If positive, treatment will consist of antibiotics and requires that both partners be treated simultaneously to prevent re-infection. Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women and sterility in men and women. Gonorrhea, also a bacterial infection, can be spread from the genitals of one partner to the genitals, throat or rectum of the other partner. Symptoms include discharge, burning during urination, and pain and may be mild or not present at all. Gonorrhea can be detected by a culture.
Treatment consists of antibiotics for both partners.
Left untreated, this too can lead to PID in women and sterility in men and women. Syphilis, also a bacterial infection, is a very serious disease that can eventually lead to death. Symptoms include painless sores on the genitals, mouth or rectum followed by a contagious rash that will eventually disappear. Detection is through a blood test or culture from a sore. Treatment consists of penicillin for both partners.