Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD's)!
WARNINGS!!
If
you are having sexual relations with
multiple partners or someone that
you do not know is disease free, it
is essential that you become aware
and take precautions against STD's.
Educate and protect yourself and
others.
Overview of Common
STD's
Chlamydia Infections
Chlamydia is a common sexually
transmitted disease caused by
bacteria. You get it by having sex
or sexual contact with someone who
is infected. Both men and women can
get it. Chlamydia usually doesn't
cause symptoms. If it does, you
might notice a burning feeling when
you urinate or abnormal discharge
from your vagina or penis.
In
both men and women, chlamydia can
infect the urinary tract. In women,
infection of the reproductive system
can lead to pelvic inflammatory
disease, which can cause infertility
or serious problems with pregnancy.
Babies born to infected mothers can
get eye infections and pneumonia
from chlamydia. In men, chlamydia
can infect the epididymis, the tube
that carries sperm. This can cause
pain, fever and rarely, infertility.
You
can cure chlamydia with antibiotics.
If you are sexually active, you can
decrease your risk of getting it by
using condoms. Experts recommend
that women 25 and younger get a
chlamydia test every year.
Gonorrhea
Also
called: The clap
Gonorrhea is a curable sexually
transmitted disease. It is most
common in young adults. The bacteria
that cause gonorrhea can infect the
genital tract, mouth or anus.
Gonorrhea does not always cause
symptoms, especially in women. In
men, gonorrhea can cause pain when
urinating and discharge from the
penis. If untreated, it can cause
epididymitis, which affects the
testicles and can lead to
infertility. In women, gonorrhea can
cause bleeding between periods, pain
when urinating and increased
discharge from the vagina. If
untreated, it can lead to pelvic
inflammatory disease, which causes
problems with pregnancy and
infertility. Gonorrhea can pass from
mother to baby during pregnancy.
You
can cure gonorrhea with antibiotics
prescribed by your health care
provider. Correct usage of latex
condoms greatly reduces, but does
not eliminate, the risk of catching
or spreading gonorrhea.
Herpes Simplex
Also
called: HSV
Herpes is an infection that is
caused by a herpes simplex virus
(HSV). Oral herpes causes cold sores
around the mouth or face. Genital
herpes affects the genitals,
buttocks or anal area. Genital
herpes is a sexually transmitted
disease (STD). You can get it from
having sex, even oral sex. The virus
can spread even when sores are not
present. Mothers can also infect
their babies during childbirth.
Some
people have no symptoms. Others get
sores near the area where the virus
has entered the body. They turn into
blisters, become itchy and painful,
and then heal. The virus can be
dangerous in newborn babies or in
people with weak immune systems.
Most people have
outbreaks several times a year. Over
time, you get them less often.
Medicines to help your body fight
the virus can help lessen symptoms
and decrease outbreaks. Correct
usage of latex condoms can reduce,
but not eliminate, the risk of
catching or spreading herpes.
AIDS
Also
called: HIV
AIDS stands for acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the
most advanced stages of infection
with the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that
kills or damages cells of the body's
immune system.
HIV
most often spreads through
unprotected sex with an infected
person. AIDS may also spread by
sharing drug needles or through
contact with the blood of an
infected person. Women can give it
to their babies during pregnancy or
childbirth.
The
first signs of HIV infection may be
swollen glands and flu-like
symptoms. These may come and go a
month or two after infection. Severe
symptoms may not appear until months
or years later.
A blood test can tell
if you have HIV infection. Your
health care provider can perform the
test, or call the National AIDS
hotline for a referral at (800)
342-AIDS (1-800-342-2437). There is
no cure, but there are many
medicines to fight both HIV
infection and the infections and
cancers that come with it. People
can live with the disease for many
years.
HPV
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are
common viruses that can cause warts.
There are more than 100 types of
HPV. Most are harmless, but about 30
types put you at risk for cancer.
These types affect the genitals and
you get them through sexual contact
with an infected partner. They are
classified as either low-risk or
high-risk. Low-risk HPV can cause
genital warts. High-risk HPV can
lead to cancers of the cervix,
vulva, vagina, and anus in women. In
men, it can lead to cancers of the
anus and penis.
Although some people develop genital
warts from HPV infection, others
have no symptoms. Your health care
provider can treat or remove the
warts. In women, Pap smears can
detect changes in the cervix that
might lead to cancer.
Correct usage of latex condoms
greatly reduces, but does not
eliminate, the risk of catching or
spreading HPV. A vaccine can protect
against several types of HPV,
including some that can cause
cancer.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted
disease caused by bacteria. It
infects the genital area, lips,
mouth, or anus of both men and
women. You usually get syphilis from
sexual contact with someone who has
it. It can also pass from mother to
baby during pregnancy.
The
early stage of syphilis usually
causes a single, small, painless
sore. Sometimes it causes swelling
in nearby lymph nodes. If you do not
treat it, syphilis usually causes a
non-itchy skin rash, often on your
hands and feet. Many people do not
notice symptoms for years. Symptoms
can go away and come back.
The
sores caused by syphilis make it
easier to get or give someone HIV
during sex. If you are pregnant,
syphilis can cause birth defects, or
you could lose your baby. In rare
cases, syphilis causes serious
health problems and even death.
Syphilis is easy to cure with
antibiotics if you catch it early.
Correct usage of latex condoms
greatly reduces, but does not
completely eliminate, the risk of
catching or spreading syphilis.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a sexually
transmitted disease caused by a
parasite. It affects both women and
men, but symptoms are more common in
women. Symptoms in women include a
green or yellow discharge from the
vagina, itching in or near the
vagina and discomfort with
urination. Most men with
trichomoniasis don't have any
symptoms, but it can cause
irritation inside the penis.
You can cure
trichomoniasis with antibiotics. In
men, the infection usually goes away
on its own without causing symptoms.
But an infected man can continue to
infect or re infect a woman until he
gets treated. So it's important that
both partners get treated at the
same time. Correct usage of latex
condoms greatly reduces, but does
not eliminate, the risk of catching
or spreading trichomoniasis.
Article Information Source's)
National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases
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