Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Chlamydia is the most common STD with an estimated 4 million cases reported in the United States. People ages 15-19 account for 46% of the reported cases.
• It is caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.
• Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics so it’s important to be tested if you have had unprotected sex and are at risk.
• Symptoms
  • Usually appear within the first month after exposure
  • May not experience symptoms in early stages, 75% of females and 15-20% of males have no symptoms
  • Male: unusual discharge of fluids from the penis
    Painful, burning or frequent urination
  • Female: Vaginal discharge of fluids
    Pain in the pelvic area
    Bleeding between menstrual periods

• Gonorrhea is the most common STD after Chlamydia. It is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhea.
• The bacteria grow in warm, moist places including the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and urethra. It can also grow in the mouth, throat and rectum.
• Each year 650,000 people in the U.S. are infected with this disease.
• Symptoms
  • Usually symptoms appear within 3-7 days after sexual contact and are not always obvious.
  • Females may never know they have the disease because the symptoms can be so slight they may go unnoticed. They are also often times mistaken for a vaginal infection because the symptoms are similar.
  • Females: thick-whitish/yellow discharge, burning sensation with urination, frequent urination, abdominal pain and pelvic inflammatory disease
    
    Male: thick whitish-yellow discharge, burning sensation with urination or painful/swollen testicles

• Gonorrhea can only be confirmed by medical diagnosis
• Males are diagnosed by examining the discharge from the penis under a microscope
• A sample of cells from the vagina is examined under a microscope to diagnose a female.
• can be easily cured with antibiotics if diagnosed early
• If left untreated the disease spreads quickly through the body and can cause long term effects including damage to your joints, heart tissue and other organs. It can also lead to sterility in both men and women.
• If you are pregnant and have untreated Gonorrhea, there is an increased chance of having a premature birth or stillborn baby. If it is passed along to your child during birth they are at risk for eye infections that could lead to blindness. *Most states require all newborns to be treated with eye drops as soon as they are born

• Stage 1: Characterized by small, red painless sores called chancre-these sores are not always noticeable on females because they appear where the pathogen entered the body which is most commonly the penis for males and vagina or cervix for females. Chancre usually disappear within 1-5 weeks but the disease continues to spread throughout the body.
• Stage 2: Within 1-5 months the disease will produce symptoms including muscular or joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, headache, loss of appetite, fever or a general sick feeling. The most common symptom is a highly contagious rash that may appear anywhere on the infected person’s body, for females it commonly occurs on the outer edge of the vagina. Eventually the rash turns into sores which ooze fluid, providing an easy entry for other infections including HIV. Without treatment, the symptoms usually go away within 4-12 weeks.
• Latent Stage: This stage begins 2 or more years after the initial infection and the symptoms appear to have disappeared or people believe they did not have the disease at all. For some, the symptoms may never return, for others, they will go into the fourth stage.
• Neurosyphillis Stage: Occurs years after the infection when the bacteria begins to attack the heart, blood vessels, bones, liver and central nervous system. This damage occurs at a slow and steady rate and eventually leads to blindness or insanity.

1. 1. Abstinence: the best way is to avoid STD’s is to not have sex
2. 2. If you are sexually active, the next best option is to use a latex or plastic condom if you are having oral or vaginal sex.
3. 3. Know your partners past sexual history, although it may be uncomfortable to talk about, it’s important to understand that your chance’s of getting infected with an STD increase with every sexual partner someone has had if they did not use protection.
4. 4. Know the signs and symptoms of STD’s, if you are experiencing any of them, refrain from sexual activity and get tested right away. If you recognize any symptoms in your partner, you both should be tested.
5. 5. If you do have an STD, refrain from sexual activity until you have completed the full treatment cycle.