What do women of reproductive age need to know about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

What is an STI?

STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Although they are most commonly spread through sexual contact, STIs can also be transmitted in other ways — including during childbirth, blood transfusions, or sharing needles. Germs can be transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and even through shared items in public places.
Because of the structure of the female reproductive system, women are often more vulnerable to these infections.

What are the symptoms of an STI?

Most STIs have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, or the signs may be so mild that many people do not realize they have been infected. When symptoms do appear, they may include:

• Sores or blisters around the genitals, mouth, or anus
• Change in vaginal discharge (in amount, color, or odor)
• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Pain during sex
• Lower abdominal pain, fever, or swollen lymph nodes
• Rash on the arms, legs, or trunk

Even if you don't have symptoms, you could still be infected — that's why regular STI testing isn't optional, it's a must.

▶ Types of STIs

STIs are generally classified into four main groups based on the type of pathogen:

Bacteria (8 types)	Chlamydia trachomatis	Neisseria gonorrhoeae	Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)
	Mycoplasma genitalium	Gardnerella vaginalis	Mycoplasma hominis
	Ureaplasma urealyticum	Ureaplasma parvum
Viruses (2 types)	Herpes simplex virus type 1	Herpes simplex virus type 2
Mushrooms (1 type)	Candida albicans
Parasites (1 type)	Trichomonas vaginalis

 

▶ What are the potential complications of STIs for women?

If left untreated in the early stages, STIs can lead to serious complications — especially for women. These complications can include:

Pathogen (STI)	Associated Complications	Evidence Level
Chlamydia trachomatis, CT	Preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, endometritis, low birth weight, intrauterine fetal death	Meta-analysis
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, NG	Preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, perinatal death, low birth weight, neonatal conjunctivitis	Systematic review
Mycoplasma genitalium, MG	Miscarriage, preterm birth, infertility, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)	Meta-analysis
Trichomonas vaginalis, TV	Preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, small-for-gestational-age infants	Systematic review, Meta-analysis
Treponema pallidum, TP	Early fetal loss, preterm birth, stillbirth, neonatal and infant death, congenital syphilis	Literature review
Herpes simplex virus type 1, HSV-1	Miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth	Meta-analysis
Herpes simplex virus type 2, HSV-2	Acute urinary retention and systemic illness in pregnant women; neonatal CNS disorders	Meta-analysis
Gardnerella vaginalis, GV	Preterm birth	Literature review
Candida albicans, CA	Premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, chorioamnionitis, congenital cutaneous candidiasis	Literature review
Ureaplasma urealyticum, UU	Preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, premature	Systematic review
Mycoplasma hominis,MU	Neonatal pneumonia and infections; preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, low birth weight, perinatal or neonatal death, urogenital infections	Literature review, systematic review
Ureaplasma parvum, UP	Preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes	Systematic review

 

Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be passed to the baby during birth, leading to serious complications in the newborn.

STI Type	Major complications
Chlamydia	Neonatal conjunctivitis, pneumonia
Gonorrhea	Neonatal conjunctivitis
Trichomoniasis	Preterm birth, low birth weight
Syphilis	Congenital syphilis, brain damage, hearing loss
Herpes simplex virus types 1, 2	Neonatal herpes, encephalitis, neurological damage
Ureaplasma urealyticum	Preterm birth, neonatal respiratory failure
Mycoplasma hominis	Preterm birth, sepsis
Gardnerella vaginalis	Preterm birth, neonatal respiratory failure
Candida albicans	Neonatal oral candidiasis

 

▶ Why is STI testing so important?

Many people think, “I don't have any symptoms, so I must be fine.”
However, most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have no obvious symptoms.
In other words, you could unknowingly carry the disease and pass it on to your partner, or leave it untreated, leading to serious complications.

For example, diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV and trichomonas can be asymptomatic in 70–90% of cases. If not detected and treated promptly, they can cause serious consequences such as pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer or infertility.

STI testing isn't just for when you feel like something's wrong — it should be a regular part of your health routine.

Who should get tested?

• Anyone who is sexually active
• Women under 25 years: chlamydia and gonorrhea testing is recommended every year
  
• People with multiple sexual partners or new sexual partners
• Women who are planning to become pregnant or are pregnant
  
• Anyone whose sex partner has tested positive — even if you have no symptoms

How often should I get tested?

You should get tested at least once a year, and every 3 to 6 months if you have multiple sex partners or are in a high-risk group.

[Source]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/sti/about/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/sti/about/about-stis-and-pregnancy.html
https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/toc.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/pid/about/index.html

Mayo Clinic

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/symptoms-causes/syc-20351240
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351246