Sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are passed on from one person to another through sexual contact. More than 20 STDs have now been identified and they affect millions of men and women all over the world. STDs can severely impact your health. Because sexually transmitted diseases often cause no symptoms, they may go untreated and result in severe complications, especially for women. Complications from STDs for women include tubal pregnancy, infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and problem pregnancies.

Understanding the basic facts about sexually transmitted diseases -- how they are spread, the common symptoms, and how they can be treated -- is the first step toward prevention. It is also important to understand that STDs can be passed to another person by sexual contact, which includes vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral genital contact, kissing, and the use of sex toys, such as vibrators.

Common symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases include:

• discharge from the vagina or penis
• burning with urination and
• rash, bumps, blisters or sores in the genital area that may or may not be painful

Key facts about STDs include:

• STDs affect men and women of all backgrounds and economic levels. They are most common in people younger than 25 years of age.
• The number of people affected by STDs is rising. Sexually active people today are more likely to have multiple sex partners during their lives, putting them at a higher risk for STDs.
• STDs may not cause symptoms. A person who is infected may not know it and pass the disease on to a sex partner. Periodic testing for sexually transmitted diseases is recommended for persons who have more than one sex partner.
• STDs tend to cause more severe health problems for women, such as death from a tubal pregnancy, cancer of the cervix, and passing on the infections to a newborn baby.
• When diagnosed and treated early, many STDs can be treated. Some STDs caused by viruses, such as herpes, HIV, and genital warts, have no cure.

The best way to prevent STDs is to avoid any sexual contact with others. This includes not having vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex. If you decide to become sexually active, there are some steps you should take to reduce your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease:

• Have a mutually monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner.
• Correctly and consistently use a male condom. Using latex condoms reduces the risk of infection for some STDs but does not provide full protection against genital warts, syphilis and HIV. Condoms should not be reused.
• If you use needles to inject drugs (into a vein or muscle), always use clean needles.
• Delay having sexual relations as long as possible. The younger you are when you begin having sex, the more likely it is that you will develop a sexually transmitted disease.

If you are sexually active, have periodic checkups for STDs, especially if having sex with a new partner. If you suspect that you may have been exposed to or have a sexually transmitted disease, avoid all sexual activity and seek medical care immediately.

Sometimes people are too embarrassed or frightened to seek care or ask for information. It is important to remember that early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and spread of the disease to sex partners. Community resources for information and treatment include your healthcare provider, the local health department, a family planning clinic, or a sexually transmitted disease clinic. If you cannot afford to pay for treatment, most communities have a sexually transmitted disease clinic that is free of charge or costs a very small amount.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File SEXU4954.rf2 VRS# 4954 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1998, 2000, 2002 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.