The term sexually transmitted disease (STD) is used to refer to a condition passed from one person to another through

sexual
contact. You can contract an STD by having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the STD.

An STD may also be called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or venereal disease (VD).

That doesn’t mean sex is the only way STDs are transmitted. Depending on the specific STD, infections may also be transmitted
through sharing needles and breastfeeding.

Some STDs can spread through the use of unsterilized drug needles, from mother to infant during childbirth or breast-feeding,
and blood transfusions.

The genital areas are generally moist and warm environments, ideal for the growth of yeasts, viruses, and bacteria.

People can transmit microorganisms that inhabit the skin or mucous membranes of the genitals. Infectious organisms can also
move between people in semen, vaginal secretions, or blood during sexual intercourse.

Individuals pass on STDs more easily when they are not using contraceptive devices, such as condoms, dams, and sanitizing sex
toys.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 1 million new STDs acquired each day globally.

People between the ages of 15 and 24 years acquire half of all new STDs, and 1 in 4 sexually active adolescent females has an
STD. However, STD rates among seniors are increasing.

HIV and herpes are chronic conditions that can be managed but not cured. Hepatitis B also may become chronic but can be managed.
You may not realize you have certain STDs until you have damage to your reproductive organs (rendering you infertile), your vision,
your heart, or other organs. Having an STD may weaken the immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to other infections. Pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) is a complication of gonorrhea and chlamydia that can leave women unable to have children. It can even
kill you. If you pass an STD to your newborn child, the baby may suffer permanent harm or death.

Symptoms of STDs in men

It’s possible to contract an STD without developing symptoms. But some STDs cause obvious symptoms. In men, common
symptoms include:

 pain or discomfort during sex or urination

 sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth

 unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis

 painful or swollen testicles

Symptoms of STDs in women

In many cases, STDs don’t cause noticeable symptoms. When they do, common STD symptoms in women include:

 pain or discomfort during sex or urination

 sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the vagina, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth

 unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina

 itchiness in or around the vagina

 Most common STDs include:

 Chlamydia  HPV
 Gonorrhea  Pubic lice
 Herpes  Syphilis
 HIV/AIDS  Trichomoniasis

CHANCROID

Chancroid is a bacterial infection that causes open sores on or around the genitals of men and women. It’s a type of sexually
transmitted disease (STD), which means it’s transmitted through sexual contact. The bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi causes this
infection. It attacks tissue in the genital area and produces an open sore that’s sometimes referred to as a chancroid or ulcer. The
ulcer may bleed or produce a contagious fluid that can spread bacteria during oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse. Chancroid may
also spread from skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

What are the symptoms of chancroid?

The symptoms may vary in men and women, but typically they begin four to seven days after exposure.

Men

Men may notice a small, red bump on their genitals that may change to an open sore within a day or two. The ulcer may form on
any area of the genitals, including the penis and scrotum. The ulcers are frequently painful.

Women

Women may develop four or more red bumps on the labia, between the labia and anus, or on the thighs. The labia are the folds of
skin that cover the female genitals. After the bumps become ulcerated, or open, women may experience a burning or painful
sensation during urination or bowel movements.

Chancroid may be successfully treated with medication or surgery.

Medication

Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria that are causing your ulcers. Antibiotics may also help decrease the
chance of scarring as the ulcer heals.

Surgery

Your doctor may drain a large and painful abscess in your lymph nodes with a needle or through surgery. This reduces swelling
and pain as the sore heals but might cause some light scarring at the site.

Prevention

You can avoid getting this disease by using condoms during sexual contact.

Other preventive measures include:

 limiting the number of sexual partners and practicing safe sex

 avoiding high-risk activities that may lead to getting chancroid or other sexually transmitted infections
 alerting all partners if you develop the condition so that they may be tested and treated as well

How is it treated?
A doctor will typically prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend one of the following rounds of antibiotic therapy for treating
chancroid:

 azithromycin: 1 gram (g) orally once daily

 ceftriaxone: 250 mg intramuscular (IM) once daily
 ciprofloxacin: 500 mg orally twice daily for 3 days
 erythromycin base: 500 mg orally three times a day for 7 days

It is essential to take all the medications a doctor prescribes. Chronic or untreated chancroid infections are more difficult to treat
because the bacteria can spread to other areas of the body.

A doctor will assess chancroid symptoms 3 to 7 days after prescribing antibiotic therapy. If symptoms remain, a doctor might:

 reassess their diagnosis

 ensure a person is taking their medications properly
 test for other STIs, including HIV
 explore whether the strain of H. ducreyi is resistant to the antibiotic prescribed

Recovery time from chancroid mostly depends on the severity of the infection and the size of the sores. Large ulcers from
chancroids can take more than 2 weeks to heal fully.

CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia can be passed through oral sex, but the infection is more
likely to be transmitted through anal or vaginal sex. Chlamydia affects the throat, genitals, urinary tract, and rectum.

Most chlamydia infections of the throat don’t carry any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can include a sore throat.
Chlamydia isn’t a lifelong infection, and it can be cured with the right antibiotics.

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that’s easily cured with antibiotic medicine. It’s one of the most common STDs, and most
people who have chlamydia don’t show any symptoms.

Chlamydia can be easily cleared up with antibiotics. But if you don’t treat chlamydia, it may lead to major health problems in the
future. That’s why STD testing is so important — the sooner you know you have chlamydia, the faster you can cure it. You can
prevent chlamydia by using condoms every time you have sex.

Signs of chlamydia

If you do have chlamydia symptoms, they can take several weeks after you got the infection to show up. Symptoms of chlamydia
can appear in both men and women, including:

 pain or burning while peeing

 pain during sex
 lower belly pain
 abnormal vaginal discharge (may be yellowish and have a strong smell)
 bleeding between periods
 pus or a watery/milky discharge from the penis
 swollen or tender testicles
 pain, discharge and/or bleeding around the anus

If chlamydia infects your eyes, you may have redness, itching, or discharge. Sometimes chlamydia infections in the throat cause
soreness, but it’s rare.

HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV)

Human papillomavirus is a name for a group of viruses that affect the skin and mucous membranes, such as the throat, cervix,
anus, and mouth.

HPV infection can lead to:

 abnormal cell growth and alteration within the cervix, significantly increasing the risk of cervical cancer
 genital warts

HPV is most commonly transmitted through vaginal or anal sex, oral sex, and genital-to-genital contact. People with an HPV
virus but no signs and symptoms can still infect others.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent HPV.

Symptoms

HPV may not cause symptoms at once, but they can appear years later. Some types can lead to warts, while others can cause
cancer.

Warts

Common symptoms of some types of HPV are warts, especially genital warts.

Genital warts may appear as a small bump, cluster of bumps, or stem-like protrusions. They commonly affect the vulva in
women, or possibly the cervix, and the penis or scrotum in men. They may also appear around the anus and in the groin.

They can range in size and appearance and be large, small, flat, or cauliflower shaped, and may be white or flesh tone.

Other warts associated with HPV include common warts, plantar, and flat warts.

Common warts - rough, raised bumps most commonly found on the hands, fingers, and elbows.

Plantar warts - described as hard, grainy growths on the feet; they most commonly appear on the heels or balls of the feet.

Flat warts - generally affect children, adolescents, and young adults; they appear as flat-topped, slightly raised lesions that are
darker than normal skin color and are most commonly found on the face, neck, or areas that have been scratched.

Cancer

Other types of HPV can increase the risk of developing cancer. These cancers include cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis,
anus, and oropharynx, or the base of the tongue and tonsils. It may take years or decades for cancer to develop.

Prevention is through the HPV vaccine.

GONORRHEA

Gonorrhea, also known as “the clap,” is a common STI caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Gonorrhea can be passed through oral sex, but the infection is more likely to be transmitted through anal or vaginal sex.
Gonorrhea affects the throat, genitals, urinary tract, and rectum.

Many people with gonorrhea develop no symptoms. But when present, symptoms may include:

 a white, yellow, beige, or green-colored discharge from the penis or vagina

 pain or discomfort during sex or urination
 more frequent urination than usual
 itching around the genitals
 sore throat
If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to:

 infections of the urethra, prostate gland, or testicles

 pelvic inflammatory disease
 infertility

Symptoms in men

Men may not develop noticeable symptoms for several weeks. Some men may never develop symptoms.

Typically, the infection begins to show symptoms a week after its transmission. The first noticeable symptom in men is often a
burning or painful sensation during urination. As it progresses, other symptoms may include:

 greater frequency or urgency of urination

 a pus-like discharge (or drip) from the penis (white, yellow, beige, or greenish)
 swelling or redness at the opening of the penis
 swelling or pain in the testicles
 a persistent sore throat

The infection will stay in the body for a few weeks after the symptoms have been treated. In rare instances, gonorrhea can
continue to cause damage to the body, specifically the urethra and testicles. Pain may also spread to the rectum.

Symptoms in women

Many women don’t develop any overt symptoms of gonorrhea. When women do develop symptoms, they tend to be mild or
similar to other infections, making them more difficult to identify. Gonorrhea infections can appear much like common vaginal
yeast or bacterial infections.

Symptoms include:

 discharge from the vagina (watery, creamy, or slightly green)

 pain or burning sensation while urinating
 the need to urinate more frequently
 heavier periods or spotting
 sore throat
 pain upon engaging in sexual intercourse
 sharp pain in the lower abdomen
 fever

Treatment of gonorrhea

Antibiotics

Gonorrhea is usually treated with an antibiotic injection of Ceftriaxone one time to the buttocks or a single dose
of Azithromycin by mouth. Once on antibiotics, you should feel relief within days.

