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Syphilis
What is syphilis?
Syphilis (say: "siff-uh-liss") is a serious infection passed from one person to another during sexual contact. It's caused by a bacteria (germ). You could get syphilis by touching the blood or sores of a person who has syphilis, especially sores on the person's mouth, penis, vagina or asshole.
What are the symptoms of syphilis?
The first stage of syphilis is called primary syphilis and usually occurs 10 days to 3 months after exposure. The first sign of syphilis is a painless, open red sore where the germ entered the body. That painless sore could be on the penis, around or inside the vagina, on the lips or in the mouth, or on the asshole or inside the rectum. Because syphilis sores do not hurt, you might not notice it. The sore goes away after 3 to 6 weeks even without treatment; however, the germ is still in the body.
If early syphilis is left untreated, it spreads from the sore into the blood. When syphilis gets into the bloodstream, it can move into the secondary stage and cause many problems. The most common sign is a rash. The rash is usually reddish-brown and can occur anywhere on the body. The rash is commonly seen on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. The rash appears 2 to 10 weeks after the appearance of the painless open sore. Other signs of secondary syphilis include fever, swollen lymph glands, body aches, sores in the mouth, patchy hair loss and fatigue.
After recovering from the secondary stage of syphilis and again left untreated, the disease can move into the latent stage. This stage produces no symptoms, but the infection is still present in the body.
After many years, people who have syphilis and don't get treatment may develop the fourth stage of syphilis, called tertiary syphilis. This stage can cause serious problems in the brain and spinal cord. Syphilis may even damage the heart and other organs. At this stage, people can even die from syphilis.
Some people who have syphilis don't have any signs of infection. In other people, the signs may be very mild. They might not even know they have it. But even if they have no signs or the signs go away on their own, the infection is still alive and can cause serious health problems many years later.
How does my doctor know I have syphilis?
A simple blood test can tell for sure if you have syphilis. If you have any of the above symptoms, go see a doctor as soon as possible and the doctor may treat you immediately. If you have had sex with someone who had an open sore or rash like the one described above, a doctor may go ahead and treat you to stop the infection from spreading inside your body.
How did I get syphilis?
Syphilis is almost always passed through sexual contact. It also can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy. Syphilis can often be avoided through safer sex practices, such as using condoms and using "dental dams" during oral sex. Syphilis sores have to be covered up with a bandage to keep the infection from spreading.
Should I tell my sex partner I have syphilis?
Absolutely! You should definitely tell your partner that you have syphilis. That way, your partner can find out if he or she also has syphilis. If you're not comfortable telling your sex partner, your doctor or an employee of a community-based organization specializing in HIV and STDs can help you. In most places, the local health department can tell your sex partners that they may have syphilis and should get a test. And, your name is always kept a secret.
What is the treatment for syphilis?
Syphilis can be cured with penicillin. The penicillin is given as a shot or a series of shots, depending on the stage of syphilis. If you're allergic to penicillin, be sure to tell your doctor. If you have an advanced case of syphilis, you may need stronger treatment. You may get shots of penicillin every day for 10 days. This can be done in the doctor's office or at a clinic. A few people have to go to the hospital to get penicillin put into their veins. If you're pregnant, it's very important to get treated right away. Syphilis can cause birth defects and even death in an unborn baby.
How will I know my syphilis has been cured?
After your treatment, your doctor will ask you to come back several times for blood tests. These tests will show if the medicine killed all the syphilis bacteria.
What is the connection between syphilis and HIV?
Syphilis can be passed from one person to another during sex. If you got syphilis, you could also have gotten HIV or another sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. If you have a syphilis sore, it's easier for HIV infection to get into your body through the sore. If you have syphilis, you should be tested for HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. A simple exam and some lab tests can show if you have these infections. If you have HIV and syphilis, make sure your doctor knows about the HIV, so you can get the right treatment and continued care.
Chlamydia
What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia (say "cla-mid-ee-ah") is a bacteria (germ) men and women catch through sexual contact with someone who is infected. It can also be given to babies by mothers who have chlamydia during their pregnancy. Chlamydia is the most common STD in the United States.
What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
Often, chlamydia causes no symptoms at all. Many people are not even aware that they are infected. When symptoms do occur, they can include:
-Painful urination (often a burning sensation)
-Vaginal discharge in women – discharge is usually a clear to whitish color
-A discharge from the penis in men – discharge is usually a clear to whitish color
-Pain during sexual intercourse
-Pain in the lower abdomen
-Pain in the testicles in men
-Irregular periods in women
-Trouble getting pregnant
How could I get this infection?
