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Below are the most common STIs/STDs along
with the associated symptoms and treatments. While some STIs/STDs
are not curable, virtually all are treatable. If you suspect
you have been exposed, seek medical treatment at once even
if you don’t have any symptoms.
| Common Sexually
Transmitted Infections/Diseases |
| Name & Mode of Transmission |
Symptoms and Treatments |
Possible Complications |
| Chlamydia is a bacterial infection
and is passed through sexual contact. |
May show no symptoms. Women: low grade fever, vaginal
discharge, unusual bleeding, abdominal pain, painful intercourse.
Men: penile discharge, painful urination, pain or swelling
in the genital area.
Treatment: antibiotics |
If untreated - women may experience pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID) and infertility, men may develop urinary
tract infections and infertility. Premature birth. Babies
infected during pregnancy or birth may suffer from eye
damage and pneumonia. |
| Genital Warts or Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
is a group of over 20 viruses. Passed through sexual contact. |
May show no symptoms. Single or multiple soft growths
on penis, vulva, or anus.
Treatment: Removal through chemical, cryo-freezing, laser
therapy or surgery. No known cure. |
Increased risk of cervical and genital cancers. May
be passed to the baby at birth with the development of
warts on baby’s throat obstructing the airway (the
warts must be removed). |
| Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection
passed by sexual contact (warm, moist areas, for example,
cervix, penis, mouth). |
May show no symptoms. Burning urination, vaginal discharge,
abnormal pain and tenderness (women), and whitish penile
discharge (men).
Treatment: antibiotics.
|
If untreated: PID and infertility in both men and women.
Infection to joints, heart tissue, and/or brain as well
as genital pain. It can cause blindness and other systemic
diseases in infants infected during delivery. |
| Hepatitis B is a virus passed through
sexual contact, sharing needles, body piercing and tattooing
with contaminated instruments, and exposure to tainted
blood products. |
Initially may have no symptoms or only mild ones. Diagnosis
includes jaundice, tiredness, nausea, dark urine, and
gray-colored stools. Immunization against Hepatitis B
is available. Treatment: No known cure, rest, most recover
from the infection within 4-8 weeks. |
Severe liver damage including cancer of the liver and
cirrhosis.
Pregnant women can transmit the disease to their unborn
children. Infants of infected mothers can be treated and
vaccinated at birth possibly eliminating the risk of chronic
infection. |
| Herpes Simplex Type 2 (genital herpes)
is a virus passed through sexual skin-to-skin contact
with the infected site. Herpes Simplex Type 1, usually
spread by nonsexual contact and causes sores on the lips,
can be transmitted through oral sex. |
Is contagious even without symptoms. Painful, itching
sores, fever, flu-like symptoms, burning urination, pain
in the legs, buttocks, or genital area, vaginal discharge.
Treatment: antiviral drugs such as Acyclovir. No known
cure.
|
Repeated flare-ups. Increases risk of miscarriage and
premature birth. Complications to the baby if infected
during pregnancy or birth include brain damage and death. |
| HIV/AIDS is a virus passed through
infected sexual contact, sharing needles and drug paraphernalia,
piercing the skin with contaminated instrument, infection
by one’s HIV/AIDS infected mother during pregnancy
or childbirth or through her breast milk, or infected
blood or blood products. |
There may be no symptoms for many years. Weight loss,
fatigue, fever, night sweats, diarrhea, pneumonia. Weakened
immune system.
Treatment: antiretroviral drug protocol. No known cure. |
Death.
May be passed to the child during pregnancy, childbirth
or breastfeeding. HIV positive pregnant women (relatively
healthy, CD4+ count above 500) who receive the antiretroviral
drug protocol can reduce the risk of transmitting HIV
to the baby to as low as 8%. |
| Syphilis is a bacterial infection passed
through direct contact with the sores of someone who is
infected usually through sexual contact. Spread by non-sexual
contact if the resulting sores, rashes, and mucous patches
come in contact with the broken skin of a non-infected
person. |
Low grade fever, sores in genital area, rash, arthritis,
hair loss, and swollen glands.
Treatment: antibiotics.
|
If untreated, heart disease, brain damage, eyes, nervous
system, bones and joints, and death. If untreated, a pregnant
woman has a 40%-70% chance of transmitting the disease
to her unborn child. Stillbirth and death of the infant
are not uncommon. Infant may also suffer from damage to
the heart, brain, and eyes. |
Sources: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report, “2002 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment
Guidelines,” U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia. Nestor, L., Brott
O’Connell, M., “Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections,”
Office of Population Affairs, Office of Public Health and
Science, U.S. Dept. Of Health and Human Services, revised
August 1999.
What is the most common STI/STD in America? Depends
how you ask…
In terms of reported cases each year: Chlamydia - more common
than the common cold.
In terms of prevalence (people currently living with the infection):
Herpes II - 45 million.
In terms of estimated incidence (number infected yearly):
HPV - 5.5 million new cases a year.
With one in four sexually active teens contracting an STI/STD
each year, and with many of these teens not seeking medical
attention for their sexual health, these diseases pose a serious
risk to our youth. Ask your teen if he or she has learned
about these risks in health class, and if not, provide the
information yourself. It may help your teen see that sex is
something to take very seriously.
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