Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most widespread sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 80 million people in the United States are infected with HPV, including 14 million teenagers. This infection usually has no symptoms, although some people may experience warts on their genitals, mouth, or throat. HPV can cause some health effects that can be prevented with vaccines.
It is important to be aware of the symptoms of STDs and to get tested regularly in order to protect yourself and your partner. Fortunately, all of these common STDs can be treated and most can be cured.
Chlamydia
is the most commonly reported STD in the United States. It is mainly spread through vaginal or anal sex, but it can also be contracted through oral sex.About 25% of women and 50% of men have symptoms, which include a strange discharge from the vagina or penis, or pain or burning when urinating. Chlamydia is caused by bacteria, so it is treated with antibiotics. After receiving treatment, it is important to get tested again within one to three months to make sure the infection is gone.
Gonorrhea
is easily treated with antibiotics.Syphilis is a complicated disease with four stages. In the primary stage, the main symptom is a sore. Syphilis is sometimes called the great imitator because the sore may look like a cut, ingrown hair, or a harmless lump. The secondary stage begins with a rash on the body, followed by sores in the mouth, vagina, or anus.
Symptoms usually disappear in the third stage or in the latent phase. This stage can last for years or for life. Only about 15% of people with untreated syphilis will develop the final stage. In this last stage, syphilis can cause damage to organs and nerves and can also cause brain problems.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat syphilis. The sooner you start treatment, the fewer antibiotics you need and the faster they will work.
Genital Herpes
is a virus that can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, including areas that a condom does not cover. You are most contagious when you have blisters, but you do not need them to transmit the virus. Because herpes is a virus, it cannot be cured.However, you can take medicines to control it. More women than men get trichomoniasis, caused by a tiny parasite. Men and women can get infected through contact between the penis and vagina and women can infect each other when their genitals touch each other. Only about 30% of people with trichomoniasis have symptoms that include itching, burning, or pain in the genitals as well as a foul-smelling discharge from their vagina or penis. It is important to repeat the test within three months after treatment even if your partner has also received treatment.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
is one of the most common STDs in the world and it can be contracted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex as well as skin-to-skin contact.Most types of HPV do not cause any harm and do not show symptoms; however, it is still important to get tested as some strains of HPV can cause genital warts or cancer of the mouth, throat, penis, or cervix. A Pap smear is recommended to detect cervical cancer caused by HPV. There are three recommended vaccines (Cervarix, Gardasil 9, and Gardasil) for HPV infection and CDC recommends that people ages 11 to 26 get vaccinated against HPV. The most common sign of HPV is genital warts; these are small raised white bumps found in the genital area. Some HPV infections are asymptomatic and resolve on their own without treatment.
Chlamydia
is one of the most commonly contracted STDs on college campuses and it can be transmitted through vaginal or anal sex as well as oral sex.If left untreated chlamydia can develop into pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a serious pelvic infection that requires antibiotic treatment and can affect your ability to have children.
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