Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are infections passed from one person to another through sexual contact. There are many different types of STDs, from bacterial infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea to viral infections like HIV and herpes. Some STDs cause symptoms that alert you to the infection, while others may not cause any symptoms at all. This means it’s easy to have an STD without even realizing it.
So what actually happens if you have an undiagnosed STD for a long period of time? The consequences can vary depending on the type of infection, but most untreated STDs can lead to severe complications or health problems if left untreated. Getting tested and treated quickly is important to prevent these potential issues.
Bacterial STDs
Common bacterial STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Without treatment, these infections can spread throughout the body and cause painful complications.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a very common STD that often doesn’t cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include abnormal discharge and a burning sensation during urination. If chlamydia spreads, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, causing chronic pelvic pain and damage to the reproductive organs. This can increase the risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy. In men, untreated chlamydia can cause pain and swelling in the testicles.
Gonorrhea
Like chlamydia, gonorrhea is another common bacterial STD that may not always cause symptoms. When present, symptoms are similar and include painful urination and discharge. If gonorrhea spreads, complications are similar to chlamydia. Women may develop PID leading to chronic pain and fertility issues. Men can experience pain and swelling of the testicles. In addition, untreated gonorrhea can spread through the bloodstream and infect other parts of the body, including the joints.
Syphilis
Syphilis causes sores (chancres) in the early stages. Without treatment, it can progress through several stages over many years. Late stage syphilis can cause severe medical problems affecting the heart, brain, and other organs. This includes blindness, dementia, and increased risk of stroke.
Viral STDs
Common viral STDs include HIV/AIDS, genital herpes, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Viruses can hide in the body for years before causing serious damage.
HIV/AIDS
HIV attacks and destroys the body’s immune cells, leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) over time. This makes the body vulnerable to many serious infections and cancers that can ultimately be fatal. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but strict adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications can allow people to manage the virus and live long healthy lives.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes causes painful blisters or sores in the genital area. The first outbreak is usually the most severe. While the sores do heal and outbreaks tend to decrease over time, the virus never fully goes away. It hides inactive in the body and can reactivate periodically. Recurrent outbreaks are typically shorter and milder. In some cases, viral shedding may occur even without noticeable sores, allowing it to potentially spread to partners.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B attacks the liver. In the acute phase, it causes flu-like illness, jaundice, nausea, and abdominal pain. Most adults recover fully within a few months. However, up to 10% of people with hepatitis B develop chronic infection, which dramatically increases the risk of severe liver disease and liver cancer over time.
HPV
There are many strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). While most clear up on their own, some high risk strains can lead to cervical, anal, and other cancers. HPV also causes genital warts. The Gardasil vaccine protects against the strains most likely to cause cancer and genital warts.
CMV
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpes virus. It typically causes no symptoms or only a mild flu-like illness. However, CMV can be dangerous for people with compromised immune systems, including HIV/AIDS patients and organ transplant recipients. It can also cause birth defects if a woman contracts it during pregnancy.
Other STDs
Less common STDs include trichomoniasis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), granuloma inguinale (donovanosis), and human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV). These often cause some combination of genital sores, discharge, or pain during urination and intercourse. Without treatment they can spread locally in the genital region. Some types like LGV can spread to the lymphatic system, while others like HTLV can develop into rare cancers like leukemia.
Increased Risk of Other Health Problems
Having an STD for a long time, especially if it causes inflammation or open sores, increases susceptibility to other infections, including HIV. The damaged skin can serve as an entry point for bacteria and viruses. Chronic inflammation and scar tissue may also increase the risk of cancer.
In addition, some STDs like herpes and HIV are known to cause general immune suppression. This makes the body more vulnerable overall.
Psychological Effects
Living with an untreated STD can take both a physical and emotional toll. Many people experience feelings of shame, anxiety, isolation, anger, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship problems when they receive an STD diagnosis and have to cope with the consequences.
Being open and honest with partners is necessary to prevent further spread and ensure both people get treated. However, disclosure conversations are often difficult and bring uncomfortable emotions like guilt, sadness, and embarrassment. Some partners feel hurt and betrayed after learning about the STD.
Seeking counseling to process these complex feelings can help minimize the mental health effects and prevent self-destructive behaviors.
Increased Severity of Symptoms
Most STDs start out asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms during the initial stages. But if left untreated, the symptoms tend to become more frequent and more severe over time as the infection progresses or spreads to other tissues.
