Chatham Social Health Council: STD & HIV Prevention Education

STD Information

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur "silently" before a person ever recognizes a problem.

If untreated, chlamydial infections can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems with both short-term and long-term consequences. Because the cervix (opening to the uterus) of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured, they are at particularly high risk for infection if sexually active. Screening at least annually for chlamydia is recommended for all sexually active women age 25 years and younger. An annual screening test also is recommended for older women with risk factors for chlamydia.

Symptoms

Women

• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Bleeding between periods
• Burning or painful urination
• Abdominal pain, sometimes accompanied by fever and nausea

Men

• Watery, whitish discharge from the penis
• Burning or painful urination
• Swollen or tender testicles

How is it spread?
Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected individual

Treatment
Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics prescribed by a health care provider.

If left untreated, Chlamydia can lead to more serious infections. It can damage the reproductive organs and may cause infertility. A mother with chlamydia can give it to her baby during childbirth.

More information http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/default.htm

Genital Herpes

Symptoms
Symptoms occur 1-30 days or longer after sex and may include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Small, painful blisters on the genitals or mouth
• Burning or itching before the blisters appear
• Blisters last 1-3 weeks

How is it spread?
Vaginal, anal, or oral sex, or sometimes genital touching, with an infected individual

Treatment
There is no cure for herpes, although the severity of outbreaks usually decreases over time. A mother with herpes can give it to her baby during childbirth.

More information
http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/default.htm

Gonorrhea

Symptoms
Symptoms occur 2-21 days after sex. Most women and some men have no symptoms.

Women

• Thick yellow or gray discharge from the vagina
• Burning or painful urination or bowel movements
• Abnormal periods
• Abdominal cramping and pain

Men

• Thick yellow or greenish discharge from the penis
• Burning or painful urination or bowel movements
• Need to urinate more often
• Swollen or tender testicles

How is it spread?
Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected individual

Treatment
Gonorrhea is treatable with antibiotics prescribed by a health care provider.

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to more serious health problems including infection, sterility, heart damage, arthritis, and blindness. A mother with gonorrhea can give it to her baby in the womb or during childbirth.

More information http://www.cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/default.htm

Hepatitis (viral)

Symptoms
Symptoms show up 1-9 months after contact with the hepatitis B virus.

• Flu-like feelings that don't go away
• Jaundice (yellow skin)
• Dark urine and light colored bowel movements
• Not everyone who is infected will show symptoms

How is it spread?

• Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected individual
• Sharing needles (for shooting drugs, tattooing, or body piercing)
• Contact with infected blood

Treatment
Some people recover completely from hepatitis B, but others may suffer permanent liver damage or liver cancer. A mother with hepatitis can give it to her baby during childbirth. A vaccine is now available for hepatitis B.

More information http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/

HIV/AIDS

Symptoms
Symptoms show up several months to several years after contact with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

• Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
• Flu-like feelings that don’t go away
• White spots in the mouth

How is it spread?

• Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected individual
• Sharing needles (for shooting drugs, tattooing, or body piercing)
• Contact with infected blood

Treatment
There is no cure for HIV. HIV can cause serious illness and eventually death. A mother infected with HIV can give it to her baby in the womb, during childbirth, or while breastfeeding.

More information
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection (Genital Warts)

Symptoms
Symptoms show up 1-8 months after contact with HPV.

• Small warts on the sex organs and anus
• Itching or burning around the sex organs

How is it spread?
Vaginal, anal, or oral sex, or sometimes genital touching, with an infected individual

Treatment
There is no "cure" for HPV infection, although in most women the infection goes away on its own. A mother with genital warts can give them to her baby during childbirth.

More information
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/default.htm

Syphilis

Symptoms
First Stage:

• Symptoms appear 1-12 weeks after sex
• A painless sore or sores on mouth or sex organs that last 1-5 weeks

Second Stage:

• Symptoms appear 1 week to 6 months after initial sores heal
• Rash anywhere on the body
• Flu-like feelings

How is it spread?
Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected individual

Treatment
Syphilis is treatable with antibiotics prescribed by a health care provider.

If left untreated, syphilis can cause heart disease, brain damage, blindness, and death. A mother with syphilis can give it to her baby during pregnancy.

More information
http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/default.htm

Pregnancy & STDs

Most STDs can be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth. All pregnant women should receive STD screening from a qualified health care provider. Remember, you might have an STD even if you feel fine.

For more information, visit the CDC web site: http://www.cdc.gov/std/STDFact-STDs&Pregnancy.htm

STDs and HIV/AIDS
Being infected with another STD makes you two to five times more likely to contract HIV if you are exposed to the virus during sex with an infected partner. That's another reason you should receive regular STD screenings if you are sexually active.

For more information, visit the CDC web site: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/default.htm

References:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm