The are many types of Sexual Transmitted Diseases today form over 15-20 these number may sound small but they count. You will learn that each of these diseases have a cause, sometimes cures, symptoms, preventions, and treatments. These diseases are:
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis ("trich") is a common sexually transmitted disease
(STD), attacking 2 to 3 million Americans every year. It is caused by infection
with a flagellated protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis.
Symptoms
Many people with trichomoniasis experience no symptoms. Women may experience
itching, burning, vaginal or vulval redness, unusual vaginal discharge, frequent
and/or painful urination, discomfort during intercourse, and abdominal pain.
Symptoms tend to worsen after menstruation. Men are usually asymptomatic, but
symptoms can include unusual penile discharge, painful urination, and tingling
inside the penis.
Testing
The healthcare provider will collect a sample of secretions from the penis or
vagina and send it to a lab to see if trichomonas is present. It may take up to
2 weeks to get the result. Some providers can do a quick office examination of
vaginal secretions.
Treatment
Trichomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics, usually a single dose of
metronidazole (Flagyl).
Prevention
As with other diseases, trichomoniasis is spread through sexual contact. Using
condoms (or another barrier method) provides some protection, as does knowing
your partner's sexual history. Trichomania can also survive on infected objects
such as sheets and towels, and could possibly be transmitted by sharing those
objects. It is especially important for the male partner to be treated--even
though he is almost always asymptomatic.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a serious disease that can be debilitating and even result in death
if left untreated. You can have syphilis without knowing it and pass it on to
others. There are an estimated 120,000 new cases of syphilis in the United
States each year.
Symptoms
Syphilis has three stages. During the first stage, a painless sore may appear at
the spot where the bacteria first entered the body (usually from 10 to 90 days
after sexual contact with an infected person). This sore may appear around or in
the vagina, on the penis, or inside the mouth or anus. Sores inside the vagina
or anus are often unnoticed and may disappear on their own if not treated, but
the bacterial infection remains. The second stage occurs from 3 weeks to 3
months after the primary stage and includes flu-like symptoms and possible hair
loss. Some people experience a rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the
feet, as well as over the entire body. Although extremely rare, tertiary
syphilis can appear 3 to 10 years or more after the first and second stages.
Symptoms of this stage may include skin lesions, mental deterioration, loss of
balance and vision, loss of sensation, shooting pains in the legs, and heart
disease.
Testing
See a doctor immediately if there's a chance you've been exposed to syphilis. A
simple blood test can usually determine whether or not you have the disease.
However, if you become infected 2 to 3 weeks prior to testing, the blood test
might not be sensitive enough to pick it up.
Treatment
Fortunately, syphilis can be treated with proper antibiotics. The most common
treatments are penicillin injections.
Prevention
You can get and spread syphilis through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Preventing
syphilis means approaching sexual relationships responsibly: limit the number of
your sex partners, use condoms, and if you think you are infected, avoid any
sexual contact and visit a local sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic,
hospital, or your doctor immediately. Be sure that your partners are tested, as
well.
Pubic Lice and Scabies
Pubic lice (often called "crabs") and Scabies (itch mites) are tiny
insects that live on the skin. They are sometimes spread sexually, but you can
also pick them up by using the same bed linen, clothes, or towels as an infected
person. Scabies, an itchy rash, is the result of a female mite burrowing into a
person's skin to lay her eggs. Pubic lice infect hairy parts of the body,
especially around the groin and under the arms. Their eggs can be seen on the
hair close to the skin, where they hatch in 5 to 10 days.
Symptoms
Although some people infected with pubic lice have no symptoms, you may
experience considerable itching around the genitals. You may see light-brown
insects the size of a pinhead moving on the skin or oval eggs attached to your
body hair. The main symptom of scabies is itching, especially at night. A rash
may appear in the folds of skin between the fingers or on the wrists, elbows,
abdomen, or genitals.
Testing
If you think you may have pubic lice or scabies, see your healthcare provider.
They can determine whether or not you need to seek treatment.
Treatment
The most effective treatments include shampoos and creams that contain lindane
or a related compound. You can treat pubic lice at home with these special
creams, lotions, and shampoos available in drugstores without a prescription.
