What are sexually transmitted diseases?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are passed from one person to another by sexual contact. Sexual contact includes vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral-genital contact, skin-to-skin contact in the genital area, kissing, and the use of sex toys, such as vibrators. The diseases usually affect the genital area including the penis or vagina. Some like HIV can develop from exposure to blood products although the blood supply in the United States is considered quite safe.
Examples of STDs are:

• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Herpes
• Hepatitis B or C
• HIV/AIDS

Key facts about STDs are:

• STDs can affect anyone regardless of you backgrounds and economic level. They are most common in people younger than 25 years of age.

• The number infected by STDs is rising. Sexually active people with multiple partners are at a higher risk for STDs.

• STDs may not be symptomatic. A person who is infected may not know it and may give the infection to a sex partner.

• STDs cause severe health risks for women, such as death from a tubal pregnancy and cancer of the cervix.

• STDs can spread from a pregnant mother to her newborn baby and cause serious problems or death.

• When diagnosed and treated early, many STDs can be cured. Some STDs caused by viruses, such as herpes, HIV, and genital warts, have no cure, but many treatments are available to lessen or avoid complications.
If you are sexually active, here are some steps you should take to reduce your risk of becoming infected with a STD:

• Delay having sexual relations as long as possible. The younger you are when you begin having sex, the more likely it is that you will develop an STD.

• Have just 1 sexual partner who you know does not have an infection and is not sexually active with anyone else. Get tested before you get intimate.

• Practice safe sex. Always use condoms during sexual contact. This can reduce the risk of infection for some STDs but does not provide full protection against genital warts, syphilis, and herpes.

• If you are sexually active, have regular checkups for STDs, especially if you are having sex with a new partner. If you think you might have an STD or may have been exposed to an STD, stop sexual activity and get tested.

Some possible symptoms of STDs are:

• Burning or pain when urinating

• Strange smelling discharge from the vagina or penis

• Itching, burning, or pain around the vagina, penis, or rectum

• Rashes, sores, blisters, or growths around the vagina, penis, or rectum.

Do not be embarrassed or afraid to seek care or ask for tsting. STD tests are a part of routine care at most medical offices and clinics. Remember that early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and keep you from spreading the disease to your partner. You can get more information and treatment from your health care provider, the health department, a family planning clinic, or an STD clinic.
For more information about STDs, call the 24-hour Centers for Disease Control and Prevention STD Hotline at 800-227-8922. Information can also be obtained from their Web site at http://www.cdc.gov.