STD Symptoms

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There are different strands of sexually transmitted diseases, each with their own set of symptoms and outcomes. STDs can be bacterial, parasitic, or viral.
Bacterial STDs
- Chlamydia is the most commonly contracted STD in the United States with more than one million new cases diagnosed annually. This disease is found in the vagina, cervix, urethra, throat, discharge from penis, and rectum. Symptoms may take time to develop and include burning or pain with urination, discharge from penis and vagina, chronic low abdomen pain, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and possible infertility may result (mostly in females).
- Gonorrhea (clap) is commonly found in the vagina, cervix, uterus, urethra, throat, and rectum. The disease is transmitted through oral, anal and vaginal sex and from mother to child. Symptoms typically appear within a week of infection. Males may have a burning pain with urination. Females could have vaginal discharge, that may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or infertility.
- Syphilis is found in the genital area, mouth, skin, anus, and rectum. The symptoms of syphilis include painless sores that if untreated can spread to the brain and/or heart, flu-like symptoms, damage to major body systems if untreated, can cause rash on infants' skin, birth defects and other problems with organs or possible stillbirth.
- Trichomoniasis (trich) is the most common parasitic STD and is found in the vagina, cervix, and urethra. It is transmitted only through vaginal sex. The symptoms of trichomonoiasis include vaginal discharge and itching, burning during urination, males can have temporary irritation in penis, may cause early delivery and low birth weight babies.
- Genital herpes: Herpes Simplex Virus is a viral infection that cannot be cured. People with genital herpes have outbreaks from time to time. If you have genital herpes, it is important to learn about the virus and how to protect yourself and your partners. It is found in or on the genitals and/or rectum. The disease is transmitted through oral, anal, and vaginal sex, contact with infected skin, and rarely from mother to child. Painful blisters or sores, fever, and swollen glands may occur, symptoms can recur throughout life. If the disease is passed onto a newborn, rarely does serious infection occur.
- Human Papillomavirus, HPV (Genital Warts) is found in or on the vagina, cervix, penis, vulva, anus, scrotum, and other genital areas. It is transmitted through anal and vaginal sex, contact with infected skin, but rarely from mother to child. Most people experience no symptoms, but some can get genital warts. HPV can cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus and penis. Most peoples bodies can fight off HPV, but the damage it causes can be catastrophic.
- Hepatitis B is found in the blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. It is transmitted through oral, anal, and vaginal sex, intravenus drug use, and from mother to child. Sometimes there are no obvious symptoms, but one may experience jaundice, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, joint pain, can lead to liver cancer and liver failure.
- HIV/AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is found in the blood, semen, cervical and vaginal fluid, and breast milk. It is transmitted through oral, anal, and vaginal sex, intravenus drug use, and from mother to child. There are no early symptoms and sometimes takes 6 months to develop. Some flu-like symptoms that may often not be noticed, and rash. The virus weakens the immune system, and can cause multiple severe infections leading to death.