Prevention of gonorrhea

The safest way to prevent gonorrhea or other STDs is through abstinence. If you do engage in sex, always use a condom.

HEPATITIS B

Hepatitis B is an infection that can cause liver disease. It can be spread through sex. You can protect yourself by getting the
hepatitis B vaccine and using condoms.

Hepatitis B is caused by infection of the body with the hepatitis B virus. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is found in blood and
bodily fluids. 
It is transmitted through contact with infected semen, blood, and other bodily fluids.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of HBV Infection?

HBV can cause a wide range of symptoms, from a mild illness and general feeling of being unwell to more serious chronic liver
disease that can lead to liver cancer.

Someone with hepatitis B may have symptoms similar to those caused by other viral infections, like the flu. The person might:

 be extra tired
 feel like throwing up or actually throw up
 not feel like eating
 have a mild fever

HBV also can cause darker than usual urine (pee), jaundice (when the skin and whites of the eyes look yellow), and abdominal
(belly) pain.

Someone who has been exposed to hepatitis B may start to have symptoms from 1 to 6 months later. Symptoms can last for
weeks to months.

In some people, hepatitis B causes few or no symptoms. But even someone who doesn't have any symptoms can still spread the
disease to others.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment, cure, or medication for an acute HBV infection. Supportive care will depend on the symptoms.

Treatment for suspected exposure

Anyone who has unprotected exposure to another individual's potentially infected blood or body fluid can undergo a post-
exposure "prophylaxis" protocol.

This consists of HBV vaccination and HBIG given after the exposure and before acute infection develops.

This protocol will not cure an infection that has occurred, but it decreases the rate of acute infection.

Treatment for chronic HBV infection

For chronic HBV infection, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend treating the individual with an antiviral
medication.

This is not a cure, but it can stop the virus from replicating and prevent its progression into advanced liver disease.

A person with chronic HBV infection can develop cirrhosis or liver cancer quickly and without warning. In low-income settings,
liver cancer can be fatal within months of diagnosis.

Persons with chronic HBV infection require ongoing medical evaluation and ultrasound of the liver every 6 months to monitor
for liver damage or worsening disease.

Prevention

A vaccine against HBV has been available since 1982. This is a series of three injections. The first injection is given soon after
birth, the second at least 1 month later, and the third dose is given at least 8 weeks after the second dose.

The CDC recommends that all children receive a birth dose of HBV vaccine and complete the series by 6 to 18 months of age.

How to prevent hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus (called the hepatitis B virus, or HBV). It can be serious and there’s no cure, but
the good news is it’s easy to prevent. You can protect yourself by getting the hepatitis B vaccine and having safer sex. If you
have oral, anal, and vaginal sex, use condoms and dental dams to help stop the spread of hepatitis B and other STDs.  

HERPES

Herpes is the shortened name for the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two main strains of the virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2.
Both can be transmitted sexually. It’s a very common STD. Herpes is a chronic condition. HSV is easily transmissible from
human to human through direct contact. Most commonly, transmission of type 2 HSV occurs through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Type 1 is more commonly transmitted from shared straws, utensils, and surfaces.

HSV-1 primarily causes oral herpes, which is responsible for cold sores. However, HSV-1 can also be passed from one person’s
mouth to another person’s genitals during oral sex. When this happens, HSV-1 can cause genital herpes.

HSV-2 primarily causes genital herpes.

The most common symptom of herpes is blistery sores.

Herpes sores generally crust over and heal within a few weeks. The first outbreak is usually the most painful. Outbreaks typically
become less painful and frequent over time.

If a pregnant woman has herpes, she can potentially pass it to her fetus in the womb or to her newborn infant during childbirth.
This so-called congenital herpes can be very dangerous to newborns. That’s why it’s beneficial for pregnant women to become
aware of their HSV status.

There’s no cure for herpes yet. But medications are available to help control outbreaks and alleviate the pain of herpes sores. The
same medications can also lower your chances of passing herpes to your sexual partner.

Genital herpes symptoms

The most common symptoms of genital herpes is a group of itchy or painful blisters on your vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, butt,
anus, or the inside of your thighs. The blisters break and turn into sores. You might have these other symptoms too:

 burning when you pee if your urine touches the herpes sores
 having trouble peeing because the sores and swelling are blocking your urethra
 itching
 pain around your genitals
 If your genital herpes is caused by HSV-2, you might also have flu-like symptoms, such as:
 swollen glands in your pelvic area, throat, and under your arms
 fever
 chills headache
 feeling achy and tired

Then blisters and other genital herpes symptoms show up, it’s called an outbreak. The first outbreak (also called the “first
episode” or “initial herpes”) usually starts about 2 to 20 days after you get infected with herpes. But sometimes it takes years for
the first outbreak to happen.

