STD FAST FACTS
STDs - Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STIs Sexually Transmitted
Infections are infections that can be transferred from person to person via sexual contact. According to the Center for Disease Control there are
over 19,000,000 cases of sexually transmitted disease cases reported every year.
Adolescents and young adults are the age groups at the greatest risk for
acquiring an STD, with 9.1 million cases being reported in the age group..
Most STDs are treatable. However, even gonorrhea has become resistant to many of the traditional antibiotics. Other STDs, such as herpes, AIDS, and genital warts, all of which are caused by viruses, have no cure. Some of these infections are very uncomfortable, while others may be deadly. Syphilis, AIDS, genital warts, herpes, hepatitis, and even gonorrhea have all been known to cause death. Many STDs can lead to related conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, and complications in pregnancy. Therefore, learning about these sexually transmitted diseases and prevention is important.
Sexual contact includes more than just intercourse. Sexual contact includes kissing, oral-genital contact, and the use of sexual toys, such as vibrators. There really is no such thing as safe sex. The only truly safe sex is abstinence. Sex in the context of a monogamous relationship where neither party is infected with a STD is also considered "safe". Most people think that kissing is a safe activity. However, syphilis, herpes, and other diseases could be contracted through this apparently harmless act. All other forms of sexual contact also carry some risk. Condoms are commonly thought to protect against STDs. Condoms are useful in helping to prevent certain diseases, such as HIV and gonorrhea. However, they are less effective protecting against herpes, trichomoniasis, and chlamydia. Condoms provide little protection against HPV, the cause of genital warts.
If you think you may have an STD or a related condition, see a doctor
right away.
Find out if a STD's Testing is something you may need.
Common STD's
A listing of some sexually transmitted diseases:
- Chlamydia - Chlamydia is a very dangerous STD as it usually has no symptoms; 75% of infected women and 25% of infected men have no symptoms at all.
- Gonorrhea - Gonorrhea is one of the most frequently reported STD. 40% of it's victims contract PID if not treated, and it can cause sterility.
- Hepatitis B - A vaccine exists, but there's no cure; can cause cancer of the liver.
- Herpes - Painful and episodic; is treatable but there is no cure.
- HIV/AIDS - First recognized in 1984, AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among young men and women. The virus is fatal involving a long, painful death.
- Human Papalloma Virus (HPV) & Genital Warts - The most common STD, 33% of all women have this virus, which can cause cervical or penile cancer and genital pain.
- Syphilis - Untreated, can lead to serious damage of the brain or heart.
- Trichomoniasis - Can cause foamy vaginal discharge or no symptoms at all. Can cause premature birth in pregnant women.
Less Common STD's
- Bacterial Vaginosis - Causes pain during urination, and untreated can result in kidney failure.
- Chancroid - A large, painful blister or ulcer which appears in genital area; may rupture.
- Granuloma Inguinale - Causes painless ulcers which enlarge and easily bleed.
- Lymphogranuloma Venereum - Rare in the United States; causes lesions, aching and abscesses in the groin.
- Molluscum Contagiosum - This virus causes smooth, shiny lesions, which must be individually removed by a doctor.
- Mucopurulent Cervicitis (MPC) - Causes discharge from the cervix, can result in PID or miscarriage in pregnant women.
- Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU) - Afflicts men and causes urinary problems, may be caused by chlamydia.
Related Conditions
Other reproductive tract infections:
- Candidiasis - Candidiasis, or yeast infection, is not a true STD but can be contracted sexually, causing burning, itching and discomfort. It is treatable with over-the-counter medication, although it is commonly recurrent.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - Could be caused by a number of bacteria, transmitted sexually or through other means. Can result in pain, infertility, and even death.
STD TESTING INFO
Sexually transmitted diseases are common in the U.S., with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating 19 million new infections among young people every year. If you are a sexually active person, it is vitally important to practice safer sex each and every time you are intimate. Going for STD testing when you decide to become intimate with someone new is also imperative to staying sexually healthy. To understand a bit more about what happens when you go for STD testing, here is a helpful
overview of the different tests done for the more common STDs.