For example, the first outbreak of genital herpes only causes a few small blisters that heal within a couple weeks. But recurrent outbreaks often involve more extensive, painful blistering and flu-like sickness that may last longer. Other infections like gonorrhea can spread from the genitals to the entire reproductive tract, causing issues like pelvic pain and testicular swelling over time.
Scarring and Tissue Damage
Ongoing inflammation from STDs can damage delicate tissues in the reproductive organs and other areas they infect. This can lead to scarring and other permanent anatomical changes.
For example, chlamydia and gonorrhea can damage the fallopian tubes in women, making it harder for an egg to travel and implant properly in the uterus. Syphilis causes wart-like growths on the genitals (condylomata lata) that don’t go away after the infection clears. HPV leads to cell changes that may progress to cancer if left untreated.
Infertility
One of the major risks of untreated STDs is infertility or difficulty getting pregnant. This occurs for several reasons:
- Damage and scarring to the reproductive organs (fallopian tubes, uterus, vas deferens)
- Chronic inflammation interfering with conception and implantation
- Formation of scar tissue or abscesses that block the passageways
- Hormonal changes
Pelvic inflammatory disease from chlamydia and gonorrhea is a common culprit of infertility in women. Up to 20% of women with PID become infertile, with a higher risk from repeated infections. In men, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause blockages of the epididymis or vas deferens tubes that carry sperm.
Other viral STDs like HIV and HPV do not directly lead to infertility, but they can increase the risks of reproductive health problems indirectly. Overall, not getting STDs treated promptly increases the likelihood of fertility problems.
Higher Viral Load
Viral STDs like HIV, herpes, HPV, and hepatitis B replicate within the body. When left untreated, the viral load continues to increase over time. This makes the infection more difficult to manage.
A higher viral load also makes the STD more contagious when exposed to new partners. The risk of transmitting HIV to others is much higher when not on antiretroviral medications, for example.
Increased Medication Resistance
Taking antibiotics properly is key to curing bacterial STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. When treatment is delayed or inconsistent, it gives the bacteria more opportunities to develop resistance to medications.
Drug-resistant strains of the infections can emerge, making them challenging to cure. This has already occurred with antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea, which is a major public health concern.
Rare Complications
While less common, STDs can sometimes spread to other tissues and organs beyond the initial infection site when left untreated. This can lead to painful conditions and rare complications.
For example, untreated chlamydia can infect the rectum in men and women. Syphilis bacteria can cross the placenta and infect a fetus. Viruses like CMV, herpes, and HPV may infect the central nervous system on occasion.
Pregnancy Complications
Contracting an STD during pregnancy, or having an already established infection, can endanger the developing fetus as well as the mother’s health. Some potential risks include:
- Premature delivery
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Low birth weight
- Newborn death
- Birth defects
- Blindness
- Pneumonia
- Hepatitis
- Meningitis
Syphilis, HIV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, BV, and trichomoniasis pose the highest risks for pregnancy complications. Getting proper prenatal testing and treatment is important to minimize these risks.
Cancer
Certain STDs can increase the risk of cancer if left untreated for many years:
- HPV: cervical, anal, throat, penile, vaginal, vulvar cancers
- Hepatitis B and C: liver cancer
- HIV: cervical cancer, lymphomas
- Herpes: cervial cancer
HPV is the most common STD linked to cancer, especially cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against the strains most likely to cause cancer. Getting routine Pap smears can detect precancerous cell changes early.
Higher Mortality
While modern treatments allow people to live long and healthy lives with STDs, having an untreated infection still increases the overall risk of death and lowers lifespan. The death rate is higher compared to the general population.
This occurs because serious complications can become fatal. For example, advanced syphilis can damage the heart, brain, and other organs. Untreated HIV destroys immune cells and eventually progresses to AIDS. Some HPV and hepatitis strains cause cancer.
Without screening and prompt treatment, STDs allow damage to accumulate over time.
Conclusion
STDs affect millions of people and are common, especially among young sexually active individuals. However, most are treatable or manageable if diagnosed early. The consequences are much more severe when left untreated for long periods of time.
Potential long-term effects range from fertility problems and pregnancy complications to organ damage, cancer, and even death. Chronic pain and inflammation, tissue scarring, autoimmune issues, and neurological problems are also possible.
Getting regularly tested is crucial even if you have no symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment saves health and lives. Practicing safe sex using protection and monogamy further reduces STD risk.