STD

12 Preventable STDs: Pictures, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

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Are you prepared to protect your health from sexually transmitted diseases and infections?

Are you prepared to protect your health from sexually transmitted diseases and infections? Some of these infections are more familiar—you’ve probably heard of chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, and HIV. But many more are less talked about. You can protect yourself and your loved ones from future health problems by understanding these common STDs.

In this article we answer some of your tricky and sometimes uncomfortable questions about STD symptoms and diseases. You will learn why herpes is sometimes considered a sexually transmitted disease, what sexual disease is nicknamed “the clap,” and which kinds of infection can lie dormant for a long time. You will also find information on the best treatments for herpes, HIV, chlamydia and various other sexually-transmitted diseases.

STD or STI?

Some experts prefer the term “STI” (sexually transmitted infection). STIs include all infections that can be transmitted sexually.

Genital Warts (HPV)

Are you prepared to protect your health from sexually transmitted diseases and infections?

It’s not necessary to have sexual intercourse for a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) to harm your health. The human papillomavirus (HPV), the disease that causes genital warts, can be transmitted by close skin-to-skin contact. Some types of HPV cause cervical or anal cancer, and vaccines are available to protect against the most dangerous types. Other HPV types cause genital warts, which can be raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped. HPV can be transmitted even by people who have no visible warts or other symptoms.

HPV Symptoms

Genital warts can be big or small, flat or raised. They generally appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital region, and may be shaped like a cauliflower.

HPV Vaccine

A vaccine to prevent HPV is given in three shots. The second shot is given a month or two after the first shot. The third shot comes six months after the first shot.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends boys and girls be vaccinated at ages 11 or 12.

If they did not get the HPV vaccine as children, women can get the HPV vaccine through age 26. Men can get it through age 21. The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for men through age 26 for men who have sex with men or men with compromised immune systems, including HIV.

Pubic Lice (Crabs STD)

This name refers to the shape of these parasites, which is different from that of body lice.

Pubic lice are colloquially known as “crabs.” This name refers to the shape of these sexually-transmitted parasites, which is different from that of body lice. Pubic lice live in pubic hair and are spread among people during close contact. Pubic lice can be treated with over-the-counter lice-killing medications.

Pubic Lice (Crabs) Symptoms

  • Severe itching
  • Visible crawling lice or eggs attached to pubic hair

Scabies

Scabies is often spread during sexual contact.

Do you know what scabies infections look like? Like pubic lice, scabies are another parasitic STI. This parasite is not necessarily sexually transmitted, since it can affect any area of the skin. However, scabies may be spread during sexual contact.

Scabies Symptoms

  • Extreme itching that is worse at night.
  • The skin appears to have a pimple-like rash, as shown in the above photo.
  • Both the itching and rash may be across the body or limited to the wrist, elbow, armpit, webbing between fingers, nipple, penis, waist, belt-line or buttocks.
  • Tiny blisters (vesicles) and scales may appear.
  • Tiny burrows left by the tunneling of female scabies mites may be visible on the skin. They appear as tiny raised and crooked grayish-white or skin-colored lines.

The only way to prevent this STI is to avoid touching people, as any skin-to-skin contact can spread this highly contagious mite. Condoms, while good at preventing many diseases, will not prevent scabies.

Fortunately, this STI is treatable. Prescription creams can cure a scabies infestation. Protect your health by visiting a doctor if you believe you may have this STI.

Gonorrhea (The Clap)

Gonorrhea is easily transmitted.

Gonorrhea is an easily transmitted disease that affects both men and women. The disease is also termed “the Clap” from the French word for brothel (clapier) and the early treatment of gonorrhea by clapping both hands against the penis or using a heavy object (like a mallet) on the penis to squeeze out pus in the penis (note, these old treatments are not recommended because they can damage the penis and they do not cure the disease). It can harm your health by causing infertility in men and women if it is left untreated. There may be no early symptoms of this common STD. This is what a gonorrhea infection looks like.

Gonorrhea Symptoms

  • Burning during urination
  • Vaginal or urethral discharge
  • Pelvic pain in women
  • Men may experience swelling of the testes and discharge from the penis

In some cases, the symptoms are mild and the condition is mistaken for a UTI or yeast infection. Visit your health care provider if this sounds like your symptoms.

Syphilis

Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics.

Have you seen a syphilis infection? Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics, but many people don’t notice its early STD symptoms. It can play havoc with your health, leading to nerve damage, blindness, paralysis, and even death over time if not treated.

