The general term sexually transmitted disease (STD) is applied to any of the group of diseases that can be spread by sexual contact. (Sometimes also called STI). The group includes conditions that used to be called venereal diseases (VD). They were named after Venus the goddess of love. (A name your parents probably knew when they were your age).
We’re sure you have heard about sexually transmitted diseases in one way or another: at school, in the news, on TV, in magazine, from friends, and in public service announcements. It’s common to see ads about how to get HIV/AIDS testing and about treatments for herpes, genital warts or lice on television or on the internet.
Every year more than 12 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases are reported in the United States. At least 3 million among them are from teenagers . Teens have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases of any age group. You can catch one.
STDs are spread from one person to another through intimate sexual contact such as sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact, or anal sex.
The impact of STDs is particularly severe for women. Since many STDs often cause few or no symptoms in women, they may go untreated. Women are at serious risk for complications from STDs. Some of these complications include: ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, infertility and cervical cancer.
STDs must be accurately diagnosed and treated completely. This means that if you become sexually active or are considering becoming sexually active, you need to have regular gynecological or male genital examinations.
If you think you have an STD, or if you were with someone sexually who might have an STD, you should see a health care provider right away. Ask your partner to be tested also. Your health care provider cannot read your mind, or even know if you are sexually active unless YOU tell them. Ask to be tested for STDs, especially if you have not been using condoms every time you have sex.
Pap smears do NOT test for STDs. If you are unable to talk to a parent about being tested or you’re worried about your parents finding out, testing can be done without parental consent in the United States. This kind of testing is considered confidential.
Chlamydia is now the number two sexually transmitted disease in the United States, but it CAN be cured! So, get tested and treated. This used to be the number one STD. Now genital herpes has replaced it as the number one STD. Herpes is a virus and to date there is no cure for a virus, but there is treatment and prevention.
HPV is one of the most common human infections in the world. It’s caused by the Human Papillomavirus. There are treatments for most STDs, so get check out and treated.
- Genital Herpes – What Everyone Should Know.
- HIV and Women – new statistics
- HIV Home Testing
Use a CONDOM every time you have sexual intercourse. For condom help…
STD TABLE & STATISTICS
| AIDS and HIV | Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, is a virus that attacks the immune system resulting in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. |
| Chancroid | A treatable bacterial infection that causes painful sores. |
| Chlamydia | A treatable bacterial infection that can scar the fallopian tubes affecting a woman’s ability to have children. |
| Crabs | Also known as pediculosis pubis, crabs are parasites or bugs that live on the pubic hair in the genital area. |
| Gonorrhea | A treatable bacterial infection of the penis, vagina or anus that causes pain, or burning feeling as well as a pus-like discharge. Also known as “the clap”. |
| Hepatitis | A disease that affects the liver. There are more than four types. A and B are the most common. |
| Herpes | Genital herpes is a recurrent skin condition that can cause skin irritations in the genital region (anus, vagina, penis). |
| HPV/Genital Warts | Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that affects the skin in the genital area, as well as a female’s cervix. Depending on the type of HPV involved, symptoms can be in the form of wart-like growths, or abnormal cell changes. |
| Molluscum Contagiosum | Molluscum Contagiosum is a skin disease that is caused by a virus, usually causing lesions or bumps. It can be treated. |
| Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU) | Nongonococcal urethritis (or NGU) is a treatable bacterial infection of the urethra (the tube within the penis) often times associated with chlamydia. |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease | An infection of the female reproductive organs by chlamydia, gonorrhea or other bacteria. Also known as PID. |
| Scabies | Scabies is a treatable skin disease that is caused by a parasite. |
| Syphilis | A treatable bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body and affect the heart, brain, nerves. Also known as “syph”. |
| Vaginitis | Caused by different germs including yeast and trichomoniasis, vaginitis is an infection of the vagina resulting in itching, burning, vaginal discharge and an odd odor. |
Some Statistics…
- One in five people in the United States has an STD.
- Two-thirds of all STDs occur in people 25 years of age or younger.
- One in four new STD infections occur in teenagers.
- Cervical cancer in women is linked to HPV.
- Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV.
- STDs, other than HIV, cost about $8 billion each year to diagnose and treat ASHA is a trusted partner with the
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and operates the national AIDS, STD and Immunization Hotlines.
- One in five Americans have genital herpes, yet 90 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it.
- At least one in four Americans will contract an STD at some point in their lives.
- HPV and Chlamydia are the most common STDs in the United States.
- More than 5 million people are infected with HPV each year.
- Less than half of adults ages 18 to 44 have ever been tested for an STD other than HIV / AIDS.
- At least 15 percent of all infertile American women are infertile because of tubal damage caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), the result of an untreated STD.
- Two-thirds of Hepatitis B (HBV) infections are transmitted sexually, HBV is linked to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
In the United States, the number of people affected:
- Number Affected Chlamydia: 4 million
- Trichomoniasis (“trich”): 3 million
- Gonorrhea (“clap”): 1.1 million
- Genital Warts (HPV): 750,000 Genital Herpes 40 million affected, with as many as 500,000 new cases each year
Hepatitis B: 300,000
Syphilis: 120,000
HIV: 1 million affected, with as many as 45,000 new AIDS cases reported each year.
Source of data: American Social Health Association
Check out STDs and Teenagers, Risk Factors and Video – STI =STD
Learn more about other Infectious Diseases >>
To: Hepatitis C – Myths and Facts… Is it sexually transmitted?
(Statistic from the American Social Health Association)