Types of STDs

HIV/AIDS

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Symptoms are swollen lymph glands, fever, night sweats, severe fatigue, weight loss, white spots in the mouth, and diarrhea. Transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person.

Diagnosis & Treatment
HIV/AIDS is diagnosed by a blood test. There is no cure. Drugs can be taken to treat the symptoms and illnesses related to AIDS. Different from other STDs, AIDS ultimately causes death.

Prevention
Never share needles of any kind. Avoid contact with blood or wounds. Abstain from sex. If you are sexually active, find out about your partner’s past sexual and drug experiences. Always use a latex condom with a spermicide containing Nonoxynol-9 every time you have sex. Remember, even when used correctly, condoms are not 100% safe. Learn more. 

Gonorrhea

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by a bacteria. Transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person. Symptoms are abnormal discharge or “drip” from the penis or vagina, burning when urinating and stomach pain in women. Symptoms are not always present. Four out of 5 women with gonorrhea do not have symptoms.

Diagnosis & Treatment
In men, diagnosis is made by examining the discharge from the penis. In women, the cervix is wiped with a cotton tip which is examined. Gonorrhea is treated with penicillin. Penicillin is not a cure; it treats the symptoms. Gonorrhea may cause severe damage to reproductive organs infertility in women, sterility in men, heart trouble, skin disease and arthritis if untreated.

Prevention
Do not have sex. If sexually active, know your partner’s history; use latex condoms and foam or jelly every time you have sex. Limit your number of sex partners.

Syphilis

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by a bacteria. Transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person. Stage One: symptoms are reddish-brown painless sores on the sex organs, mouth and swollen glands. Stage Two: develops months later with fever, rash, aches, sore throat, hair loss and enlarged lymph glands. Stage Three: develops years later; slowly causes heart, blood vessel and brain damage.

Diagnosis & Treatment
A sample is scraped from the sore or a blood test can diagnose syphilis 3-12 weeks after infection. It is treated by penicillin shots. If stage goes untreated, stage three appears. Syphilis is dangerous and treatment is necessary for cure.

Prevention
Do not have sex. If sexually active, know your partner’s history; use latex condoms and foam or jelly every time you have sex. Get treated if infected. Limit your number of sex partners.

Herpes

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by a virus. Transmitted by sexual contact with an actively infected person. Symptoms are small, red and painful blisters on sex organs and surrounding areas, rectum (genital herpes) or on mouth (oral herpes). It may be on the fingers, or any body surface. Flu-like symptoms may also be present.

Diagnosis & Treatment
The blisters are examined and the fluid inside is tested. Herpes can not be cured, it is controlled by drugs that speed healing and prevent recurrences.

Prevention
Do not have oral, anal, vaginal sex if you or your partner has blisters. Use a latex condom between outbreaks. Manage stress; stress can trigger outbreaks. Limit your number of sex partners.

Chlamydia

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by a bacteria. Transmitted by having sex with an infected person. Symptoms are odorless discharge from the vagina or penis, burning when urinating, bleeding periods. In the beginning there are no symptoms.

Diagnosis & Treatment
A sample of the discharge or some cervix cells are examined. Chlamydia is cured by drugs. You and your partner should be tested and treated. If it goes untreated a woman can get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause tubal pregnancies and sterility. Males can also become sterile.

Prevention
Abstain from sex. If you are sexually active, use a condom with foam or jelly. Know your partner’s sexual history. Limit your number of sex partners.

Veneral/Genital Warts

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by a virus. Transmitted by sexual contact, skin to skin contact with genital warts. Symptoms are small, bumpy warts on the penis, vagina, cervix, in and around the rectum and throat. Sometimes they are so tiny they are not noticed.

Diagnosis & Treatment
A medical exam is necessary for diagnosis. Warts are removed with chemicals, burning, freezing, lasers or minor surgery. Warts that are not removed can spread. The sooner they are removed, the better.

Prevention
Abstain from sex. If you are sexually active, use a latex condom, and foam or jelly. Wash exposed areas before and after contact. Limit you number of sex partners.

Crabs/Public Lice

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by parasites that live in pubic hair, armpits or eyebrows. Transmitted by close contact, sharing clothes and bedding of an infected person. Symptoms are itching, lice in hair, pin-sized blood spots on underwear.

Diagnosis & Treatment
It is treated with special lotions or shampoos from your doctor or pharmacy. All clothes and sheets must be washed and sterilized.

Prevention
Do not have close contact, share clothes or bed with an infected individual.

NGU (Non-Gonococcal Urethritis)

Cause & Symptoms
Caused by a bacteria. Symptoms are abnormal discharge from penis while urinating, itching. Usually women do not have symptoms. It is transmitted through sexual contact.

Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis is made by a medical examination and test. It is treated by drugs (antibiotics). You and your partner should be treated. If it is not treated, it may cause damage to the reproductive organs, sterility and infertility.

Prevention
Abstain from sex. If you are sexually active use a latex condom every time you have sex with a foam or jelly. Know your partner’s sexual history. Limit your number of sex partner.

Vaginitis

Cause & Symptoms
Vaginitis is a general tern for infections of the vagina. It is caused by a fungus or bacteria. Most common causes of vaginitis are yeast infections, trichomoniasis (“trich”) and hemophilus (gardnerella). Symtoms are abnormal discharge, itching, burning and odor. It is transmitted by sex, deodorant sprays, soaps and tampons.

Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis is made by a medical professional. Treatments range from creams to oral medication depending on the cause. Your partner needs to be treated, also. If it is not treated, it won’t cause any severe health problems. See a doctor to be sure you don’t have other diseases.

Prevention
You can help prevent vaginiitis by practicing good hygiene. If sexually active, use a latex condom.

Control STDs

Cause & Symptoms
STDs are caused by bacteria, fungus or viruses. They are usually spread by anal, oral, or vaginal sex. Common symptoms are discharge, burning, itching, lumps and bumps, sores and abdominal pain. Remember you may have a STD and no symptoms!

Diagnosis & Treatment
Go to a doctor or clinic as soon as you or your partner have symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to help prevent spreading the disease and future health problems.

Prevention
The best protection is not to have vaginal, anal or oral sex, especially with an infected partner. If you are sexually active use a latex condom with foam or jelly, know your partner’s sexual past, and limit your number of sex partners.