Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)

What is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)? It is an infection or disease passed from person to person through sexual contact How many people have STDs? The United States has the highest rates of STDs in the industrialized world. In the United States alone, about 19 million new infections are estimated to occur each year. Women suffer more frequent and more serious complications from STDs than men.

The STD Infections BACTERIA: Cure possible Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis VIRUSES: No Cure HIV/AIDS, Herpes, HPV

How do you get an STD? You can get and pass STDs through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Trichomoniasis can also picked up from contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or a toilet seat, if the genital area gets in contact with these damp objects. Some STDs cause no symptoms. But STDs can still be passed from person to person even if there are no symptoms.

What are the symptoms of STDs? Women: Unusual discharge from the vagina Pain, burning or itching around the vagina Pain in the pelvic area or abdomen, sometimes with fever or chills Bleeding other than your usual period Sores or blisters on the genitals or in the mouth

Men Discharge from the end of the penis Pain or burning when urinating Swelling around the groin Sores or blisters on the genitals or in the mouth Flu-like symptoms such as fever chills, aches in the joints or muscles

Chlamydia Very Common Can spread in your body and cause sterility in males and females Mothers can pass the germ to their babies at childbirth

Symptoms Most women have no symptoms. Women with symptoms may have: abnormal vaginal discharge burning when urinating bleeding between menstrual periods Men Watery or milky drip from the penis Itchy feeling inside the penis A burning feeling when urinating Pain or swelling of the testicles

Gonorrhea Symptoms are often mild, but most women have no symptoms. Even when women have symptoms, they can sometimes be mistaken for a bladder or another vaginal infection. Vaginal discharge (fluid/mucus) Burning or pain with urinating ( male and female) Lower abdominal pain Testicular pain Discharge from penis

Chlamydia & Gonorrhea in Females Infection in cervix Can go into uterus, Tubes, ovaries (“PID”) Painful Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Trouble getting pregnant later in life Dangerous tubal pregnancy

Chlamydia & Gonorrhea in Males Irritation to urinary tract Infection of the tubes and testicles inside the body • Trouble getting a woman pregnant later in life

Syphilis Symptoms in the first, or primary stage: a single, painless sore appears, usually in the genital areas but may appear in the mouth if infection is not treated, it moves to the next stage

Symptoms in the next, or secondary, stage are: skin rash on the hands and feet that usually does not itch and clears on its own fever swollen lymph glands sore throat headaches weight loss muscle aches tiredness

In the latent, or hidden, stage, the symptoms listed above disappear but the symptoms from the second stage can come back. In the late stage, infection remains in the body and can damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) HPV is a virus which causes warts, and may cause cancer of the cervix or Penis Women with symptoms may have: visible warts in the genital area, including the thighs. Warts can be raised or flat, alone or in groups, small or large, and sometimes they are cauliflower-shaped Burning, itching, pain and bleeding lesions on the cervix and in the vagina

Men with symptoms may have: Warts on the penis or around the anal region Bleeding Secretions Decreased force of urination

Crabs (Pubic Lice) Parasite’s that infest areas of the body where hair grows, The most common areas affected are: abdomen anus groin

Cycle An adult louse gets onto the skin and lays eggs Eggs hatch 6-10 days later releasing baby lice, called nymphs They attach their eggs, called nits, to the host's pubic hair Within 15 days these grow into adults and multiply again Nymphs and adult lice feed on human blood

Symptoms Feeling run down Inflamed skin and small red or bluish irritations caused by 'crab' lice bites and defecation Intense itchiness at the infected area, usually more intense at night (begins about 5 days after infestation) Irritability Mild fever

These parasites are transmitted by intimate contact  sexual contact Contact with contaminated items, such as: bedding clothing toilet seats towels upholstered furniture

SCABIES is a contagious, itchy skin condition caused by very small, wingless insects or mites called the Human Itch mite or Scabies The female insect burrows into the skin where she lays 1-3 eggs daily If untreated, the female will continue to lay eggs for about 5 weeks. The eggs hatch and the new mites begin the cycle all over again.

Symptoms A very small, hard to see, zigzag blister usually marks the trail of the insect as she lays her eggs. Intense itching especially at night A red rash can occur at the area that has been scratched. Skin may become crusty or scaly as the infection progresses

scabies rash will show up little red bumps like hives Pimples tiny bites

Genital Herpes Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2 Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) type 2 (HSV-2) Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2

Some people may have no symptoms. During an “outbreak,” the symptoms are clear small red bumps, blisters, or open sores on the penis, vagina, or on areas close by vaginal discharge fever headache muscle aches pain when urinating itching, burning, or swollen glands in genital area pain in legs, buttocks, or genital area

How do people get Genital Herpes? HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause but they also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to have a sore. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection

There is no treatment that can cure herpes antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication.  In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners.

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including genital herpes, is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected

Hepatitis Hepatitis: inflammation of the liver Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Viral hepatitis: caused by virus Hepatitis B DNA virus 6wk - 4 month incubation period Hepatitis C RNA virus 3-12wk incubation period

Hepatitis B Transmission Symptoms Blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids Contaminated needles, syringes etc. Sexual intercourse 10% become carriers and may develop chronic liver disease Symptoms Vague abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting Rash and jaundice Higher mortality rate than Type A

Hepatitis B Prevention/Control Vaccines High cost prohibits general use Recommended for all newborns

Hepatitis C Only 25 – 30% have symptoms New infections Transmission 60% high-risk drug use 40% sexual behaviors Transmission Blood & bodily fluids Mother to child at birth or through breast feeding 75% become carriers and many develop chronic liver disease

Hepatitis C Symptoms Prevention/Control Often asymptomatic or slow in manifesting Appearance after liver disease has progressed Cirrhosis or cancer Prevention/Control No immunization available Reduce exposure to the virus

What is HIV? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS This virus may be passed from one person to another infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membranes 36

HIV is most commonly transmitted through specific sexual behaviors (anal, vaginal, or oral sex) or needle sharing with an infected person An HIV-infected woman can pass the virus to her baby before or during childbirth or after birth through breastfeeding 37

What is AIDS? AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome means that the disease is not hereditary but develops after birth from contact with a disease causing agent (in this case, HIV) Immunodeficiency means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system 38

Syndrome – refers to a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease. In the case of AIDS this can include the development of certain infections and/or cancers, as well as a decrease in the number of certain cells in a person’s immune system 39

How does HIV cause AIDS? HIV destroys a certain kind of blood cell (CD4+ T cells) which is crucial to the normal function of the human immune system. most people infected with HIV carry the virus for years before enough damage is done to the immune system for AIDS to develop 40