Follow directions carefully. The infestation may be stubborn, and you may need
to repeat the treatment. Do not try to treat scabies on your own. Avoid close
contact with others if you have scabies or pubic lice. Wash clothes and bed
linen in hot water, or dry-clean or press them with a very hot iron. If you have
scabies or pubic lice, be sure to tell your sex partners. Anyone with whom
you've had close contact or who has shared your bed linen, clothes, or towels
should be treated, even if they don't have an itch or rash.
Prevention
Scabies and pubic lice are transmitted through contact with an infected area on
another person or through contact with infested materials such as sheets and
towels. The best way to protect yourself is to know your partner's sexual
history and to dry-clean materials that you think may carry scabies or pubic
lice.
HIV/AIDS
AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Sound serious? It is. AIDS
is currently the leading cause of death in men between the ages of 25 and 44 in
the United States. Think women aren't at risk? Think again. AIDS is the fourth
leading cause of death in women in this age group. AIDS is caused by HIV, the
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks the body's immune system. Without
immunologic protection, people with AIDS suffer from fatal infections and
cancers.
Symptoms
You can be infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and have no symptoms
at all. On average, it takes about 7 to 9 years for symptoms to develop. Most
symptoms of AIDS are not caused directly by the HIV virus, but by an infection
or other condition acquired due to the weakened immune system. Symptoms can
include severe weight loss, fevers, headaches, drenching night sweats, fatigue,
severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. The symptoms
tend to last for weeks or months at a time and do not go away without treatment.
Since these symptoms are commonly seen in other diseases, you can't assume any
symptom is HIV/AIDS-related until you get laboratory tests. See a doctor if you
think you may be at risk or if you have symptoms.
Testing
The only way to tell if you have been infected with HIV is by taking an HIV
blood test. The test can be performed at an AIDS testing site, a doctor's
office, or clinic. HIV testing includes pretest counseling and an explanation of
the benefits of testing. You may want to seek anonymous testing. When you
undergo anonymous testing, you're identified only by number, and you're the only
one who finds out the test results. The CDC National AIDS Hotline,
1-800-342-AIDS, can help you find a test site in your area. Home test kits are
available.
Treatment
There is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS.
If you have been exposed to HIV, you need to tell your sex partners and anyone
with whom you have shared needles and syringes that they too may have been
exposed to the virus. They should all be tested for HIV infection. Health
departments can help you contact former partners if you don't want to do this
yourself.
Anti-HIV treatment is usually indicated once the T-cell count goes below 500
(indicating a very weakened immune system).
Therapy for the viral infection, with antiretroviral drugs, uses two classes of
drugs: the nucleoside analogs (AZT, ddi, ddc, D4T) and the new protease
inhibitors. Treatment is complex and is shown to prolong life.
A major focus of HIV treatment is preventing other infections (opportunistic
infection prophylaxis). For example, pneumocystis (PCP), tuberculosis, and
systemic fungal infections can be effectively prevented, and all of these are
big problems in HIV patients.
Treatment of pregnant women with AZT has been shown to substantially reduce
transmission of HIV to the unborn baby.
Prevention
HIV is spread in two main ways: through unprotected sexual intercourse with an
infected person, or through sharing drug needles or syringes with an infected
person.
Women infected with HIV also can pass the virus to their babies during pregnancy or birth.
HIV is not passed by everyday social contact. Touching, hugging, and shaking hands with an infected person is safe. Some people think they may get HIV by donating blood. This is not so. A new needle is used for every donor, and you do not come into contact with anyone else's blood. Donated blood is now always screened for HIV, therefore, the risk of getting it from a blood transfusion in the United States is very, very low. Kissing an infected person on the cheek or with dry lips is not a known risk. No cases of AIDS or of HIV infection due to kissing have ever been reported.
Short of avoiding sex entirely, you can protect yourself by having safer sex.
Stay with one partner with whom you have discussed AIDS and who is prepared to
have safer sex. Latex condoms have been shown to prevent HIV infection and other
sexually transmitted diseases. Personal items such as razors and toothbrushes
also may be blood-contaminated. Do not share them with an infected person.
Herpes
Genital herpes is a chronic, lifelong viral infection. An estimated 40 million
people have it. Each year, about 500,000 new people get symptomatic herpes.
There are even more people who have no symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary. Most people have no noticeable symptoms. If you do get symptoms,
you'll probably notice them 2 to 20 days after having sex with someone who is
infected. Early symptoms may include a burning sensation in the genitals, lower
back pain, pain when urinating, and flu-like symptoms. A few days later, small
red bumps may appear in the genital area. Later, these bumps can develop into
painful blisters, which then crust over, form a scab, and heal.
Testing
Sometimes the diagnosis can be made by physical examination alone. For testing,
the doctor will collect a small amount of fluid from the sores and send it to a
lab to see if the herpes virus is present. It may take up to 2 weeks to get the
results. If no sores are present, testing may be difficult. At present, a blood
test for herpes is available only in a few research centers.
Treatment
Although herpes is a chronic, lifelong viral infection, you can treat the
symptoms. Treatment of genital herpes outbreaks, especially when started early,
shortens the duration of the outbreak and reduces the symptoms. The drugs used
are acyclovir and, more recently, famcyclovir and valacyclovir.
Prevention
You can get and spread herpes through oral, anal and vaginal sex. Preventing the
spread of herpes means approaching sexual relationships responsibly: limit the
number of your sex partners, use condoms, and if you think you are infected,
avoid any sexual contact and visit a local sexually transmitted disease (STD)
clinic, hospital, or your doctor. Remember that many genital herpes infections
are spread by people with no noticeable symptoms. You also can get the herpes
virus from kissing, touching, and caressing infected areas. In cases where
people have more than six outbreaks a year, preventative (prophylactic)
suppressive therapy is available.
To learn more about how to speak with your partner about touchy subjects like
safer sex and STDs, take a look at Unspeakable.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It's 100 times more
infectious than HIV. About 300,000 Americans get hepatitis B each year. Most
people recover, but a few become chronic carriers with increased risk of serious
problems later, such as permanent liver disease and cancer of the liver.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear within 2 to 6 weeks after contact. They can include poor
appetite; nausea; vomiting; headaches; general malaise; jaundice (yellowing of
eyes and skin); dark, tea-colored urine; and light-colored stools. Even without
symptoms, you can pass the virus to others. Chronic carriers carry the hepatitis
B virus for the rest of their lives and unknowingly pass it to their sex
partners.
Testing
Routine testing is not usually indicated unless the patient is symptomatic from
jaundice or has had recent sexual exposure to someone with hepatitis. Sometimes,
serological testing is done as part of a hepatitis B vaccination program.
However, if you've already had hepatitis B, you don't need to be vaccinated.
Remember that 90% to 95% of people who have hepatitis B will fully recover.
Treatment
For acute hepatitis B, treatment includes rest and diet. There are some new
treatments for chronic hepatitis, including interferon. If your sex partner or a
member of your household is found to have hepatitis B, you should consult your
doctor or healthcare provider and get immunized. Immunization may include
hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccination series.
Prevention
Like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the hepatitis B virus is spread
through contact with infected blood or body fluids. You can get hepatitis B from
vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse. It also can be passed from an infected
mother to her baby during childbirth. To minimize your risk of contracting
hepatitis B, do not share needles or syringes, or instruments used in
ear-piercing, tattooing, or hair removal. Do not share toothbrushes or razors.
If you have sex, reduce your risk by using condoms. If you are infected, avoid
sex and other close contact, such as kissing, until your doctor says it's okay.
Hepatitis B is the only sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can be
effectively prevented by a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now
recommends vaccination for all newborns in order to prevent infection of
hepatitis B later on. The vaccine is highly effective and should be strongly
considered. Check with your doctor to find out if you should be vaccinated
against it.
Genital Warts
Genital warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), one of the most
common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). HPV is the name of a group of
viruses that includes more than 60 different types. An estimated 40 million
Americans are infected with HPV, with 1 million new cases each year.
Symptoms
Most HPV infections are subclinical--that means that there are no visible signs.
