What are the most serious STDs in women?
By far, women bear the greatest burden of STDs, suffering more frequent and more serious complications than men. Ten to 20 percent of women with gonorrhea and chlamydia develop one of the most serious complications, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy. Many different organisms can cause PID, but most cases are associated with gonorrhea and chlamydia. HPV also can result in severe consequences for women. Infection with certain types of HPV place women at increased risk for cervical cancer. In addition, women who are infected with an STD while pregnant can have early onset of labor, premature rupture of the membranes, or uterine infection before and after delivery. STD-related syndromes- like bacterial vaginosis-may cause harm to infants through their association with premature birth. Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant death and disability in the United States, and there has been no reducti
