Mary Jo O'Sullivan, MD, a spokesperson for the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society says that the findings are reassuring and the technique may be applicable not only to young women but also to all women. This takes the embarrassment of a pelvic examination away from women. But O'Sullivan points out that the finding needs to be repeated in other population groups and in other studies before it can be recommended to women. Also known as venereal diseases, sexually transmitted diseases include a variety of infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis and genital herpes. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, affecting an estimated 13 percent of women.
Trichomoniasis can cause painful inflammation, itching and vaginal discharge.
A bacterial infection, gonorrhea is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. The findings were published in the June issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases , the journal of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. Hong Mautz is a staff writer for CBSHealthWatch by Medscape. She was a reporter for the CNN International affiliate in Hong Kong and was most recently an associate producer at CBS News.