Serious question about STDs

[surfdevl02]

Hello Doctors-

So i have a female friend that called me crying today saying she found bumps and what looks like genital warts on her region. She is seeing a doc in a couple days but thinking that i was already a doc (i'm starting med school in the fall) she called me asking questions about what are some tell-tale signs of an STD. Unfortunately, i have no clue what one would look for. Does anyone on this forum that has experience with this stuff know any tell-tale signs of possible STDs on women? I know this might be a vague question but she is scared sh$%less and i don't know what to tell her. I told her it might just be a random infection that can be cured with antibiotics but that is a bullsh$% answer cause i'm ignorant. Any help is appreciated.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[edfig99]

Hey surfdevl.

I think it would be best to just wait until your friend sees her doctor, and lets her doctors examine her and counsel her on the various STDs and their telltale signs. Thinking you have any std, even a "mild one" can be very stressful, and scary, and the more you here about them, the more freaked out you're gonna get. It's okay to tell her you don't know the answers, and just provide some support...don't stress yourself out too much before you even start med school.

If you still want some info, there is a lot on the web but go to a reliable source.

http://familydoctor.org/handouts/275.html is a very VERY basic patient information handout on STDs from the American Academy of Family Physicians -- it's a little outdated (nonxynol-9 is no longer recommended as a spermicide)

webmd has some useful stuff as well
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_483.htm?z=2953_00000_6501_rl_06#6

that's probably what i would recommend...just waiting.

 

[DrMom]

closing. posted in multiple forums. open thread is in allopathic forum.