You could get chlamydia through sexual contact with a person who has chlamydia. You are at an increased risk of catching chlamydia if you have had sex with a new partner, had many sex partners, had a partner who has had many sex partners or if you do not use a condom every time you have sex.
How will my doctor know if I have chlamydia?
Your doctor may perform a swab test of the infected area or order a urine test to determine if you have chlamydia. Your doctor may check you for chlamydia when you are pregnant, even if you have no signs of the infection. Chlamydia is harmful to newborns and can cause pneumonia or an eye infection (that could lead to blindness).
How is chlamydia treated?
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Your doctor may want to obtain a lab test to see if you have the infection. Your doctor may decide to give you antibiotics while waiting for the test results. If the results show you have chlamydia, it is important to tell anyone you have had sex with that you have this infection, so they can be treated too.
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to antibiotics and if there is any chance you might be pregnant. Be sure to finish all your antibiotics and do not have sex until both you and your sex partner(s) have finished taking the antibiotics. If you get a fever or bad stomach pain while taking the antibiotics, let your doctor know right away.
What can happen if chlamydia is not treated?
If chlamydia is left untreated, it can spread to different parts of your body and do additional damage. If chlamydia spreads to the eyes, it can cause eye infections and blindness. In women, the infection can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes. The infection can scar these areas and lead to infertility or an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus). If an infected mother transfers the infection to her baby, it can cause pneumonia or an eye infection that could result in blindness. In men, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and prostate. This can cause swelling, painful urination, fever and pain in the lower back.
How can I prevent chlamydia?
-Know the people you have sexual contact with.
-Limit the number of people you have sexual contact with.
-Always use a condom.
-Women should also avoid douching because it reduces the amount of good bacteria in the vagina and may increase the risk of infection.
Gonorrhea
What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea (say "gone-ah-ree-ah") is a bacteria (germ) men and women catch through sexual contact with someone who is infected. It can also be given to babies by mothers who have gonorrhea during their pregnancy. Gonorrhea is sometimes also known as "the clap". This name may seem a bit strange but is has actually been around since 1587. It comes from the French word "clapoir" which was commonly used to describe gonorrhea in the late sixteenth century.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
Often, gonorrhea causes no symptoms at all. In fact, as much as 75% of women infected with gonorrhea will not have any symptoms. Many people are not even aware that they are infected. When symptoms do occur, they can include:
-Painful urination (often a burning sensation)
-Vaginal discharge in women – discharge is usually a yellowish to greenish color
-A discharge from the penis in men – discharge is usually a yellowish to greenish color
-Pain during sexual intercourse
-Pain in the lower abdomen
-Pain in the testicles or swollen testicles in men
-Irregular periods in women
-Trouble getting pregnant
Gonorrhea can also be found in the throat, transmitted thru oral sex, and cause a sore throat. Gonorrhea transmitted thru anal sex can cause discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms.
How could I get this infection?
You could get gonorrhea through sexual contact with a person who has gonorrhea. You are at an increased risk of catching gonorrhea if you have had sex with a new partner, had many sex partners, had a partner who has had many sex partners or if you do not use a condom every time you have sex. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African Americans.
How will my doctor know if I have gonorrhea?
Your doctor may perform a swab test of the infected area or order a urine test to determine if you have gonorrhea. Your doctor may check women for gonorrhea when they are pregnant, even if they have no signs of the infection. Gonorrhea is harmful to newborn babies and can cause pneumonia or an eye infection that could lead to blindness.
How is gonorrhea treated?
Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Your doctor may want to obtain a lab test to see if you have the infection. Your doctor may decide to give you antibiotics while waiting for the test results. If the results show you have gonorrhea, it is important to tell anyone you have had sex with that you have this infection, so they can be treated too.
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to antibiotics and if there is any chance you might be pregnant. Be sure to finish all your antibiotics and do not have sex until both you and your sex partner(s) have finished taking the antibiotics. If you get a fever or bad stomach pain while taking the antibiotics, let your doctor know right away.
What can happen if gonorrhea is not treated?
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in men and women. In women, untreated gonorrhea is a common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to long-lasting, chronic pelvic pain and even infertility. In men, untreated gonorrhea can lead to a painful condition affecting the testicles and infertility.
How can I prevent gonorrhea?
-Know the people you have sexual contact with.
