be treated by a sub-specialist).
We are a community women’s clinic and abortion center that provides low cost, affordable reproductive health care for the women of Southern California, located in Santa Ana, and Orange County.
