Common STDs

What goes around comes around

(click on picture for more information about each disease)

These first 2 diseases can be detected with a simple urine test

STD

Symptoms

Damage

Numbers

Chlamydia

Chlamydia

 Men – Usually none. Some experience discharge from the penis and burning with urination. Women – Usually none. Some experience pain and/or vaginal discharge. Men– Sterility. Women – Considered to be the most common cause of sterility. Advanced stage may require removal of uterus, tubes and ovaries.
  1. 3 million new cases estimated annually
  2. 75% are not aware they are infected
  3. 40% of those sexually active are suspected carriers.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea

 Men– Pus from urethra. Burning upon urination. Women – Pelvic pain. Painful urination and pus-like discharge. Men– sterility. Scarring of the urethra and urinary tract problems. Women – Sterility. Surgery in severe cases.
  1. 650,000 new cases estimated annually.
  2. 80% are not aware they are infected in the early stages.
The following diseases need a doctor’s visit and further testing to diagnose

STD

Symptoms

Damage

Numbers

Syphilis

 Men – 1st stage: swollen non-painful ulcers on external genitalia. 2ndstage: changes of skin, fever enlarged lymph nodes. Women – 1st stage: often unnoticed. 2nd stage: same as men. Men – Brain disorders, heart disease, blindness, dementia and death. Women – Same as men. Can cause birth defects or death in newborns if mother is infected.
  1. 70,000 new cases reported annually.
  2. 50% are not aware they have this disease.

HIV/AIDS

HIV

 Men– Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands. Women – Same as men. Men– Immune system breakdown, death. Women – Same as men
  1. 6th leading cause of death among persons 15-24 years.
  2. 20% infected during teen years.

Genital Herpes

Genital Herpes

 Men– Lesions appear at the site of infection – periodic eruptions of painful blister and ulcers anywhere on the body. Women – Same as men. Men – Continuous outbreaks. Eventually may lead to hospitalization. Lifetime medication required. Women – Same as men. Causes infant death.
  1. 45 million infected.
  2. 1 million new cases annually.
  3. 75% show no symptoms.
  4. 25% of women have this disease.

HPV (Human Papilloma-Virus)

HPV

 Men– Wart-like genital growths. Women – Often no visible symptoms. Some experience vulvar burning, itching and pain. Men– Cancer of the penis and anus. Women – Initially pre-malignant changes difficult to eradicate. Develops into cancer if not treated.
  1. 20 million people are thought to be carriers.
  2. 100 different strains exist.
  3. 75% of reproductive population is infected with this virus.

PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)

PID

 Men– This disease affects only women. Women – See Chlamydia & Gonorrhea. Often symptoms are minor and mistaken for menstrual cramps. Men– This disease affects only women. Women– Ectopic Pregnancy (fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tubes instead of uterus). Sterility and cancer common.
  1. 261,000 new cases annually; most in the 15-19 year age group.
  2. 100,000 women become infertile as a result of PID each year.