SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES OVERVIEW
(Download this overview as a PDF)

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, or venereal diseases) are infections normally transmitted during sexual contact. Such diseases are not only painful, but will cause serious physical damage if not treated. Unborn babies may also suffer effects. One may also be a carrier of these diseases without suffering from the infection. The best known venereal diseases have been gonorrhea and syphilis, but newer and more difficult—even deadly—strains are appearing. Gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and AIDS can be transmitted by oral or anal sex as well as by sexual intercourse.

A LIST OF COMMON STDs

GONORRHEA

• Called "the clap," technically, Gonococcus.
• Caused by bacteria infecting male urethra and female cervix.
• Male symptoms include painful urination and cloudy discharge.
• Female symptoms may include cloudy vaginal discharge and bleeding, abdominal pain, and possible painful urination.
• May also infect rectum or mouth through anal or oral sex causing rectal pain, cloudy discharge, and sore throat.
• Untreated gonorrhea may infect male prostate and epididymus and female uterus and fallopian tubes, causing sterility; it may also spread to joints, skin, bone, tendons, and other body parts.
• Suspicion of disease should be immediately checked; gonorrhea can be cured by antibiotic treatment with alcoholic abstinence.

SYPHILIS

• A serious and complicated disease—Bacterium Treponema Pallidum.
• The bacterium easily penetrates the mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina, and urethra.
• If untreated, it can progress through three stages in a lifetime.
• Stage one (1-3 months). Small painless sores, ulcers, chancres appear. Chancres are red, solid protrusions above the skin. Male chancres usually appear on the penis; female chancres emerging in the vagina or cervix may not be noticed. Some chancres can appear in the mouth or rectum. Sores of stages one and two are highly contagious, primarily through sexual contact, but infrequently through sores.

Stage two (1-2 months). Symptoms include a flu-like illness, swollen glands, and possibly a red rash that does not itch. Grey plaques, different from chancres, may appear in the mouth, vulva, and penis. A rectal rash is also possible. All skin conditions are highly infectious. Stage three (also called late or latent syphilis). This stage can last from two years to a lifetime. It can attack the brain or blood system without warning, resulting paralysis, senility, insanity, blood clots, and possibly blindness or heart failure. Syphilis in pregnancy may result in spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and congenital syphilis. Any suspicious sores in the mouth or genitals should be checked. Early syphilis can be treated with antibiotics; damage caused by late syphilis cannot be stopped.

HERPES GENITALIS

This virus, related to canker or cold sores of the mouth, causes genital blisters which eventually rupture into painful ulcers or sores. Sensitivity of the penis or vulva may be accompanied by flu-like feelings; then, one or more blisters may appear on the penis, vulva, buttocks, or thighs. Female blisters in the vagina and cervix may be unnoticeable; an infected person can thus unknowingly infect others.

A herpes attack subsides in about a month. About half of those infected are subject to recurrences which are usually less severe. Herpes can cause serious infections in birth; therefore C-sections are often used. Treatments are available to relieve pain, but there is no known cure.

Herpes is transmitted through sexual contact and contaminated hands about a week after contact. The main risk is that of infecting others.

AIDS

• AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a mysterious breakdown of the immunity system leading to death.
• It is transmitted primarily through promiscuous sexual contact (also through needle sharing).
• Sex with multiple partners and the exchange of bodily fluids are risks. Promiscuous anal intercourse is seen as especially risky.
• For more information on AIDS, see the topic in our Encyclopedia.

CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia (Nongonococcal urethritis [NGU] or Non-specific urethritis [NSU]) was once considered to be less dangerous than syphilis and gonorrhea. Only recently has it been seen as a serious, major problem. These factors make this disease dangerous:

• It can be virtually symptomless—especially in women.
• It can be difficult to diagnose.
• It can be easily mistaken for gonorrhea, the common treatment for which is penicillin. Penicillin does not cure chlamydia; rather, chlamydia is treated with tetracycline.
• Studies suggest that chlamydia may destroy the reproductive system if the symptoms are not controlled.
• 50% Of babies born to infected women are afflicted with the disease.
• According to Stephen Kraus of the Venereal Disease branch of the Federal Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA, "In general, chlamydia may be more significant than other venereal diseases because people tend to experience symptoms less as their tubes are being destroyed by the infection...it is a more insidious disease."

PUBIC LICE

• The nuisance of crab lice or "crabs," similar to, but different from, head lice.
• Blood-sucking lice are usually restricted to pubic or rectal hair.
• They are almost always caught from sexual contact with someone infested.
• They take several weeks to breed and produce itching; some have no symptoms.
• Visit a health clinic or a physician for a special shampoo and check-up.

cCYS