Syphilis Symptoms

  • A round, firm, painless sore on the genitals or anal area (often the first sign)
  • A rash can develop later on the soles of the feet, palms, or other parts of the body
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Hair loss
  • Late-stage syphilis can cause damage to many different organ systems. That’s why early detection is so critical to your health.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a very common STD.

Chlamydia is a very common STD. It can cause infertility if not treated. The symptoms may not be noticed, or they may be vague and nonspecific. Some people experience no health effects at all.

Chlamydia Symptoms

  • Burning or itching of the genitals
  • Discharge
  • Painful urination

Chlamydia infections can also develop in the rectum and throat.

Oral Herpes (Herpes Simplex 1 Virus)

Oral herpes is usually not considered a sexually transmitted disease.

This is what oral herpes looks like. Cold sores or “fever blisters” on the lips are a sign of herpes virus infection, usually caused by the type of herpes virus known as human herpes virus 1, also known as oral herpes.

Oral herpes is usually not considered a sexually transmitted disease. It can be transmitted through kissing or household contact. However, it can also spread to the genitals. (While this type of herpes can be contracted on the genitals, it is different from the disease known as genital herpes). There is no cure for herpes infection, but medications can reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks.

Oral Herpes

  • Itching of the lips or skin around the mouth
  • Burning near the lips or mouth area
  • Tingling near the lips or mouth area
  • Sore throat
  • Swollen glands
  • Painful swallowing
  • A rash may form on your gums, lips, mouth or throat

Symptoms of oral herpes usually appear 1-3 weeks after first infection. When symptoms return, they are typically milder than the initial herpes outbreak.

Genital Herpes (Herpes Simplex 2 Virus)

As with oral herpes, medications can reduce the severity of genital herpes, but there is no cure.

In contrast to oral herpes, genital herpes infections are caused by a different virus known as HSV-2 or HHV-2. The genital herpes virus spreads through direct genital contact and is considered an STD. More than 87% of those infected with genital herpes are unaware of their infection due to very mild or nonexistent symptoms.

Genital Herpes Symptoms

  • Painful, fluid-filled blisters and crusted sores on the genital area, buttocks, thighs, or anus.
  • Mild tingling or shooting pain in the legs, hips, or buttocks may occur hours to days before a genital herpes outbreak.

After the first infection, less severe outbreaks are common in the first year. Outbreaks tend to decrease over time, though the infection may stay in the body indefinitely.

A genital herpes infection can spread to the lips through oral contact. As with oral herpes, medications can reduce the severity of genital herpes, but there is no cure.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads through contact with body fluids and blood, so it can be transmitted through sexual intercourse.

Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads through contact with body fluids and blood, so it can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Hepatitis B infection is also possible through sharing of needles, razors, and toothbrushes. Babies can become infected at birth from an infected mother. It’s possible to go for years without symptoms of this STI.

Hepatitis B Symptoms

  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
  • Over time, scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver cancer can develop.

Although there is no cure, there is a vaccine to help prevent hepatitis B infection.

HIV/AIDS

The HIV virus (AIDS virus) weakens the body's immune system.

The HIV virus (AIDS virus) weakens your body’s immune system. It is spread through sexual contact, needle sharing, or from an infected mother to her baby. There may be no symptoms for years, but a blood test can tell if you have been infected. With appropriate treatment, many serious illnesses can be prevented.

HIV Symptoms

  • Flu-like symptoms 1 to 2 months after first infection, including like swollen lymph nodes, fever, and headaches
  • Chills
  • Rash
  • Night sweats
  • Sore throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Mouth ulcers

AIDS Symptoms

  • Rapid weight loss
  • Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
  • Extreme and unexplained tiredness
  • Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
  • Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
  • Sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals
  • Pneumonia
  • Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids
  • Memory loss, depression, and other neurologic disorders

HIV Testing

There are accurate tests to identify whether or not you have been infected with the HIV virus.

Want to know about HIV testing? There are accurate tests to identify whether or not you have been infected with the HIV virus. These can be done in the clinic or at home with the FDA-approved Home Access test kit. The test can be performed anonymously, with only a number to identify you. However, sometimes people may not test positive in the initial 3-4 weeks to 6 months after infection. This time period is referred to as the “window period” in which antibodies may not have developed enough for a positive test. You can still transmit the virus to others during this time.

HIV/AIDS Treatment Options

While there is no cure for HIV, there are medications that can suppress the amount of virus multiplying inside the body.