Physical Exams
Human Papilloma Virus
Every year, about 6.2 million Americans are infected with the Human Papilloma Virus also known as GENITAL WARTS.. There are two types of HPV virus, the "low-risk" type and the "high-risk" type. People infected with low-risk HPV are more likely to develop genital warts, which can be treated but not cured. Those with a high-risk HPV infection are less likely to develop HPV symptoms but have a significant risk of developing cervical cancer or some other form of genital cancer.
People infected with HPV strains that lead to genital herpes may be able to have their infection diagnosed through a visual inspection. During your exam, your doctor will examine your genitals for any signs of genital warts. However, genital warts are not always visible to the naked eye. Therefore, your health care provider may also swab the area with acetic acid, which will help make small warts visible.
Because the HPV strains linked to cervical cancer typically do not produce symptoms, it is also important to have regular pap tests done, which will test your cervical cells for signs of HPV infection.
Crabs or Pubic Lice
Pubic lice, or crabs, are a common sexually transmitted disease. Some symptoms of pubic lice include itchiness of the infected area or visible lice. Crabs are diagnosed with a physical examination of the infected area. However, because of the intense itching that these parasites cause, you will likely be aware of the problem before you get yourself to a doctor.
Once at the doctors, she will do a visual examination of the area, looking for the actual lice as well as nits, which are clusters of lice eggs. Your doctor may also examine other areas of your body in order to assess whether the lice have migrated. Treatment of crabs is usually washing with over-the-counter or prescription shampoos.
Genital Herpes
There are two types of genital herpes, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). According to the CDC, most herpes infections are caused by HSV-2. Many people do not know when they are infected because there may be little to no symptoms of herpes present.
If you are experiencing a herpes outbreak, a visual examination of the area is sometimes enough to make a diagnosis. However, herpes sores may be mistaken for other types of infections or may not be present. Therefore, viral and blood tests are generally thought to be the most effective means of testing for herpes. While there is no cure for herpes, a variety of herpes treatment are available.
Blood, Urine or Cell Samples
Most STDs are conclusively diagnosed through the use of blood, urine or cell std testing.
Chlamydia
It has been estimated that as much as 2.8 million Americans are infected with chlamydia while in 2004 alone, more than 900,000 chlamydia infections were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In women, symptoms of chlamydia are typically absent or mild, making it difficult to notice the signs right away.
To diagnose chlamydia in women, your health care provider will do a pelvic exam, during which time she will examine your genitals for signs of infection. Additionally, she will take a cervical swab, which is much like a pap smear. This swab will then be sent to a lab, where specialists will look for signs of the bacteria that cause chlamydia. If you are found to be infected, your doctor will prescribe an effective chlamydia treatment.
Gonorrhoea
The CDC reports that every year more than 700,000 people are infected or re-infected with gonorrhea. Symptoms of gonorrhea include green or yellow discharge from the genitals as well as abdominal pain.
Gonorrhea is diagnosed through both a physical examination and a culture test. For the culture test, your health care provider will take a sample of any discharge that is present. This sample will then be sent to a lab and left to culture for two days. After this time, the sample will be examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria.
It is also possible to perform a urine test for gonorrhea. However, this test is not as accurate as a culture test and is best used to rule out the infection. Once diagnosed, your doctor can prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Syphilis
In 2002, over 32,000 cases of syphilis were reported in the U.S. Although they may be not be immediately apparent, some of the signs of syphilis include sores, skin rashes and internal organ damage. Because syphilis occurs in stages, testing for the infection varies from stage to stage.
During the initial stages of the infection, a diagnosis will be made through both a physical exam, during which time your doctor will look for chancres, as well through a fluid sample from the chancres. However, it is necessary to have chancre sores visibly present on your body in order to perform this diagnosis.
Testing in the second stage of syphilis will involve your health care provider checking your lymph glands and for signs of a bodily rash. A blood test will also be ordered, which will look for antibodies to the syphilis bacteria. A positive diagnosis will be confirmed through a second test.
