Sexually Transmitted Diseases

AIDS/HIV AIDS is a chronic disease that damages the bodies immune system. Symptoms: fever, fatigue, rashes, headache, swollen lymph nodes, body aches, night sweats, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea Consequences: reduced ability to fight infections and disorders, death Treatment: a combination of antiviral drugs “drug cocktail”

Chlamydia Type of infection: bacterial Symptoms: often no symptoms Men: painful urination, watery discharge from penis Women: vaginal discharge, burning with urination, lower abdominal pain Consequences: infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (w), urethritis (m) Treatment: antibiotics

Gonorrhea Type of infection: bacterial Symptoms: often appear in 2-7 days Men: urinary discomfort, thick yellow-white or yellow-green discharge Women: usually asymptomatic, urinary pain, increased vaginal discharge Consequences: PID (w), urethritis (m) Treatment: antibiotics

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Type of infection: bacterial (often resulting from untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea) Symptoms: same as chlamydia and gonorrhea, abdominal pain, fever, shills, nausea, and vomiting Consequences: increased risk of infection, infertility, chronic pelvic pain Treatment: antibiotic, hospitalization in severe cases

Genital Warts Type of infection: viral Symptoms: dry, painless growths Consequences: risk of infecting others, cervical cancer (w) Treatment: freezing, burning, laser surgery, application of acid

Genital Herpes Type of infection: viral Symptoms: often no symptoms, flulike symptoms, genital lesians or sores Consequences: no cure, infertility, risk of passage to newborns during birth Treatment: antiviral drugs

Hepatitis B Type of infection: viral Symptoms: flulike symptoms, dark-colored urine and abdominal pain (in advanced cases) Consequences: liver damage, death Treatment*: antiviral drug, hepatitus B immunoglobulin *The vaccine for hepatitis B is safe and effective.

Syphilis Type of infection: bacterial Symptoms: ulcer at infection site, flulike symptoms, rash Consequences: demetia, cardiovascular damage, blindness, and death Treatment: antibiotics

References Fahey, T.D., Insel, P.M. & Roth, W.T. (2003). Sexually Transmitted Diseases. In T. Dorwick & V. Mailinee (Eds.), Fit & Well: Core concepts and Labs in Physical Fitness and Wellness (pp. 373- 389). Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill.