It’s kind of puzzling
that sexually transmitted diseases are so prevalent—particularly when you
consider that you have to get pretty up close and personal to contract one.
An
STD is characterized by any disease that is spread by one partner to another
via sexual contact, and that can be orally, vaginally, anally, or via hand to
genital contact. Regardless, they are spread when one partner passes the
disease-causing organism on to the other. Obviously, preventing STD
transmission is first and foremost by practicing safe sex. However, if you
think you might have contracted one of the most common STDs, recognizing the
disease is imperative for swift treatment and further spreading.
Here are the 10 most
common STDs and the primary symptoms associated with each infection.
1. Gonorrhea
The Centers for
Disease Control estimate that 700,000 new cases of Gonorrhea, or the “clap”,
crop up every year. This long-term STD that is spread bacterially, affecting a
female’s cervix, a male’s urethra, or the throat in both sexes, which means
that it’s transmitted by vaginal, oral, and anal sex. The symptoms of gonorrhea
are pretty subtle; the most noticeable being burning when urinating or a
yellowish penile discharge in men.
2. Syphilis
Syphilis is a
particularly sneaky STD that caused by a type bacterial infection of the
genital tract, known as Treponema Pallidum. Syphilis is transmitted when direct
contact is made between the small, painless sores on the mouth, rectum, vagina,
or around the genitals in areas not protected by latex condoms. It can also be
transmitted via infected mother to her baby during pregnancy. When there are no
sores, the disease is still present. Syphilis symptoms are rare, however, the
most telling are sores or lesions on and around the genitals, as well as hair
loss, sore throat, fever; headache; and a white patchy skin rash.
3. Hepatitis
Sexually transmitted
hepatitis is hepatitis B (or HBV), which afflicts more than 1.25 million
individuals in the U.S. even though there is a vaccine. If left untreated, a
Hep B infection will scar and damage the liver, causing cirrhosis and liver
cancer. Unfortunately, over half of those affected show no symptoms, but those
who do suffer muscle pain and fatigue, yellowing of the eyes (or jaundice),
nausea, and a distended stomach
4. HIV
HIV is transmitted via
the exchange of body fluids—such as semen, vaginal secretions, blood, or breast
milk. Within a month or 2 of contracting HIV, about 40 to 90-percent of those
afflicted suffer from flu-like symptoms including fever, fatigue, achy muscles,
swollen lymph glands, sore throat, headache, skin rash, dry cough, nausea,
rapid weight loss, night sweats, frequent yeast infections (for women), cold
sores, and eventually, pneumonia. Luckily, many individuals who are diagnosed
early can live a long, productive life with HIV thanks to a combination of
highly active anti-retroviral drug therapy, which prevents to progression to
AIDS.
5. Chlamydia
Like Gonorrhea,
Chlamydia affects a man’s penile urethra and a woman’s cervix. However,
oftentimes those who’ve contracted Chlamydia don’t show symptoms for months or
even years, which explains why it’s the most common and rampant STD. If you do
show symptoms, you’ll feel pain during intercourse and have a discolored, thick
discharge from the vagina or penis. Transmitted via sexual penetration with an
affected partner, using latex condoms can prevent transmission of this curable
STD.
6. Human Papilloma
Virus
Human Papilloma Virus
(or HPV) is currently the most wide spread STD. It affects roughly
three-quarters of the sexually active population and a staggering one-quarter
of sexually active women, which is why there is a North American vaccine to
protect young women from certain types of HPV that are linked to genital warts
and cervical cancer. HPV is transmitted through genital contact—via vaginal and
anal sex, and also oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. Most times HPV
doesn’t show any symptoms until it’s far advanced, but genital warts as well as
RRP, a condition where warts grow in the throat and eventually cause breathing
difficulties are common.
7. Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial Vaginosis,
or BV, is not always considered an STD even though it typically afflicts those
of child-bearing age with multiple or new sex partners. BV occurs when healthy
bacteria in the vagina overgrow and become imbalanced, causing burning and
itching around the vagina and a thick, grey discharge with a strong fishy odor.
Antibiotics will quickly clear up bouts of BV, but it can reoccur, leaving the
victim prone to pelvic inflammatory disease, other STDs, and premature births
(if pregnant).
8. Herpes
Painful sores or
lesions on your mouth or genitals may indicate herpes, a viral STD that comes
in two forms HSV1 (herpes of the mouth) and HSV2 (herpes of the genitals).
Herpes is transmitted skin-to-skin—for instance, from genital to genital, mouth
to genital, or mouth to mouth contact with an infected individual, even when
they don’t have visible sores. Even though herpes symptoms be treated with
antibiotics, the virus never goes away and reoccurs typically 2 to 4 times per
year.
9. Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis, or
“trich”, often masks itself as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis (BV) in
women with similar symptoms—including a thick, grey discharge, offensive
vaginal odor, pain or burning intercourse, and itchiness. A parasitic
trichomonas vaginalis infection affects the urethra and the vagina in women. It
can be transmitted back and forth between sex partners (man to woman and woman
to woman) via vaginal intercourse and contact. However, most men typically
don’t have any symptoms.
10. Crabs
If you feel a
creepy-crawly, itchy sensation in your genitals, you may have crabs (or public
lice). They show themselves as visible eggs or lice in the coarse hair of the
genital region (even if you shave it off), and they can spread to the armpits
and eyebrows if left untreated. Typically transmitted via sexual contact, crabs
can also be passed via contact with infested linens or clothing.
Source: http://www.activebeat.com
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