People in the late stages of syphilis infection will have the Cerebrospinal Fluid Test performed. For this test, a sample of your spinal fluid will be collected and assessed to determine the extent of your infection. Syphilis has been treated through the use of penicillin.
Trichomoniasis
Caused by the Trichomonas Vaginalis parasite, trichomoniasis, or trich, is a common sexually transmitted disease. Many people infected have no trichomoniasis symptoms or they mistake their infection for a yeast infection. However some symptoms include lower abdominal pain or unusual discharge from the genitals.
To test for trich, your doctor will perform a pelvic exam, during which time he will feel for any sores on your cervix. Additionally, a cervical swab will be taken and this sample will be combined with a salt solution before being examined under a microscope to check for the presence of the parasite.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
A person infected with HIV may initially have no symptoms. Signs of HIV in the more advanced stages include rapid weight loss, recurring fevers, and unusual blemishes in the mouth or in the throat.
HIV is tested by a blood sample test called the HIV antibody test. For this test, a sample of blood will be drawn and then sent to a lab, where specialists will look for the presence of HIV antibodies in your system. If antibodies are identified, you are considered to be HIV positive.
Because it can take up to three months for the HIV infection to become apparent in your system, it is often recommended to wait to test if you think you have been exposed. However, if you choose, you can be tested as soon as three weeks after exposure although you will need to be re-tested again three months later if you receive a negative test the first time around.
HIV may be treated through the use of antiretroviral drugs. There is no cure for HIV, though, and this infection almost always leads to the development of AIDS and is fatal. The best way to deal with HIV is to avoid it all together through abstinence or safe sexual practices.
This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical treatment. You should speak to your physician or make an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about this information or your medical condition.
DID NOT FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?
More than half of all people will have an STD at some point in their lifetime.
The estimated total number of people living in the US with a viral STD is over 65 million. Every year, there are at least 15 million new cases of STDs, some of which are curable.
More than $8 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STDs and their complications. This figure does not include HIV.
In a national survey of US physicians, fewer than one-third routinely screened patients for STDs.
Less than half of adults ages 18 to 44 have ever been tested for an STD other than HIV/AIDS.
Each year, one in four teens contracts an STD.
One in two sexually active persons will contact an STD by age 25.
About half of all new STDs in 2000 occurred among youth ages 15 to 24.
Of the STDs that are diagnosed, only some (gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis A and B) are required to be reported to statehealth departments and the CDC.
One out of 20 people in the United States will get infected with hepatitis B (HBV) some time during their lives.
Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV.
Approximately half of HBV infections are transmitted sexually.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are the only two vaccine-preventable STDs.
It is estimated that as many as one in four Americans have genital herpes, a lifelong (but manageable) infection, yet up to 90 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it.
With more than 50 million adults in the US with genital herpes and up to 1.6 million new infections each year, some estimates suggest that by 2025 up to 40% of all men and half of all women could be infected. ]
Over 6 million people acquire HPV each year, and by age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. Most people with HPV do not develop symptoms. Some researchers believe that HPV infections may self-resolve and may not be lifelong like herpes.
Cervical cancer in women, while preventable through regular Paps, is linked to high-risk types of HPV.
Each year, there are almost 3 million new cases of chlamydia, many of which are in adolescents and young adults. The CDC recommends that sexually active females 25 and under should be screened at least once a year for chlamydia, even if no symptoms are present.
About two-thirds of young females believe doctors routinely screen teens for chlamydia. However, in 2003 only 30% of women 25 and under with commercial health care plans and 45% in Medicaid plans were screened for chlamydia.
At least 15 percent of all American women who are infertile can attribute it to tubal damage caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) , the result of an untreated STD. Consistent condom use reduces the risk of recurrent PID and related complications: significantly, women who reported regular use of condoms in one study were 60 percent less likely to become infertile.
Consistent condom use provides substantial protection against the acquisition of many STDs, including statistically significant reduction of risk against HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis.
Some studies show that, for those who already have a clinically apparent genital HPV infection, using condoms promotes the regression of HPV lesions in both women and men.
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