What
are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that can be
transferred from one person to another through any type of sexual
contact. STDs are sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) since they involve the transmission of a
disease-causing organism from one person to another during sexual
activity. It is important to realize that sexual contact includes
more than just sexual intercourse (vaginal and anal). Sexual
contact includes kissing, oral-genital contact, and the use of
sexual "toys," such as vibrators. STDs probably have been around
for thousands of years, but the most dangerous of these
conditions, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), has
only been recognized since 1984.
Many STDs are treatable, but effective cures are lacking for
others, such as HIV, HPV, and hepatitis B and C. Even gonorrhea,
once easily cured, has become resistant to many of the older
traditional antibiotics. Many STDs can be present in, and spread
by, people who do not have any symptoms of the condition and have
not yet been diagnosed with an STD. Therefore, public awareness
and education about these infections and the methods of preventing
them is important.
There really is no such thing as "safe" sex. The only truly
effective way to prevent STDs is abstinence. Sex in the context of
a monogamous relationship wherein neither party is infected with a
STD also is considered "safe." Most people think that kissing is a
safe activity. Unfortunately, syphilis, herpes, and other
infections can be contracted through this relatively simple and
apparently harmless act. All other forms of sexual contact carry
some risk. Condoms are commonly thought to protect against STDs.
Condoms are useful in decreasing the spread of certain infections,
such as chlamydia and gonorrhea; however, they do not fully
protect against other infections such as genital herpes, genital
warts, syphilis, and AIDS. Prevention of the spread of STDs is
dependent upon the counseling of at-risk individuals and the early
diagnosis and treatment of infections.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Overview
(STDs)
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, venereal diseases) are among
the most common infectious diseases in the United States today.
STDs are sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted infections,
since these conditions involve the transmission of an infectious
organism between sex partners. More than 20 different STDs have
been identified, and about 19 million men and women are infected
each year in the United States, according to the CDC (2010).
Depending on the disease, the infection can be spread through any
type of sexual activity involving the sex organs, the anus, or the
mouth; an infection can also be spread through contact with blood
during sexual activity. STDs are infrequently transmitted by any
other type of contact (blood, body fluids or tissue removed from
an STD infected person and placed in contact with an uninfected
person); however, people that share unsterilized needles markedly
increase the chance to pass many diseases, including STD's
(especially hepatitis B), to others. Some diseases are not
considered to be officially an STD (for example, hepatitis types
A, C, E) but are infrequently noted to be transferred during
sexual activity. Consequently, some authors include them as STD's,
others do not. Consequently, lists of STD's can vary, depending on
whether the STD is usually transmitted by sexual contact or only
infrequently transmitted.
STDs affect men and women of all ages and backgrounds, including
children. Many states require that Child Protective Services be
notified if children are diagnosed with an STD.
STDs have become more common in recent years, partly because
people are becoming sexually active at a younger age, are having
multiple partners, and do not use preventive methods to lessen
their chance of acquiring an STD.
People can pass STDs to sexual partners even if they themselves do
not have any symptoms.
Frequently, STDs can be present but cause no symptoms, especially
in women (for example, chlamydia, genital herpes or gonorrhea).
This can also occur in some men.
Health problems and long-term consequences from STDs tend to be
more severe for women than for men. Some STDs can cause pelvic
infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may
cause a tubo-ovarian abscess. The abscess, in turn, may lead to
scarring of the reproductive organs, which can result in an
ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus), infertility or
even death for a woman.
Human papillomavirus infection (HPV infection), an STD, is a known
cause of cancer of the cervix.
Many STDs can be passed from a mother to her baby before, during,
or immediately after birth.
Because the method of becoming infected is similar with all STDs,
a person often obtains more than one pathogenic organism at a
time. For example, many people (about 50%) are infected at a
single sexual contact with both gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Causes
Depending on the disease, STDs can be spread with any type of
sexual activity. STDs are most often caused by viruses and
bacteria. The following is a list of the most common STDs, their
causes and other infections (see STDs with asterisk mark*) that
may be transmitted on occasion by sexual activity, but are
frequently not considered primarily to be an STD by many
investigators:
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