Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

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• Images

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Teenagers
• Men
• Women
• Older Adults
• Patient Handouts

Summary

What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The contact is usually vaginal, oral, and anal sex. But sometimes they can spread through other intimate physical contact. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-to-skin contact.

There are more than 20 types of STDs, including

• Chlamydia
• Genital herpes
• Gonorrhea
• HIV/AIDS
• HPV
• Pubic lice
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis

What causes sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

STDs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Who is affected by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

Most STDs affect both men and women, but in many cases the health problems they cause can be more severe for women. If a pregnant woman has an STD, it can cause serious health problems for the baby.

What are the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

STDs don't always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms. So it is possible to have an infection and not know it. But you can still pass it on to others.

If there are symptoms, they could include

• Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
• Sores or warts on the genital area
• Painful or frequent urination
• Itching and redness in the genital area
• Blisters or sores in or around the mouth
• Abnormal vaginal odor
• Anal itching, soreness, or bleeding
• Abdominal painn
• Fever

How are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed?

If you are sexually active, you should talk to your health care provider about your risk for STDs and whether you need to be tested. This is especially important since many STDs do not usually cause symptoms.

Some STDs may be diagnosed during a physical exam or through microscopic examination of a sore or fluid swabbed from the vagina, penis, or anus. Blood tests can diagnose other types of STDs.

What are the treatments for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

Antibiotics can treat STDs caused by bacteria or parasites. There is no cure for STDs caused by viruses, but medicines can often help with the symptoms and lower your risk of spreading the infection.

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

There are vaccines to prevent HPV and hepatitis B.

Can sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) be prevented?

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

There are vaccines to prevent HPV and hepatitis B.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

Symptoms

• STD Symptoms: Common STDs and Their Symptoms (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Diagnostic Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (American Academy of Pediatrics)
• Genital Problems in Men (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Genital Problems in Women (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• STD Testing: What's Right for You (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Treatments and Therapies

• Medications for Sexually Transmitted Infections (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• What Are the Treatments for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STDs/STIs)? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Cervicitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Hepatitis B (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Molluscum Contagiosum (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• What Are Some Types of STDs/STIs? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Images

• Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) (Logical Images)
• Molluscum Contagiosum (Logical Images)
• Pubic Lice (Pediculosis Pubis) (Logical Images)

Statistics and Research

• FastStats: Sexually Transmitted Diseases/STD (National Center for Health Statistics)
• State Profiles: HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• STDs in Adolescents and Young Adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections.
• Article: Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections: Recommendation Statement.
• Article: Educational technologies on sexually transmitted infections for incarcerated women.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Teenagers

• About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Pubic Lice (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Talking to Your Kids About STDs (Nemours Foundation)
• What Are STDs and STIs? (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)

Men

• How Can Men Reduce the Risk of Getting a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
• What Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Need to Know about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Women

• Sexually Transmitted Infections (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
• Sexually Transmitted Infections, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
• STDs and Pregnancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

• Safe Sex for Older Adults (AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)

Patient Handouts

• Chancroid (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Condom Fact Sheet in Brief (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Genital sores - female (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Genital sores - male (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Safe sex (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish