About Sexually Transmitted Diseases |
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Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are spread by sexual contact. Except for colds and flu, STDs are the most common contagious (easily spread) diseases worldwide, with millions of new cases of STDs each year.
Anyone who has vaginal, anal or oral sex with another person may get an STD. People with an STD may not know they have it. Often, there are no symptoms. But that does not mean that it is not affecting your health. |
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Gonorrhea and Chlamydia |
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Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are caused by bacteria and often occur at the same time. Many with gonorrhea and chlamydia have few or no symptoms. If symptoms do appear, however, they may appear after days or weeks after contact. Symptoms may include - discharge from a woman’s vagina or a man’s penis, painful or frequent urination, pain in the pelvis or abdomen, burning or itching in the vaginal area, redness or swelling of the vulva, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women that may lead to infertility. |
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Human Papillomavirus |
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common STDs. Like many STDs, there often are no signs, while a few types of HPV cause warts. For women, these warts can appear on the vulva, vagina, cervix and anus. For men, they can appear on the penis, scrotum, anus or anywhere else in the genital area. Some types of HPV are linked to cancer in both women and men. |
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Syphilis |
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Syphilis is caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete. If not treated, syphilis can infect many parts of the body, causing major health problems and even death. Most people have no symptoms but the first sign of syphilis may be a painless, smooth sore at the site of the infection, warts or rash. Syphilis is easily treated in this early stage. |
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Genital Herpes |
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Millions worldwide carry the genital herpes virus. The most common symptom of herpes is a sore on or around the genitals. These sores appear as red spots, bumps or blisters. They can last from a few days to a few weeks. |
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HIV Infection |
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The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV weakens the immune system, which may lead to AIDS. With AIDS, a person’s immune system is so weakened that other life-threatening conditions, such as infections or cancer, can occur. |
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How to Protect Yourself from STDs |
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Know your sexual partners and limit their number, use a latex condom, and avoid risky sex practices.
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