While there is no cure for HIV, there are medications that can suppress the amount of virus multiplying inside the body. People take a combination of antiviral drugs in hopes of preventing the infection from advancing to AIDS. Additional treatments can help prevent or fight off serious infections, if the immune system has weakened. While there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, there are highly effective prophylactic (PrEP and PEP) medications that can dramatically reduce a person’s risk. Ask your doctor for more information about PrEP and PEP medications.

Trichomoniasis (“Trich”)

Most affected men have no specific symptoms of trichomoniasis.

Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection (caused by Trichomonas vaginalis) that is spread during sexual contact. It affects both men and women and can be cured with medications. Most affected men have no specific symptoms.

Trichomoniasis Symptoms

  • Men: minor discharge or burning with urination
  • Women: yellowish-green vaginal discharge with a prominent odor, itching of the vaginal area, or painful sex or urination

Symptoms can develop anywhere from 5 to 28 days after contracting the infection.

Chancroid

Chancroid is more common in Africa and Asia.

Chancroid is an STD that is rarely seen in the U.S. It is more common in Africa and Asia. It causes painful lumps in the genital area that can progress to open sores. Antibiotics can cure the infection; chancroid is caused by bacterial infection with Haemophilus ducreyi.

Chancroid Symptoms

  • One or more sores or raised bumps on the genitals. A narrow, red border surrounds the sores. The sores become filled with pus and eventually rupture into a painful open sore.
  • About half the time when untreated, the chancroid bacterial infection spreads to the groin’s lymph glands, causing the groin to enlarge and become hard and painful.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)

Like other chlamydial infections, LGV can be cured by antibiotic treatment.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a type of chlamydial infection, but it is caused by a different type of chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) than the usual chlamydial disease. Like other chlamydial infections, it can be cured by antibiotic treatment.

Early Lymphogranuloma venereum Symptoms (3-12 Days After Exposure)

  • Soft red, painless sores on or near the genitals or anus
  • Similar sores in the throat or mouth following oral sex

Later Lymphogranuloma venereum Symptoms (2-6 Weeks After Exposure)

  • Open sores in the genitals
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the groin
  • Headache
  • Anal sores and rectal discharge or bleeding if the infection was acquired through anal sex
  • Painful urination
  • Constipation
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Pain in lower back/abdomen
  • Pus-filled or bloody diarrhea
  • Fever, chills, joint pain, decreased appetite and fatigue

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

In PID, bacteria spread to the uterus and female reproductive tract.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is not a specific STD. Rather, it is a complication that can develop from various diseases, particularly gonorrhea and chlamydia. In PID, bacteria spread to the uterus and female reproductive tract. Infertility may result if the condition is not treated right away.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Pelvic or low abdominal pain
  • Painful urination
  • Discharge
  • Painful intercourse
  • Light bleeding

Who’s at Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases?

About half of sexually active young adults acquire at least one of these diseases by age 25.

It’s estimated that half of sexually active young adults acquire at least one of these STIs by age 25. In fact, sexual diseases are the most commonly reported type of infection in America. Though more common in teens and young adults, anyone who is sexually active is potentially at risk. The risk is raised by having multiple sex partners. The incidence of some sexually transmitted diseases, including LGV and syphilis, is increasing in men who have sex with men.

Can Virgins Get Sexually Transmitted Diseases?

Many of these diseases can spread through any type of sexual activity.

Many of these diseases can spread through any type of sexual activity. This can include skin-to-skin contact and oral sex. This means that people who have not yet had sexual intercourse can still get infected.

Preventing Infection

Abstinence from any sexual contact is the only absolute way to prevent STIs.

Abstinence from any sexual contact (or skin-to-skin contact) is the only absolute way to prevent STIs. Being in a long-term, monogamous relationship also is a good way to avoid them.

There are also steps you can take to decrease the chance of getting an STD if you are sexually active, including:

  • Asking partners if they have ever been infected.
  • Using condoms.
  • Avoiding sexual activity with a partner who shows STD symptoms.
  • Asking partners to be tested before having sex.
  • Being aware of symptoms and signs of these conditions.

The Limits of Condoms

Condoms can prevent the spread of some STDs.

Condoms can prevent the spread of some STDs, but they aren’t 100% effective. They are less effective at protecting against herpes, syphilis, and genital warts, since these STDs can be transmitted by contact with skin lesions that are not covered by a condom. Condoms also do not protect against crabs and scabies infestations.

How to Tell Your Partner You Are Infected

Tell your partner as soon as possible if you believe you may be infected.

It may be difficult, but it is important to tell your partner as soon as possible if you believe you may be infected. Even if you are being treated, you may still be able to spread the infection. For some diseases, both partners should be treated at the same time.

It can be difficult to share this information, so some people find that preparing a script in advance can be helpful. Here are some facts that can help the conversation go more smoothly:

  • Discovering a sexually transmitted disease is not necessarily evidence of cheating. It may very well have come from either your past relationship or that of your partner.
  • An estimated one in two sexually active people will contract such a condition by the time they reach age 25. Most of these don’t know they have an infection. Many STD symptoms are subtle or don’t even show up when first contracted and may be discovered much later.

It’s normal to be nervous about this topic. But by being bold and taking action, you can actively promote better health for you and your partner.

STDs and Pregnancy

Some STDs can cause premature labor in pregnant women.

Some STDs can cause premature labor in pregnant women, and many STDs can be passed to the baby either during pregnancy or childbirth. So, all pregnant women should be checked for STDs. STDs can cause numerous problems in babies, like low birth weight, stillbirth, nerve problems, blindness, serious infections, and liver problems. Treatment during pregnancy can reduce the risks of these complications and can cure many types of infections.

Can STDs Come Back?

Most treatments don't protect you from developing the STD at a future time.

In most cases, new exposures to STDs that you have already acquired in the past can cause you to get the infection again. Most treatments don’t protect you from developing the STD at a future time. If your partner has not been treated, you may pass the infection back and forth. Without the right precautions, you could acquire a second STD or a recurrence of the same infection. In addition, genital herpes virus infections can be recurrent after a single exposure.

Worst Case Scenario: 5 Things That Can Happen When Your STD Goes Untreated

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Whether it’s due to embarrassment, a lack of symptoms, or a general fear of the unknown, a lot of people avoid getting tested for a sexually transmitted disease (STD). STD rates have skyrocketed following the advent of dating apps, while STD testing prevalence has declined. This has led to nearly 20 million new STD cases each year. The United States spends $17 billionon STD-related healthcare costs annually, but that’s the least of any patient’s worries. Here are some of the most severe complications associated with STDs to give you more than enough reasons to get tested.

STD

Infertility

STDs that are caused by bacteria – including chlamydia and gonorrhea – can be asymptomatic in women. Since women are less likely to show symptoms, they are also less likely to be diagnosed and receive treatment. Left untreated, both of these diseases can result in serious complications among men and women. Female patients who do not seek treatment run the risk of allowing the infection to spread to their uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, which can result in pelvic inflammatory disease. Complications tied to this condition include long-term abdominal pain and an inability to get pregnant.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Pregnant women face the same risks tied to STDs as women who are not pregnant. Complications related to an STD tend to be more severe and life-threatening for a woman and her unborn baby, both of which have a weakened immune system. If STDs caused by bacteria, like syphilis, were to go untreated, then transmission from mother to child is inevitable. Syphilis in pregnant women can result in premature births, stillbirths, and even death. Newborns that do survive develop problems with multiple organs, such as the brain, eyes, heart, and skin.

Brain Damage

Left untreated, syphilis can also spread to the nervous system, especially the brain and spinal cord, where it can cause neurosyphilis. People can develop neurosyphilis 10 to 20 years after they were initially infected with the bacterium, Treponema pallidum. There are five possible types of neurosyphilis: asymptomatic, meningeal, meningovascular, general paresis, and tabes dorsalis. The most common form, asymptomatic, often doesn’t lead to any symptoms or signs of a neurological disease. Meningovascular neurosyphilis, which occurs in around 10 to 12 percent of cases, can result in a stroke.

Cancer And Other Diseases

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STD in the U.S. Most HPV cases go away on their own and rarely cause any complications. However, having HPV can significantly increase a person’s risk for certain cancers, including the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharyngeal. Experts have yet to identify what type of HPV can result in cancer. Patients with weakened immune systems are unable to fight HPV and more likely to develop health problems. Pelvic inflammatory disease caused by chlamydia can also lead to the development of cervical and other gynecological cancers.

Death

Last, but certainly not least, people who unknowingly have an STD and, subsequently, do not get the right treatment are putting their lives at risk. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finished a study back in May 2015 that examined distinctive causes of death by state. In addition to tuberculosis and meningococcal infection, syphilis and HIV ranked highest among all causes of death around the U.S. While STDs that weaken the immune system, like HIV and AIDS, leave our body unable protect itself, others can bring about a life-ending infection. Remember: If you’re sexually active, you should be getting tested for STDs.

