Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are a growing, if not widespread, problem in our society, and are the cause of may unpleasant consequences.

What is a STD?

A sexually transmitted disease is an infectious condition that is passed from one person to another during sexual activity.  Sometimes STDs are also called STD's may also be referred to as STI's.

How are STD’s spread?

STD’s can be spread anytime bodily fluids are exchanged with a person who as a STD.  This can occur during intercourse, and other sexual activities (anal or oral sex), which involves mutual contact, but is not limited to sexual activities.  Certain STDs can also be spread just by skin-to-skin contact.

How can I find out if I have an STD?

You must have specific test for each individual STD which is performed by a doctor either by cultures or blood tests.

Sexually Transmitted Disease Facts

• Over 70 million Americans currently have an STD
• 15 million new STD cases yearly in the U.S.
• Many men and women don’t even know they have an STD, because they have no symptoms.  If they become infected they can pass it on to someone else
• Some STD’s make you sick today, and others cause problems later in life — serious problems like cancer or infertility
• Teens are at higher risk for contracting an STD because:
  • They initiate sexual intercourse at earlier age
  • They have multiple partners
  • They have an immature immune system
  • A teen’s cervix is more susceptible to infection
  • Of intercourse with older male partners

What About Condoms and STD’s

STDs aren't just humiliating or painful.  They can cause infertility, cervical cancer - even death.  So how effective are condoms at protecting you from infections?  It depends on the disease.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - There is virtually no evidence that condoms reduce the risk of HPV infection at all, though they may slightly decrease the number of people who go on to get warts or cervical cancer.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea - If used 100 percent of the time (which is uncommon), condoms only reduce the risk of Chlamydia and gonorrhea infection by about half.

Genital Herpes - Based on the limited studies, it appears condoms only reduce the risk of herpes by half at best.

HIV/AIDS - If used 100 percent of the time, condoms reduce the risk of HIV transmission by 85 percent.

STDs are a real and present danger. Due to the risk, many have turned to condoms for protection under the assumption that condoms make sex safe.

Research shows that condoms reduce risk for some (not all) STDs, but they don't eliminate the risk. That's a critical distinction. Condoms do not make sex safe enough to individuals who truly wish to avoid getting STDs and suffering possible long-term effects.

Types of STD’s

There are 2 types of STD’s: bacterial and viral.  Bacterial STD’s can be treated with an antibiotic, but the damage cannot be reversed.  For viral STD's, there is no cure, only the symptoms can be treated, and as with bacterial STD's the damage cannot be reversed.

What are some of these STD's?

• HIV/AIDS
• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Chlamydia
• Syphilis
• Genital Herpes (Herpes Simplex Virus — HSV)
• Trichomoniasis
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis

Some Bacterial STD’s

Chlamydia

Q: How can I get Chlamydia?
A: From having sex with an infected person.

Q: What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?
A: Chlamydia, the most common bacterial STD, can have the following symptoms:

• Discharge from vagina or penis
• Burning with urination
• Pelvic pain in women

If you have any of these symptoms seek medical help.

Q: Will I always have some of the symptoms mentioned above?
A: Many have no symptoms, but even then it can still be passed to those you have sex with.

Q: What if I'm not sure and decide to take a "wait and see" approach?
A: If treatment is delayed, infected women can get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID causes problem now — abdominal pain; causes problems later — difficulty getting pregnant or infertility).

Q: Who gets this?
A: Both men and women – particularly young men and women

Q: How can I avoid becoming infected with Chlamydia?
A: Abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only certain way to avoid being infected.

Gonorrhea

Q: How can I get Gonorrhea?
A: By having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral sex) with an infected person

Q: What are Gonorrhea's symptoms?
A: Gonorrhea: symptoms can be:

• Discharge from vagina or penis
• Burning with urination
• Pelvic pain in women
• Abnormal periods, bleeding between periods

If you have any of these symptoms seek medical help

Q: Will I always have some of the symptoms mentioned above?
A: Even without symptoms, can be passed on to those you have sex with

Q: What if I'm not sure and decide to take a "wait and see" approach?
A: If treatment is delayed, infected women can get pelvic inflammatory disease (PID causes problem now — abdominal pain; causes problems later — difficulty getting pregnant or infertility).

Q: Who gets this?
A: Both men and women

Q: How can I avoid becoming infected with Gonorrhea?
A: Abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid being infected.

Some Viral STD’s

Genital Herpes

Q: How can get genital herpes?
A: From having sex (vaginal, anal or oral sex) with an infected person.

Q: What are symptoms of Genital Herpes?
A: Herpes Simplex virus HSV-2 (Genital Herpes) symptoms can be:

• Blister(s), usually appearing in, on, or around, the genitals and rectum.  Blisters break, leaving sores that may take 2-4 weeks to heal the first time they occur
• Pain, tingling in the affected area

If you have any of these symptoms seek medical help

Q: I've heard that cold sores are herpes.  Is this true?
A: Genital Herpes (HSV-2) has a relative: HSV-1.  Infection with HSV-1 cause cold sores and fever blisters, usually in and around the mouth. HSV-1 can also infect the genital area.

Q: If there aren't any blisters, can I still become infected or infect someone else?
A: Yes.  If you have genital herpes, even if you don’t have blisters or sores, you can still spread the infection during sex

Q: Is there any relation to herpes and HIV/AIDS?
A: Yes.  If you have genital herpes and have sex with a person who is infected with HIV, your chances for catching HIV increase.

Q: Who gets this?
A: Both men and women

Q: How can I avoid becoming infected with genital herpes?
A: Abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid being infected.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Q: How can I get HPV?
A: HPV is transmitted 2 ways:

1. Skin to skin contact
2. By contact with infected body fluids.

It is most often spread by sex play or sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral sex)

Q: What are the symptoms of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)?
A: HPV's symptoms can be:

• Genital warts are single or multiple growth or bumps that appear on or in their genitals
• Warts can appear within several weeks after sexual contact with an infected person or take months to appear
• Some have warts removed, but they can come back

If you have any of these symptoms seek medical help

Q: I don't have any of the symptoms, should I be concerned?
A: Some people have no symptoms and don’t know they are infected

Q: How can I find out if I have HPV?
A: Pap smears can detect certain strains of HPV

Q: Are pap smears really necessary?
A: All sexually active women should have a pap smear every year, so that cervical cancer and other problems caused by HPV can be recognized and treated.  Remember: the key is finding those problems early.

Q: Is HPV really all that dangerous?
A: HPV infections in women are responsible for 93% of cervical cancers.

Q: How common is HPV?
A: HPV is the most common viral STD

Q: I always use a condom, am I safe from HPV?
A: There is no evidence that condoms reduce the risk of HPV in women or men

Q: Who gets this?
A: Both men and women

Q: How can I avoid becoming infected with HPV?
A: Abstinence from sexual activity, is the only certain way to avoid being infected.

Sources

•  Medical Institute of Sexual Health, 2004 (www.medinstitute.org)
•  CDC: United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (www.cdc.gov)

If you have any further questions or would like more information than is provided on this web page, you may call us, confidentially, at 248-545-6411.

Remember: if you feel you may be suffering from one of these diseases please contact your doctor.

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Copyright © 2004 Care Net Pregnancy Information Center of Berkley, MI
Last modified: 11/24/05