Seeking Treatment

You don’t have to live with discomfort, worry and fear STDs can bring. Some STDs (bacterial STDs) are curable, and all are treatable (bacterial and viral STDs).

From the Sexually Transmitted Disease Guide, here are some examples of viral and bacterial STDs:

Viral

Herpes, HPV/genital warts, and HIV are examples. They can all be treated to control symptoms or help a person live a healthier life. Hepatitis B infection can be prevented if a person gets the vaccine before he or she is exposed to the virus. Unfortunately, there currently aren't any cures for viral infections.

Bacterial

STDs caused by bacteria are curable, usually with antibiotics. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are examples of bacterial infections. If a person is diagnosed with a curable STD, he or she should inform partners so that they can be tested and treated, take all medication as prescribed by the health care provider, and follow up after medication is completed to be sure that the infection is gone.

If you are at risk, we welcome you to take advantage of our confidential and free testing and treatment services. Make an appointment today by calling or emailing one of our two locations.

Fayetteville 479.521.6677
Rogers 479.631.6677
info@lovingchoices.org  

Have You Heard of Mycoplasma Genitalium?

As we conclude our look at some of most common STDs this week, we want to make sure you know about a bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium, which actually has surpassed gonorrhea in prevalence among young people in the United States. If you haven’t heard of it, you’re not alone – even some doctors aren’t that familiar with it.

Most M. genitalium infections are asymptomatic. Long-term effects are similar to gonorrhea and chlamydia. When diagnosed, it can be treated with antibiotics. It is likely that condom use will significantly reduce your risk for this infection. For more information on this prevalent STD, click here.

Gonorrhea 101

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral or anal sex, even when the person who is infected has no symptoms. According to Medical News Today, rates of infection are highest among teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 29. 

This disease can become dangerous if left untreated. For information on symptoms to look for in females and males, as well as potential complications associated with Gonorrhea, get the full scoop here.

Sneaky Syphilis

According to Activebeat.com, Syphilis is a particularly sneaky sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a bacterial infection of the genital tract, known as Treponema Pallidum. It is passed from one person to the next through direct contact with a syphilis sore. 

So what’s so sneaky about it? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the appearance of a single sore marks the primary stage of Syphilis symptoms, but there may be multiple sores. The sore appears at the location where Syphilis entered the body. The sore is usually firm, round and painless. Because the sore is painless, it can easily go unnoticed. It lasts three to six weeks and heals regardless of whether or not a person is treated. However, if the infected person does not receive adequate treatment, the infection progresses to the secondary stage, which usually starts with a rash on one or more areas of the body.

If the infection continues to go untreated, Syphilis can progress and cause long-term complications and/or death. For more information on this common STD, check out this fact sheet from the CDC.

Most Common STDs: #1 Chlamydia

Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to examine the 10 most common STDs. We’ll start with the most rampant STD — Chlamydia. Oftentimes those who have contracted Chlamydia don’t show symptoms for months or even years. More than one million cases are reported each year in the United States, and the highest proportion of cases is among women aged 15 to 24.

So what exactly is Chlamydia? According to itsyoursexlife.com, it’s a bacterial infection of the genitals, anus or throat. If left untreated, the infected individual is at increased risk for infection or other STDs, including HIV. In women, Chlamydia can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which can lead to infertility and tubal (ectopic) pregnancy. Babies born to infected women can develop eye or lung infections.

For more information on Chlamydia, including symptoms and treatments, read the full article.

Watch this Touching Adoption Story

A young mother and father made the decision to give their baby up for adoption. It was out of love for their little baby that they decided to give him up to parents who could provide him with the opportunities that they couldn’t. Take a look at the birth mother’s message to her son, Lucas.

At Loving Choices, we offer in-depth counseling and information about the many kinds of adoption plans available. We also offer post-adoption counseling to help ease you through the emotional difficulties that may follow.

While Loving Choices does not participate in the actual placing of infants with adoptive families, we will walk alongside you to make an adoption plan if you so choose.

Abstinence: You're Not Alone

The only way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy with 100% certainty is to abstain from sex. And while it may feel like you’re the only one waiting, if you look at the statistics you’re definitely not. According to StayTeen.org, more than half of all high school students are virgins. Check out the full article here.

