EIGHT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES Summary of STDS

GONORRHEA Caused by bacteria Female symptoms include vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, and painful urination Male symptoms include pus discharge from penis, and painful urination Problems caused by disease include sterility, repeated pelvic infections, damage to newborns. Curable with proper treatment 700,000 new cases each year

CHLAMYDIA Caused by bacteria No symptoms in 60-80% of women, some have vaginal discharge, painful urination, bleeding between periods No symptoms for 20-40% of men, painful urination, watery discharge from penis Problems caused by disease include infertility in men and women, eye and lung infections in newborns Curable with proper treatment 2.8 million new cases each year.

GENITAL HERPES Caused by virus Symptoms are one or more blister-like sores on, in or around the genitals. Sores may look like a rash or cut and is not always painful. Symptoms go away. Can cause severe damage to infants of mothers with active infections at the time of delivery Can be treated but not cured. Repeated flare ups may occur after the first infection. 45 million cases, 1 of every 5 people

SYPHILIS Caused by bacteria Symptoms include a sore, usually painless. Later a rash may develop on other parts of the body, usually the hands and feet. There may also be a sore throat, fever, swollen glands. Symptoms may disappear. Problems caused by disease include heart, spine, and brain infection. Severe threat to developing fetus. Detected by simple blood test. Cured with antibiotics 32,000 reported cases each year

HEPATITIS B Caused by a virus Symptoms vary greatly. Some people have no symptoms. Others experience loss of appetite, fever, tiredness, pain in liver area, jaundice, liver cancer. A vaccine is available to prevent Hepatitis B. 60,000 new infections each year

AIDS Caused by a virus Early symptoms include recurring fever, night sweats, shortness of breath, dry coughs, tiredness, diarrhea, rapid weight loss loss, swollen glands or increase in illnesses. AIDS is caused by a virus that can be transferred during sexual contact or sharing needles. No cure has been found. Fatal in more than 50% of the cases. 40,000 new cases each year.

HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (Genital Warts) Caused by a virus Symptoms include warts found on or around genitals or rectum. Must be treated by a doctor. Problems include warts that grow large and block the penis, vagina, or anus. HPV has been strongly linked to the development of genital cancers. 6.2 million new cases each year.

TRICHOMONIASIS Caused by protozoan Symptoms for women include severe vaginal itching, heavy vaginal discharge, often yellowish green, with strong smell. Symptoms for men is frequently none, occasionally a discharge from the penis. Partners may pass this disease back and forth leading to repeated infections. Curable, but both partners must be treated. Affects 7.4 million Americans every year