|
STD |
Symptoms/Info |
How
Spread? |
Cure/Treatment |
Long-Term |
| Chlamydia |
Most
common bacterial STD; highly contagious. Estimate 3 million
new cases/year.2
75% of women & 50% of men have NO symptoms...not good!2
They probably won’t find out about their infection and
won’t seek treatment. If symptoms occur (usually 1-3 weeks
after becoming infected, but may take several months or years)
they include burning with urination or discharge. May experience
pelvic pain or bleeding between periods or after intercourse.
Men may experience discharge (range from clear to yellow), burning
with urination, “itchiness” in urethra or redness
at tip of penis. |
Chlamydia
is spread through oral, genital or anal sexual contact with
an infected person.
Recent studies show that 100% condom use reduces risk of transmission
by 50%, leaving a 50%.6,7 |
Chlamydia
can be completely treated and cured with antibiotics. However,
any devastation caused by the bacteria (like internal scarring)
may not be treatable.
Sexual partners and previous sexual partners should be treated
as well. |
Women
become at increased risk for PID, or
Pelvic Inflammatory DIsease. May cause infertility,
ectopic pregnancy or chronic pelvic pain.
Men may experience a traveling of the bacterium as well. Epididymitis,
urethritis, or prostatitis
or a combination of these may occur.
HIV
ALERT: Men and women infected with chlamydia
are at increased risk for HIV if they are exposed! |
| Gonorrhea |
Highly
contagious STD; estimate 1 million new cases/year.5 Prefers
women aged 15-19 and men aged 20-24.2
10% of men and 20-40% of women with gonorrhea have NO symptoms.5
Symptoms will appear (if they do) within a few days after infection,
but possibly a few weeks after.
Women’s symptoms include yellow discharge
or spotting between periods or after intercourse. For men symptoms
include thick, yellow discharge
along with burning during urination, or an irritated feeling
in the penis.
Throat infections typically leave no symptoms, one may experience
a sore throat. |
Gonorrhea
is spread through sexual contact with an infected person…
whether or not they have symptoms. Very easily transmitted during
oral, vaginal or anal sex.
Recent studies show that 100% condom use reduces of transmission
by 50%.6,7 |
A
person who is diagnosed with gonorrhea is usually treated for
chlamydia and NGU
as well.
Antibiotics will cure gonorrhea. Longer courses of antibiotics
are needed if other, more extensive, infections have occurred.
Sexual partners and previous sexual partners should be treated
as well. |
Women
become at increased risk for PID, or Pelvic
Inflammatory DIsease. May cause infertility,
ectopic pregnancy or chronic pelvic pain.
Men may experience a traveling of the bacterium as well. Epididymitis,
urethritis, or prostatitis
or a combination of these may occur.
HIV ALERT: Men
and women infected with gonorrhea are at increased risk for
HIV if they are exposed! |
“NGU”
Nongonococcal Urethritis |
Could
be caused by a bacterium, virus, or protozoa. It is a common
urethral infection in men. Estimated that 4 to 6 million men
in the US are infected with NGU each year, most often younger
men (teens and twenties).5
A man can be unaware of his infection as about 50% of the time
there are no symptoms.5
When they do occur, symptoms include painful urination, discharge,
or an itchy feeling in the penis. Urine flow may also change. |
Transmitted
through sexual contact with an infected partner during vaginal,
oral, or anal sex. |
Treatment
varies depending on the cause of the infection. Antibiotics
are prescribed if the cause is bacterial. If caused by herpes,
an antiherpes medication is prescribed. If trichomonas is the
cause, metronidazole is typically prescribed. Partners of infected
people must also be evaluated and treated. |
Medications
are typically effective. Some may experience a recurrence of
infection if they have not taken medication properly or have
had sexual contact with an untreated or infected person. Infection
could progress to the prostate. Symptoms may persist even after
treatment, but usually will resolve in time. |
| Syphilis |
A
bacterial infection. Approximately 70,000 people are diagnosed
each year in the US.2
The symptoms vary and this STD is divided into stages.
Primary: May take 10 to 90 days to show up. First symptom is
a sore called a chancre, which appears at the site of infection,
is painless and may not be visible. The lesion will disappear
on its own after a few weeks.
Secondary: Several months later the bacterium gets into the
bloodstream and can cause flu-like symptoms and rash. This stage
will also resolve on it’s own.
Tertiary or Late: The bacterium begins to destroy organs
(heart, liver, eyes, brain, etc) and can be life-threatening. |
Transmitted
through sexual contact (vaginal, oral, anal, and intimate skin
to skin contact) with infected person or from mother to child
during pregnancy. The chancres of primary syphilis and the skin
lesions of secondary syphilis are very infectious. Blood, semen
and vaginal secretions may also be infectious.
100% condom use may reduce risk of transmission by 29-50%.6,7 |
Syphilis
is treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin which must be
given as injections. Depending on how far the disease has progressed,
several treatments or hospitalization may be necessary.
Partners of infected people must also be evaluated and treated. |
Infants
born with syphilis may have brain damage or be fatally infected.
Newborns may also experience deformities, hearing loss or rash.
People in latest stages of syphilis may develop neurosyphilis,
causing severe damage to nervous system or death.
HIV ALERT: Men
and women infected with syphilis lesions are at increased risk
for HIV if they are exposed! |
| Genital
Herpes |
Very
common virus (herpes simplex virus-2). Estimate 45 million Americans
are currently infected, or one in every four adults. One million
new cases are estimated each year.2
Newly sexually active people, or people in their teens and twenties
have a high risk of acquiring genital herpes.2,5
Symptoms vary from no symptoms at all, to tiny bumps or what
appear to be scratches, to painful blisters or sores. Sores
will last for several days and then heal on their own. Other
side effects may accompany sores, such as headache, stiff neck,
back pain, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms. |
Herpes
is transmitted through the skin during vaginal, anal or oral
sex, or via intimate skin to skin contact. People without any
visible symptoms can “shed” the virus through their
skin and infect other people. Herpes can also be transmitted
through infected semen, vaginal secretions and saliva.
Women acquire genital herpes more easily than men. |
There
remains no cure for the herpes virus. Medications are available
which can prevent symptoms or treat the symptoms as they occur.
Available only by prescription, they can be administered orally
or topically (cream). Note that these medications are unable
to prevent the spread of this virus to sexual partners, they
are only of benefit to the herpes sufferer. |
Genital
herpes can be an added stress for people as it is a lifelong
issue to deal with. Some people infected with herpes need to
focus on stress management in general as stress can trigger
outbreaks. They may decide to seek counseling to deal with emotional
issues.
Also, newly infected Women are more likely to shed the virus
when giving birth. If an infection is new late in the pregnancy,
the baby is at increased risk
of acquiring the virus if exposed during delivery. Herpes in
newborns can
be fatal.
HIV ALERT: Men
and women infected with
herpes are at increased
risk for HIV if they are exposed! |
| HPV
- Human papillomavirus |
Very
common virus, most common STD in US. Estimate 6.2 million new
cases annually.2
Fewer than 1% of people who are infected with HPV develop genital
warts.5 Warts occur in
anal or genital area and can be raised (cauliflower-like appearance)
or flat. Warts may occur singly or in clusters, and are not
painful. Warts may develop within 30 to 90 days, but may take
years to appear in some individuals. |
HPV
is transmitted via skin to skin contact with an infected partner.
Transmission during vaginal and anal sex, as well as during
oral sex is possible.
Condom use may not prevent transmission as they do not cover
the entire genital area.8
|
HPV infection is not curable, although most HPV infections resolve
spontaneously.1 Individuals
with genital warts typically undergo treatment with topical
medications applied to the wart in the physician’s office or
at home. Such medications may cause the warts to decrease in
size or disappear. Even if warts do resolve, infection may remain,
and can still be passed on to a future sexual partner. In addition,
warts frequently recur in the months following treatment. |
The
more worrisome long-term outcome of HPV is cancer.
Cervical cancer is fatal for over 4000 American women each
year.
Genital cancers, anal cancers, etc have also been linked to
HPV.
Warts may be passed from mother to newborn during delivery
or in the womb.
HIV ALERT: Men
and women infected with HPV are at increased
risk for HIV if they are exposed!
|
| HIV+
(Human Immunodeficiency virus) |
Common
virus. Estimate 30 million people world-wide are infected.5
Most infected people have no symptoms. Some people will experience
flu-like symptoms within 2 to 6 weeks of infection, which last
a week or two and then resolve on their own. Note that people
are often most contagious when they are newly infected, and
yet are at a time when a blood test may register as negative!
|
Sexual
contact remains most common route of infection; including vaginal,
oral or anal sex. HIV is transmitted via infected body fluids.
Recent studies reveal that 100% condom use may decrease risk
of sexual transmission of HIV by 85%.8 |
No
cure is available for HIV. Medications are available to help
infected people live longer and healthier lives, however these
medications have side effects and are expensive. |
Causes AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome) which ultimately compromises immune system. Subsequent
illnesses/cancers will cause death.
Can be transmitted from mother to child in womb.
Emotional support/counseling is often necessary to deal with
the realities of this virus. |
| Hepatitis
B, C |
Common
viruses. Estimate 120,000 new Hep B cases per year2, and 150,000
Hep C cases per year.5
Majority of infected people will not develop symptoms. When
symptoms do occur, they may consist of: jaundice, abdominal
pain, nausea, etc. These two viruses are different from each
other and symptoms will vary. |
Hep
B is transmitted through infected body fluids, including saliva.
Most commonly transmitted through blood, as is Hep C.
Sexual transmission is possible.
There are vaccinations available for Hep B. |
There
are therapies available to alleviate symptoms of chronic Hep
B.
Treatments for Hep C are also available, however may not be
permanent. |
Hepatitis
B&C can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy.
Hepatitis C is the most common cause of chronic liver disease
in the US.5
Liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer are possible
long-term outcomes. |
Trichomon-
iasis |
Very
common protozoan infection. Estimate 5 million new cases annually
in US.2
Symptoms in women include: yellow-green, frothy vaginal discharge,
vaginal itching or irritation, and a fishy vaginal odor. Symptoms
will vary and usually show up a week or two after infection.
Men usually do not experience any symptoms. Some will have burning
during urination or discharge. |
Acquired
through sexual contact (vaginal) with infected partner.
Sexual transmission is not reduced with 100% condom use.6,8 |
Metronidazole
taken orally will cure the infection in majority of people.
Previous sexual partners should be tested. |
May
be transmitted from mother to child during delivery. |
| Scabies |
Common
mite which lives in and on the skin and can be sexually transmitted.
Itching and rash appear 2 to 4 weeks after infection. These
bumpy rashes are generally seen in genital area, around the
waist, armpits, buttocks, etc.
If one has been infected before, new infections may bring on
symptoms in a matter of days rather than weeks. |
Transmitted
through skin to skin contact, sexual or not. Also may be transmitted
through contact with bedding or clothing that had been in contact
with infected person. |
Treated
by applying a cream to the entire body to kill the mites, available
only by prescription. The cream stays on overnight and is washed
off next morning. Reapplication may be necessary.
Sexual partners and close household contacts
should also be treated, even if they don’t have symptoms. |
|
| Pubic
lice/ crabs |
Common
parasite with crab-like appearance. Estimated that 3 million
people contract pubic lice each year.5 Most infected people
are in their teens and twenties.
Symptoms involve the finding of nits (lice eggs) at the base
of the pubic hair. Nits are tiny white specks which attach to
the hair follicles. Itching may or may not be present. Bleeding
may occur from the lice feeding on the skin. Symptoms may take
a few days to a month to appear. |
Transmitted
through skin to skin contact with an infected person.
Also may be transmitted through contact with bedding or clothing
that had been in contact with infected person, but lice can
only survive off a body for a day or two. |
Pubic
lice are treated with topical creams, some of which are available
without prescription, but precautions need to be taken. Reapplication
of medicated creams may be necessary. The nits can be removed
with a fine toothed comb after treatment.
Sexual partners and close household contacts
should also be treated, even if they don’t have symptoms. |
|