The first herpes outbreak lasts about 2 to 4 weeks. Even though the blisters go away, the virus stays in your body and can cause
sores again. It’s really common to get repeat outbreaks, especially during the first year you have herpes. You might notice some
warning signs a few hours or days before outbreaks flare up, like itching, burning, or a tingly feeling on your genitals.

Herpes outbreaks are no fun, but the first one is the worst. Repeat outbreaks are usually shorter and less painful. Most people
with herpes get fewer outbreaks as time goes on, and some stop having them altogether.

Herpes symptoms may be more painful and last longer in people with illnesses that damage your immune system — like
leukemia and HIV.
Oral herpes symptoms

Usually, oral herpes is less painful than genital herpes and doesn’t make you feel as sick. Oral herpes causes sores on your lips or
around your mouth — called cold sores or fever blisters. You can also get sores inside your mouth, but that usually only happens
the first few times you have symptoms.

Cold sores last a few weeks and then go away on their own. They can pop up again in weeks, months, or years. Cold sores are
annoying, but usually harmless in kids and adults — they can be really dangerous to newborn babies, though.

What’s the treatment for herpes?

Even though there’s no cure for herpes, there are plenty of ways to treat the symptoms and manage the infection. Herpes
medicine makes outbreaks go away sooner and/or prevents them from coming back as often. Your doctor will tell you about the
best treatment options for your situation.

If you’re having an outbreak, your doctor can give you medicine to help heal your sores faster. You can also help ease the pain
by:

 taking a warm bath

 keeping your genital area dry (moisture makes the sores last longer)
 wearing soft, loose clothes
 putting an ice pack on the sores
 taking a pain reliever like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

How can I prevent herpes outbreaks?

If you have lots of herpes outbreaks, your doctor may tell you to take medicine every day — this is called suppressive therapy. It
can help prevent future herpes outbreaks, and lower your chances of giving herpes to your partners.

Whether or not you take medicine to treat herpes, taking care of yourself by eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and
avoiding stress might help keep future outbreaks from popping up.

No one knows for sure what triggers genital herpes outbreaks. Other infections, surgery, sex, your period, skin irritations, and
stress may cause outbreaks. Sunburns, injuries to your lips, or other infections can cause oral herpes flare-ups. Try to avoid
getting sunburned if you have oral herpes.

Genital herpes outbreaks usually happen less often and become shorter and weaker after a few years — whether or not you get
treated.

How to prevent herpes

Genital herpes is spread from sexual skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it — including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. So the
best way to avoid herpes and other STDs is to not have any contact with another person’s mouth or genitals.

But most people have sex at some point in their lives, so knowing how to have safer sex is important. Using protection
like condoms and dental dams when you have sex helps to lower your risk of getting an STD.

Herpes can live on areas of your body that aren’t protected by condoms (like the scrotum, butt cheeks, upper thighs, and labia), so
condoms won’t always protect you from herpes. But they do lower your chances of getting herpes.

Don’t have sex with anyone during a herpes outbreak, because that’s when it spreads most easily. But herpes is usually passed
when there are no sores or symptoms, so it’s important to use condoms and dental dams, even if everything looks and feels A-
OK.

HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most serious, deadly diseases in human history. HIV causes a
condition called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome — better known as AIDS. These lymphocytes are part of the
body's immune system, the defense system that fights infections. When HIV destroys these lymphocytes, the immune system
becomes weak and people can get serious infections that they normally wouldn't.

HIV can damage the immune system and raise the risk of contracting other viruses or bacteria and certain cancers. If left
untreated, it can lead to stage 3 HIV, known as AIDS. But with today’s treatment, many people living with HIV don’t ever
develop AIDS.

In the early or acute stages, it’s easy to mistake the symptoms of HIV with those of the flu. For example, the early symptoms can
include:

 fever
 chills
 aches and pains
 swollen lymph nodes
 sore throat
 headache
 nausea
 rashes

How Can It Be Prevented?

One of the reasons that HIV is so dangerous is that a person can have the virus for a long time without knowing it. So
making smart choices about sex and not using drugs is the best way to avoid HIV/AIDS.

HIV transmission can be prevented by:

 not having oral, vaginal, or anal sex (abstinence)

 always using latex condoms when having oral, anal, or vaginal sex
 avoiding contact with the body fluids through which HIV is transmitted
 never sharing needles

There is no cure for HIV. That's why prevention is so important.Combinations of antiviral drugs and drugs that boost the
immune system have allowed many people with HIV to resist infections, stay healthy, and prolong their lives, but these
medications are not a cure. Right now there is no vaccine to prevent HIV and AIDS, although researchers are working on
developing one.