Subclinical HPV infections can cause abnormal cell growth (dysplasia) on the
female cervix. Visible signs of the disease include condylomata, which range
from soft, pink, cauliflower-like warts to hard, smooth, yellow-gray warts. In
women, they may develop inside the vagina, where they are hard to detect. They
may also appear on the lips of the vagina or around the anus. In men, they
usually appear on the penis, but are sometimes found on the scrotum (the sac
that holds the testicles) or around the anus. If there are visible signs, you
will notice them within 3 weeks to 6 months after having sex with someone who is
infected. This time period makes it difficult to track the infection as it is
passed from partner to partner.
Testing
Your healthcare provider can check closely to detect warts or other abnormal
tissue. For women, the Pap smear is designed to detect precancerous changes in
the cervix and may show changes caused by HPV infection. Generally, asymptomatic
men with HPV are hard to diagnose and usually aren't treated.
Treatment
There are several ways to remove visible genital warts, but the underlying HPV
infection can't be cured. The virus that causes genital warts stays in your body
and can cause warts to appear in the future. A doctor can get rid of smaller
warts by freezing them (cryotherapy) or by burning them off with an acidic
chemical such as podophyllin. In severe cases, wart treatment may require laser
surgery. All three procedures can typically be done in a doctor's office with
local anesthetic.
Prevention
Genital warts are transmitted when the HPV virus is passed from one person to
another during sex. You get genital warts by having sex with someone who is
infected. People who have many sexual partners put themselves at higher risk for
genital warts. Latex condoms, used properly, provide some protection if they
cover the area of infection. Women: be sure to have regular Pap smears.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) which, if not treated
early, can cause serious problems, especially for women. About 1 million
American men and women contract gonorrhea each year.
Symptoms
It's possible to have gonorrhea without any symptoms. If symptoms do appear,
they may include discharge from the penis or vagina, the need to urinate often,
burning or pain when urinating, and in women, bleeding between monthly periods.
About half of the women with gonorrhea have no symptoms.
Testing
The only way to find out whether or not you have gonorrhea is to get tested. The
test is simple: the doctor takes a sample of fluid from the penis or vagina and
sends it to a lab.
Treatment
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Common treatments use drugs such as
ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, cefixime, ceftriaxone, and most recently azithromycin.
Ineffective or incomplete treatment can result in serious problems later, such
as chronic lower abdominal pain, sterility, tubal pregnancy, and painful joints.
In order to avoid reinfection and potential transmission of infection to others,
you should stop having sex until both you and your partner are cured.
Prevention
You can get and spread gonorrhea through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Preventing
gonorrhea means approaching sexual relationships responsibly: limit the number
of your sex partners, use condoms, and if you think you are infected, avoid any
sexual contact and visit a local STD clinic, hospital, or your doctor. Make sure
both partners are treated.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the number one bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the
United States today. Four million new cases of chlamydia occur each year. It's
particularly common among teens and young adults. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),
which can be caused by chlamydia, is a leading cause of infertility when left
untreated.
Symptoms
Chlamydia is known as the "silent epidemic" because three quarters of
the women and half of the men with the disease have no symptoms. Possible
symptoms include discharge from the penis or vagina and a burning sensation when
urinating. Additional symptoms for women include lower abdominal pain or pain
during intercourse and bleeding between menstrual periods. Men may experience
burning and itching around the opening of the penis and/or pain and swelling in
the testicles.
Testing
There are two kinds of test for chlamydia. One involves collecting a small
amount of fluid from an infected site (cervix or penis) with a cotton swab.
These tests are universally available. New tests, which use only urine samples,
will be available soon and will make testing much easier and less painful.
Treatment
There has been major progress in the treatment of chlamydia with antibiotics
over the past few years. A single dose of azithromycin
Prevention
You can get and spread chlamydia through unprotected vaginal and anal sex.
Preventing chlamydia means approaching sexual relationships responsibly: limit
the number of your sex partners, use condoms, and if you think you are infected,
avoid any sexual contact and visit a local STD clinic, hospital, or your doctor.
Be sure your partner is treated to avoid becoming reinfected.
