What kind of STDs can I get and what will they do to me and my partner?
Chlamydia: Some men experience discharge from the penis and burning with urination. Can lead to sterility. In women, usually no symptoms. Some experience pain and/or vaginal discharge. Considered to be the most common cause of sterility. Advanced stage may require removal of uterus, tubes, and ovaries. Can cause PID with permanent damage. 2.8 million new cases annually. By age 30, 50% of sexually active women have had chlamydia. [1]
Gonorrhea: In men pus from urethra and burning upon urination. Sterility, scarring of the urethra and urinary tract problems. In women, symptoms can include pelvic pain, painful urination and pus-like discharge and sterility. Surgery in severe cases. Common cause of PID with permanent damage. Can increase risk of HIV infection two to five times in both sexes. An estimated 700,000 new cases occur annually. [2]
HIV/AIDS: Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands, resulting in immune system breakdown, death. Must be tested, as symptoms mimic other diseases. Approximately 930,000 in the U.S. have HIV, 18,000 have died, 3,000,000 have died world-wide, and 40,000,000 are living with HIV or AIDS. [3-4]
Genital Herpes: In men and women, lesions appear at the site of infection - periodic eruptions of painful blister and ulcers anywhere on the body. Continuous outbreaks. Eventually may lead to hospitalization. Lifetime medication required. Causes infant death. 45 million infected. 1 out of 5 adolescents and adults. 1,000,000 new cases every year in the U.S. [5]
HPV Human Papilloma Virus: In men, wart-like genital growths. Cancer of the penis and anus. In women, often no visible symptoms. May be vulvar burning itching and pain. Abnormal pap smears. Can develop into cervical cancer if not treated. Approximately 20,000,000 infected in the U.S. 6,200,000 new cases each year. [6]
PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: An STD complication in women only. Often symptoms are minor and mistaken for menstrual cramps. Chlamydia and gonorrhea my lead to PID. Ectopic Pregnancy (fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tubes instead of uterus). Can be life-threatening. Sterility, & cancer common. Permanent damage to the reproductive organs. One million new cases annually, most 15-19 years old. 100,000 women become infertile as a result of PID each year and 150 die. [7]
Resources
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD Facts and Information: Chlamydia, Fact Sheet, May 2004, Technical update November 15, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm, accessed 2-21-05.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD Facts and Information: Gonorrhea, Fact Sheet, May 2004, Technical update August 4, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/STDFact-gonorrhea.htm, accessed 2-21-05.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Basic Statistics, HIV Estimate, May 2001, Technical update August 5, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats.htm, accessed 2-21-05.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention, FAQ, Symptoms; Testing; Treatment, Revised February 17, 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/faqs.htm#symptom, accessed 2-21-05.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD Facts and Information: Genital Herpes, Fact Sheet, May 2004, Technical update August 4, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm, accessed 2-21-05.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD Fact Sheet: Genital HPV Infection, May 2004, Technical update December 2, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm, accessed 2-21-05.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD Facts and Information: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Fact Sheet, May 2004, Technical update August 4, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm, accessed 2-21-05.
