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STDs (Expert Forum)
Vaginal Infections
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 24, 2007 12:00AM
, Feb 24, 2007 12:00AM
There are several sexually transmitted diseases in addition to chlamydia; gonorrhea and trichomonas are the two others that most commonly would lead a provider to treat both the patient and her partner. However, some docs may also treat the partners for non-STD problems. For example, the most common overall cause of vaginal discharge is called bacterial vaginosis, or BV. Although usually not sexually transmitted, and partner treatment isn't necessary, some docs do that anyway. Some docs may even treat the partners of women with vaginal yeast infections, which also is unnecessary.
So start with your doctor: DO NOT challenge your husband until you know the exact diagnosis, which the doctor should have told you. Your doctor should have done tests to check for particular infections, before treating you. If that was not done, don't take your own antibiotic until such testing is done. However, if you are in a developing country or other place where testing for particular diseases isn't possible, your doctor might have given you drugs to cover more than one possibility. But still s/he should have told you exactly what you are being treated for; and if is an STD. s/he should have told you that directly. Do not take no for an answer from your doctor: you are the patient and you have the right to complete and honest information about what has been diagnosed and a full explanation of the recommended treatment.
Of course if you have an STD, for sure your husband should be treated. But preferably he still should be examined to check for specific infections.
So get all that information before you speak with your husband. And when you do, remember that there may be explanations other than recent infidelity, like BV. And even if you have an STD like chlamydia, you might have carried it for a long time; STDs often first show up in couples who have been together for several months, sometimes even up to 1-2 years. And trichomonas may not show up for several years.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
So start with your doctor: DO NOT challenge your husband until you know the exact diagnosis, which the doctor should have told you. Your doctor should have done tests to check for particular infections, before treating you. If that was not done, don't take your own antibiotic until such testing is done. However, if you are in a developing country or other place where testing for particular diseases isn't possible, your doctor might have given you drugs to cover more than one possibility. But still s/he should have told you exactly what you are being treated for; and if is an STD. s/he should have told you that directly. Do not take no for an answer from your doctor: you are the patient and you have the right to complete and honest information about what has been diagnosed and a full explanation of the recommended treatment.
Of course if you have an STD, for sure your husband should be treated. But preferably he still should be examined to check for specific infections.
So get all that information before you speak with your husband. And when you do, remember that there may be explanations other than recent infidelity, like BV. And even if you have an STD like chlamydia, you might have carried it for a long time; STDs often first show up in couples who have been together for several months, sometimes even up to 1-2 years. And trichomonas may not show up for several years.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