-Limit the number of people you have sexual contact with.
-Always use a condom.
-Women should also avoid douching because it reduces the amount of good bacteria in the vagina and may increase the risk of infection. STDs Caused by Viruses
Sexually transmitted diseases caused by viruses can be treated but are not curable. It is important that sex partners are tested.
The three STDs caused by viruses are:
-Herpes
-Genital Warts
-Hepatitis
Genital Warts
What are genital warts?
Genital warts may be small, flat, flesh-colored bumps or tiny, cauliflower-like bumps. In men, genital warts can grow on the penis, near the asshole, or between the penis and the scrotum. In women, genital warts may grow on the inside or outside of the vagina and on the cervix. Genital warts vary in size and may even be so small that you can't see them. They can lead to cancer of the cervix in women or cancer of the penis in men. They can also lead to oral and anal cancer.
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many kinds of HPV. Not all of them cause genital warts.
What is human papillomavirus (HPV)?
Human papillomavirus (also called HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. There are many types of HPV. Some types cause genital warts, while other types don't cause any symptoms. More aggressive forms of HPV are connected with cancer of the cervix or, less often, cancer of the penis, anus or mouth.
How do you get genital warts (HPV)?
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The most common way to get HPV is by having oral, vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HPV. Just because you can't see warts on your partner doesn't mean he or she doesn't have HPV. The infection can have a long incubation period. This means that months, even years, can pass between the time a person is infected with the virus and the time a person notices genital warts. Sometimes, the warts may be where you can't see them – inside the vagina, rectum or on the surface of the cervix.
How can I prevent genital warts (HPV)?
The only sure way to prevent genital warts is to not have sex. If you are sexually active, having sex only with a partner who doesn't have HPV and only has sex with you will lower your risk of getting genital warts. Using condoms may prevent you from catching HPV from someone who has it. However, condoms can't always cover all of the affected skin, which puts you at risk of catching it.
How are genital warts diagnosed?
If you notice warts in your genital area, see your doctor. Your doctor may be able to diagnose the warts just by examining you. For women, a Pap smear can help detect changes on the cervix that genital warts can cause. Women should have a Pap smear once a year. When you have a Pap smear, the doctor scrapes some cells from your cervix and looks at them under a microscope. You may not know that your cervix is infected with HPV until a Pap smear shows abnormal cells. Similar tests are done to test for abnormal cells on the anus or in the mouth, but these tests are available at all doctor’s offices or clinics.
Can genital warts be treated?
Yes. Genital warts must be treated by a medical professional. Do not try to treat the warts yourself, especially with chemicals you can buy over-the-counter to remove warts that you would find on your hands. These chemicals are not supposed to be used for genital warts, as they can irritate the skin. The warts can be removed by a medical professional, but the viral infection itself can't be cured. The virus goes on living inside your skin. This is why the warts often return after they have been removed. You may need to have them removed more than once.
How are genital warts removed?
One way to remove the warts is to freeze them. This is called cryotherapy.
The warts can also be taken off with a laser.
A treatment called the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) can be used to remove the warts. With this method of removal, a sharp instrument shaped like a loop is passed underneath the wart and the wart is cut out of the skin.
Special chemicals can be used to remove the warts. These chemicals dissolve warts in the genital area. They may have to be applied to the area a number of times over a period of several weeks before the treatment is complete.
Chemicals you can buy at the store to remove warts from your hands should not be used for genital warts. They can make your genital skin very sore.
What if I don't get genital warts treated?
Genital warts can grow if you do not get them treated. If you are sexually active, you also risk infecting your partner. Certain kinds of HPV can cause abnormal cells to grow on the cervix. Sometimes, these cells can become cancerous if left untreated. Other kinds of HPV can cause cancer of the vulva, vagina, mouth, anus or penis.
Genital Herpes
What is genital herpes?
Genital herpes (say: her-pees) is a very contagious STD caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are many types of HSV. One type of HSV also causes cold sores on the mouth. Symptoms of genital herpes – called an outbreak – are painful blisters anywhere in the genital area including the penis, vagina, asshole, and thighs. Many people feel numbness and/or a tingling sensation before the blisters appear. These blisters break open and turn into sores. Herpes is easily transmitted to others during an outbreak.
Who gets genital herpes?
Anyone who is sexually active can get genital herpes. You may get genital herpes if you have sex with an infected person. You can also get genital herpes if you have oral sex with someone who has cold sores. Many people who are infected with herpes do not show any signs or symptoms. You can still be infected even if your partner doesn’t have an open sore, or any signs or symptoms of genital herpes.
Herpes is spread through skin-to-skin contact. It can be spread from one part of the body to another, such as from the genitals to the fingers, to the eyes or other parts of the body. Herpes can also be spread from a mother to her baby when she gives birth.
How can I prevent genital herpes?
If you are sexually active, be sure to use a condom every time you have sex, even if your partner doesn’t show symptoms of genital herpes. Condoms that cover the infected area can help reduce the risk of transmission. However, condoms may not cover all of the affected area, so you should avoid sex with partners who have an outbreak. Do not have oral sex with someone who has cold sores. Ask your partner if he or she has ever had a herpes infection or been tested.
What are the symptoms of genital herpes?
During the first outbreak (called primary herpes), some people experience flu-like symptoms such as body aches, fever and headache. Most people who have herpes infection will have outbreaks of sores and symptoms from time to time.
A few days after you are exposed to the virus, herpes sores usually form around the genital area. The sores usually start as one or more groups of tiny, clear blisters with a red base. When they break open, they form pink or red sores that usually crust over and heal within 2 to 12 days. The blisters are typically in clusters, but you might just have one blister. Other symptoms of genital herpes may include:
-Painful sores in the genital area
-Sore lymph nodes in the groin area
-Vaginal discharge in women
-Painful urination
-Itching
Sometimes, people who are infected with herpes do not show any signs or symptoms after their first outbreak heals. Some people may not be aware they have herpes because they show no symptoms or believe their symptoms to be caused by some other problem. Yet, they still carry the virus and can transmit it to other people.
How is genital herpes diagnosed?
Your doctor can do tests to determine if you are infected. Some of the tests may include:
-A visual examination of the infected area
-Scraping the tissue of the possibly infected area and sending it to a laboratory
-A blood test to see if you have ever been exposed to the virus
-How is genital herpes treated?
There is no cure for genital herpes. Once you are infected, the virus remains in your body for the rest of your life even if you never experience another outbreak. But your doctor can give you medicine to prevent outbreaks and to help outbreaks clear up more quickly. The medicine is typically a pill you take for 7-10 days. You can also do certain things to relieve your symptoms and reduce the chances of infecting your partner:
-Wear loose clothes
-Keep the genital area clean and dry
-Try not to touch the sores and if you do touch them, wash your hands with warm soap and water right away
-Avoid having sex during an outbreak
Many people infected with herpes notice outbreaks during stressful times in their lives. This is because stress can weaken the immune system and trigger an outbreak. So reducing stress can help prevent outbreaks from occurring.
What can I expect?
Most people who have herpes will experience some outbreaks. But over time, outbreaks tend to become milder and sores may heal faster. If you have genital herpes, you may experience a range of emotions. You may feel embarrassed or guilty. You may feel like your sex life has been ruined forever. But remember that you are one of millions of people who has herpes. Genital herpes symptoms get better with time and treatments can help alleviate your condition.
SAFER SEX
How to use male condoms
Put the condom on before any contact is made with your partner.
Squeeze the tip of the condom and place it on the head of the erect penis. Unroll the condom over the penis all the way to the base. (Uncircumcised men should pull back their foreskin before unrolling.) Leave about 1/2 inch of space in the tip so semen can collect there.
Use water-based lubrication on the outside of the condom to prevent friction or tearing the condom. Never use oil-based lubrication like hand lotion, Vaseline, or baby oil.
Pull out after ejaculating and before the penis gets soft. To pull out, hold the rim of the condom at the base of the penis to make sure it doesn't slip off.
Throw away the condom in the trash can. Flushing condoms down the toilet can cause plumbing problems.
Don not reuse condoms.
How to use female condoms for vaginal sex
Follow the directions on the condom package for correct placement. Be sure the inner ring goes as far into the vagina as it can. The outer ring stays outside the vagina.
The man should not wear a condom on his penis.
Guide the penis into the female condom.
After sex, remove the condom before standing up by gently pulling it out.
Do not reuse condoms.
How to use female condoms for anal sex:
Female condoms can be used for anal sex, but you won’t find directions on the package for this.
Remove the inner ring from the female condom and throw it away.
Insert the condom in the asshole and push it inside the rectum.
The man should not wear a condom on his penis.
Use plenty of water-based lubrication to prevent friction.
Guide the penis into the female condom.
After sex, remove the condom before standing up by gently pulling it out. |