 

And remember, you don’t have to be a virgin to abstain. Even if a person has been having sex, he/she may decide to discontinue the behavior at any time in order to prevent pregnancy and STDs.

Life with a Baby

Life with a baby after an unplanned pregnancy can be hectic and challenging, but it can also be rewarding and fulfilling. At Loving Choices, we support you from the very beginning of your pregnancy and even after the birth of your child.

If you make the decision to raise your baby, we encourage you to participate in our Care Center. It’s a long-term mentoring program that allows you to earn “Mommy Bucks” that you can spend at our “Mommy Boutique” where you can purchase clothes and diapers, as well as car seats, strollers and cribs.

Through the Care Center, you will also have the opportunity to meet with other women in similar situations, giving you a built-in support group as you parent your child.

 

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

If you are sexually active, there is a chance you could be pregnant. The American Pregnancy Association has compiled a list of some common early signs of pregnancy. (http://americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/earlypregnancysymptoms.html)  While these are common indicators, each woman is different. There is only one way to know for sure if you are pregnant. Schedule an appointment with us today. We’ll get you set up with a free pregnancy test and will discuss options with you once we determine test results.

How to Tell Your Parents You're Pregnant

Telling your parents that you’re pregnant can be a terrifying thought, but it’s best to be brave and talk to them early. Here are 10 tips put together to help you inform your parents in a mature, smooth way.
 

We invite you to talk with one of our staff members before talking to our parents. We’re happy to listen and offer help on how to best approach the conversation.

A Look at Your Baby

According to Medical News Today an ultrasound “is a device that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of some part of the inside of the body, such as the stomach, liver, heart, tendons, muscles, joints and blood vessels… Obstetric sonography is frequently used to see the baby in the womb.”

 

At Loving Choices, we are thrilled to offer free ultrasounds to our clients between 6 and 20 weeks pregnant – most clinics charge a fee. Ultrasounds are simple and painless. They allow you to see your baby and determine viability.

As with our other services, ultrasounds are confidential. Feel free to schedule an appointment for a pregnancy test with us today.

Unexpected Pregnancy? It’s OK. Loving Choices Can Help.

When Daniella, a smart, outgoing high school student, found out she was pregnant at age 16, she turned to Loving Choices.

 

Watch Daniella’s story.

An Abortion Story: A Happy Color Turns Dim

Now a stay-at-home mom to two daughters, Lisa, who made the decision to abort three pregnancies nearly 10 years ago, shares a raw glimpse into her painful journey to healing on her “It’s Time for Healing” blog. Find out why a cheery shade of yellow still sends Lisa back to a much darker time in her life here.

Often women may feel a very strong sense of relief following the abortion knowing that the pregnancy is over. However, like Lisa, sometimes a woman experiences confusing thoughts and emotions after that sense of relief that can take five, 10, or even 20 years to surface.

We offer a Confidential Abortion Recovery program, and we’ll walk alongside you on your journey to healing. Some of us have been right where you are and understand your pain on a very personal level.

Contact us at info@lovingchoices.org for a confidential appointment to start toward a path of freedom and healing.

Your Sexual Health: Get Tested!

According to a 2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance report, young people ages 15 to 24 represent nearly half of the 19 million new STDs each year.

It’s important to keep in mind that in some cases, mouth-to-mouth or skin-to-skin contact alone can lead to the spread of STDs. In a Health.com article titled “Top 10 Myths About Safe Sex and Sexual Health,” (http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307293,00.html) Dr. Sophia Yen, MD, adolescent medicine specialist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., points out that “kissing… can spread herpes (and deeper kissing can even spread oral gonorrhea and chlamydia), while skin rubbing together can pass infections such as genital warts, herpes, scabies and pubic lice.”

Most infections have no symptoms, and if left untreated, can cause severe health consequences. The only way to know is to be tested. Check out more tips from Health.com to determine which tests you should consider (http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20189308,00.html).

At Loving Choices, we offer free STD/STI testing for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes, and Trichomonaisis. Click here for more information about our testing services.