SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES: FACTS You Need To Know! Patricia J. Sulak, M.D. Professor Texas A&M Health Sciences Center Obstetrician/Gynecologist Director, Scott and White Sex Education Program Scott and White Clinic/Hospital Temple, Texas

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Are You Aware of these FACTS?

General Facts About STDs You can get an STD the first time you have sex

General Facts About STDs STDs are one of the most common types of infections in the U.S. today

General Facts About STDs Many STDs have no cure

General Facts About STDs STDs can cause serious health problems:

General Facts About STDs Most infected don’t know it

General Facts About STDs You can get an STD from someone who does not know they are infected

General Facts About STDs You can get an STD from:

General Facts About STDs Teens are at greater risk of getting STDs

General Facts About STDs It is easier to get HIV if you are already infected with other STDs

General Facts About STDs Condoms do greatly decrease your chance of getting HIV, but not the other STDs

General Facts About STDs Many STDs can be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy or birth

General Facts About STDs STDs cost billions of dollars

All These Things are TRUE!! Let’s take a closer look at STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or protozoa and spread by sexual activity.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases A virus causes an infection that cannot be cured. Medicines can slow down viruses, but cannot eliminate them.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Bacteria and protozoa cause infections that can usually be treated with medicines called antibiotics.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Of all infections that are reported to the CDC, the most common types are STDs Over 15 million STDs per year Most of these infections are in teens and young adults

Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Adolescents Teens are at greater risk for STD’s because: multiple sexual partners high risk partners more susceptible to infection

How are STDs Spread? Oral sex– Mouth to genital contact Vaginal sex – Penis into vagina Anal sex – Penis into anus Outercourse – Skin to skin contact in the genital area

STDs can involve the entire female reproductive tract

Photo provided courtesy of the Medical Institute Adult Cervix

Photo provided courtesy of the Medical Institute An adolescent cervix can get infected easier than an adult

Most common/serious Sexually Transmitted Diseases Gonorrhea Chlamydia Bacterial Vaginosis Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Syphilis Trichomoniasis Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Bacteria Protozoa Viruses

Let’s continue by reviewing STDs Caused by Viruses