Is this your symptom?
- Exposure to someone with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or who you think could have an STI
- Exposure means: contact (oral, vaginal, or anal) through sex with someone who has an STI or has STI symptoms
- You have symptoms of a possible STI. For women, these include:
- vaginal discharge
- abnormal vaginal bleeding (not your normal period)
- a sore, rash or lump that appears on the vagina, vulva or anus
- pain during sex
- pain or burning when passing urine
- painful tiny water blisters in the genital area
- swollen glands in your groin
Key Points
- STIs are sexually transmitted infections that are spread through sex (vaginal, anal, and/or oral).
- Examples of STIs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, HIV, genital warts, and trichomonas.
- Some STIs can be cured with antibiotics (gonorrhea, chlamydia). Always take the antibiotics as prescribed. Be sure to finish them as advised by your doctor. If the antibiotics make you sick, ask your doctor for advice on what else you could take.
- If your symptoms do not go away with treatment, see your doctor again.
- Some STIs (herpes, HIV) cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be reduced by taking prescription meds.
Types of STIs
This care guide covers facts about the infections listed below. Go to the specific topic in Care Advice that you have questions about:
- AIDS (HIV)
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis B
- Herpes Simplex (genital)
- Lice (genital or pubic)
- Mycoplasma Genitalium
- Syphilis
- Trichomonas Infections
- Warts-genital
Other Infections are spread by close contact, including during sex, but they are not STIs
- Bacterial Vaginosis (female only)
- Molluscum Contagiosum (genital)
- Scabies
- Yeast infections
When to Call for STD Exposure - Female
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Go to ER Now
- You had sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) in the past 72 hours with someone who has, or is suspected of having, HIV (AIDS). Note: do not have sex until you see a doctor.
- You were forced to have sex (assault or rape)
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- You have a fever and vaginal discharge or abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Vaginal discharge or abnormal vaginal bleeding and NO fever, but have a weak immune system. Examples are: diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids, or kidney problem.
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Pain or burning when passing urine and you think you could have an STI
- Painful tiny water blisters in the genital area
- Vaginal discharge (yellow, green or gray)
- Vaginal itching
- Bad smelling vaginal discharge
- You are pregnant (or could be) and you think you have an STI
- Pus (white or yellow) from the rectum
- Pain during sex and you think you could have an STI
- You have a sore, ulcer, rash or lump that appears around the vagina, vulva or anus
- You have pain in the vagina or pelvic area that is getting worse
- Abdominal pain and think you could have an STI
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You had sex (oral, vaginal or anal) with someone who has or is suspected of having an STI. You may need testing. Note: do not have sex until you see a doctor.
- You are worried you might have an STI but have NO symptoms. Note: do not have sex until you see a doctor.
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- STIs, facts about each
- Questions about how to prevent STIs
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
