Some sexually transmitted infections or STIs have noticeable signs and symptoms. However some do not. What do you need to know about them? Here are seven common sexually transmitted infections, what to watch for, and how to treat them.
1) Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are more than 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas, mouth and throat of both sexes.
HPV can cause serious health problems including genital warts and certain cancers. In most cases HPV goes away on its own before causing any health problems. Most people don’t even know they’re infected.
2) Chlamydia
The CDC estimates that 2.8 million new cases of chlamydia occur annually, wrote the Reproductive Health Technologies Project (RHTP).
Even though chlamydia can be cheaply and easily treated, up to 75 percent of women with chlamydia don’t have symptoms and therefore may go undiagnosed and untreated.
Untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause short or long term damage, such as fever, vaginal discharge, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy or infertility.
3) Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection. Like chlamydia, untreated gonorrhea is a major cause of PID as well as ectopic pregnancy and infertility, said RHTP. While gonorrhea is curable with antibiotics, a growing number of strains are now resistant to drugs used in treatment. However the vast majority of infections are treatable.
4) Syphilis
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, stated About.com. Syphilis is transmitted by direct contact with syphilis sores, which can appear on the external genitals, mouth, vagina or rectum.
The small painless sores of early syphilis may heal by themselves, but the disease isn’t gone. It's just become more difficult to detect and treat. The infection is treatable with antibiotics
5) Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis, a parasitic infection, is the most common curable STI in young sexually active women in the United States wrote RHTP. Luckily, treatment is inexpensive and effective.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center said that trichomoniasis can persist for a long time. People who are infected are at increased risk of getting other STIs, especially HIV.
6) HIV
HIV is an infection from the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV interferes with the body's ability to effectively fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. It can lead to AIDS, a chronic, life-threatening disease, said Mayo Clinic.
About.com said that it can only be transmitted by exchanging bodily fluids including semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk and blood. It cannot be transmitted by casual contact. RHTP wrote that while there’s no cure for HIV/AIDS, improvements in drug therapies have increased life expectancies.
7) Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is highly contagious and caused by a type of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), said Mayo Clinic. There are two forms, HSV-1 and HSV-2.
HSV1 is most often associated with cold sores, and HSV2 is most often associated with genital sores said About.com. However, it’s possible to transmit herpes from the mouth to the genitals and vice versa. Genital herpes symptoms can be treated with anti-viral drugs, but the virus can’t be cured.
Sources:
"Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)." Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 June 2013.
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/s/std
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"Reproductive Health Technologies Project - Most Common STDs/STIs." Reproductive Health Technologies Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 June 2013.
http://www.rhtp.org/std/types.asp
"STD Facts - Human papillomavirus (HPV)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 June 2013.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
"STD symptoms: Common STDs and their symptoms - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 June 2013.
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http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20188476,00.html
Reviewed June 27, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith