STD Name

What is it?

Symptoms

How is it spread?

Treatment

AIDS/HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system resulting in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

• Fever
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Tiredness
• Swollen lymph glands
• Nausea
• Flu-like symptoms
• Often no symptoms with early HIV infection.

Exchange of bodily fluids with an infected person, namely:

• blood
• semen
• vaginal fluids

Happens through:

• sex
• sharing needles
• Infected woman passes virus to child before or during birth, or through breast milk.

No known cure

Chancroid

Highly contagious STD caused by bacteria called Haemophilus Ducreyi (or H. Ducreyi).

• Genital ulcers or sores
• Swollen, painful lymph glands in groin area

• Sexual transmission through skin-to-skin contact with an open sore
• Non-sexual transmission when contact is made with pus-like fluid from an ulcer.

Antibiotics

Chlamydia

Bacterial infection, can scar fallopian tubes & cause infertility.

• Discharge from penis or vagina
• Pain or burning during urination
• Pain in abdominal area
• Often no signs

• Sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected partner.

Antibiotics

Crabs (Pubic Lice)

Parasites or bugs that live in pubic hair.

• Intense itching in genital area
• Visual evidence of crabs

• Close personal contact with someone who has crabs
• Sharing of personal items infested with crabs or crab eggs.

Prescription and over-the-counter medication.

Genital Warts/Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Virus that affects the skin in the genital area and female's cervix.

• Small, bumpy growths on, in, or around sex organs or anus
• Sometimes cannot be seen at all.

• Skin to skin sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a person who has genital warts.

No known cure, only preventive treatment.

Gonorrhea

Bacterial infection of the penis, vagina or anus.

• Pain or burning during urination
• Pus-like discharge
• Sometime no signs.

Sexual contact (oral, anal, vaginal) with an infected person.

Antibiotics

Hepatitis B

A disease that affects the liver.

• Tiredness
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite/weight
• Aching muscles/joints
• Fever
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Dark colored urine
• One or more symptoms or none at all.

• Contact with blood, semen or vaginal fluids of infected person
• Needle sharing
• During birth

No known cure

Herpes

Recurrent skin condition that can cause skin irritations in the genital region (anus, vagina, penis).

• Pain or burning during urination
• Flu-like symptoms
• Small red bumps that then turn into fluid-filled blisters
• Blisters dry and heal within one to three weeks
• Herpes remains even after blisters heal
• Blisters may return
• Sometimes there are no symptoms.

• Sexual contact (oral, anal, vaginal) with infected person
• Kissing or touching body parts that are infected
• Herpes can be spread after blisters are healed

No known cure.

Molloscum Contagiosum

Skin disease caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) usually causing one or more small lesions/bumps.

Lesions present on:

• thighs
• buttocks
• groin
• lower abdomen
• external genital area
• anal region

• Sexual contact
• Contact with objects that come in touch with lesions (i.e. towels and clothing)

Lesions can be surgicallyremoved and/or treated with a chemical agent

Non Gonococcal Urethritis(NGU)

Infection of the urethra caused by pathogens including: clamydia trachomatis and herpes simplex virus.

• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• Burning or pain when urinating
• Itching
• Irritation
• Tenderness
• Underwear stain
• Abdominal pain
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding.

• Sex (vaginal, anal or oral) involving direct mucous membrane contact with infected person

Antibiotics.

PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)

Serious infection in upper genital tract/reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries) of a female. PID can be sexually transmitted or naturally occurring.

• Dull pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen
• Burning or pain when urinating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bleeding between menstrual periods
• Increased or changed vaginal discharge
• Pain during sex
• Fever
• Chills
• No symptoms or symptoms too mild to notice

Most common causes of PID are two STDs:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea

• Antibiotics
• Antimicrobial agents to treat gonorrhea, Chlamydia, streptococci and other bacteria

Scabies

Curable skin disease caused by the parasite, Sarcoptes scabiei.

• Itching within four to six weeks after infection.

Direct contact with:

• Infested people
• Bed linens
• Clothing
• Furniture

Latex condoms not considered effective against scabies transmission.

Single topical insecticide treatment

Syphilis

Bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body and affect the heart, brain, nerves.

• 1st stage: sore appears at site of infection
• 2nd stage: after sore heals, skin rash and flu-like symptoms appear.
• Symptoms will go away, but disease remains

• Sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral) with infected person

Antibiotic medication. If left untreated syphilis can lead to very severe health problems and even death.

Vaginitis/ Trichomoniasis

Swelling, itching, burning or infection in the vagina caused by several different germs.

• Strong fishy smell, especially after sex
• White, grey or thick, “cottage cheese” discharge
• pain, itching, burning, or redness around the vagina
• Smell like baking bread
• Pain during sex and/or when urinating

• Sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral) with infected person

Antibiotics or antifungals, depending on which germ is causing the infection