Are Those Razor Bumps…Or an STD?

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Three questions that can save you a trip to the gyno.


The skin of your vagina is the most delicate of your entire anatomy. No wonder it’s such a target for issues and infections, from zit breakouts to razor rash to more serious things, such as STDs like herpes and genital warts.

So when a suspicious bump, spot, or lump suddenly shows up down below, how can you determine if it’s okay to blow off…or if it’s something major that might pose a threat to your sexual health? The only way to know 100 percent for sure is to see your gyno for tests. But when that’s not possible or you’re too crazy panicked to get dressed and hightail it to her office, suss things out by taking inventory with these three questions.
1. Does the Bump Hurt—and How Badly?
“If it’s a mild kind of discomfort or it’s more tender to the touch than truly painful, it’s probably a harmless whitehead or an ingrown hair,” says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of ob-gyn at the Yale School of Medicine. “Genital warts don’t cause pain either, but the worry is herpes—the blisters that characterize a herpes outbreak hurt really badly, and they can even burn when you urinate.” If the pain is nuts, your doc needs to check you out.

2. Is the Bump Smooth or Jagged?
A smooth, painless bump jutting out from the skin is probably just a skin tag, says Minkin. Skin tags are super common benign growths that often pops up along body regions where skin rubs against skin—like your groin and upper thighs. “If it juts out the same way yet feels jagged and rough, like cauliflower, it’s more likely to be a genital wart,” says Minkin. Caused by the HPV virus and transmitted via skin-on-skin sexual contact, genital warts won’t lead to anything more serious. But you still need to see your gyno and find out the best way to have it removed so you don’t spread it to anyone else.

3. Is the Bump Closed or Open?
One or several red bumps that are closed and remain closed until they heal are most likely razor bumps, a zit, or a rash triggered by an allergic reaction, says Minkin. If it’s a painless bump just beneath the skin on either side of the vagina, it could be a Bartholin’s cyst, which is caused by a clog in one of the glands that lubricate the vagina. It’s harmless, can be about the size of a pea, and often goes away on its own.

While herpes blisters start out as closed red bumps, within days they open and turn into moist, even oozy lesions before crusting over and healing. If that’s what you’re seeing, your doctor needs to know. She can test you and prescribe meds that will ease (but unfortunately not cure) the infection.

Men Still Drive STD Increases.

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Overall picture mixed in CDC report on sexually transmitted diseases.

 

The CDC’s annual snapshot of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has both good news and bad news for 2013.

On the positive side, the rate of reported cases of chlamydia fell for the first time since national reporting of the disease began, the agency said in the report, “Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2013.”

On the down side, the 2013 rate of reported primary and secondary syphilis cases rose nearly 11% over 2012 — the highest rate since 1995.

The third of the nationally notifiable STDs for which there are federal control programs is gonorrhea, where the incidence rate was slightly down in 2013, after several years of increases.

For all three infections, the agency found, rates among men were increasing, while those for women were falling or stable.

That continues the pattern the CDC reported in last year’s snapshot in which men were driving increased STD rates.

The data come from notifiable disease reporting by state and local STD programs, as well as projects that monitor STDs in various settings, and other national surveys by federal and private organizations, the agency said.

But incomplete diagnosis and reporting means the numbers are an underestimate even for the notifiable diseases, the CDC said, adding that for other STDs, such as human papillomavirus, national estimates aren’t available.

Data on chlamydia show 1,401,906 reported infections from 50 states and the District of Columbia, the report said, corresponding to a rate of 446.6 cases per 100,000 population.

From 1993 through 2011, the rate rose from 178.0 to 453.4 cases per 100,000 population and then was stable in 2012 at 453.3 cases per 100,000. The 1.5% decrease in 2013 represents the first drop since national reporting began.

Women continue to have the most reported infections — some 993,348 cases in 2013 for a rate of 623.1 per 100,000 — at least partly because they are more likely to be screened for the disease, the report said. The rate was a 2.4% decline from 2012.

On the other hand, there were 408,558 cases among males for a rate of 262.6 cases per 100,000 males, up 0.8% from 2012.

The report notes that reported figures for chlamydia, which is mostly asymptomatic, can be affected by changes in the actual incidence, as well as by variation in diagnostic, screening, and reporting practices.

For syphilis, the driving factor is men — and mainly men who have sex with men — the report said.

The annual rate of reported primary and secondary syphilis in the U.S. reached an all-time low in 2000, and rose in the following decade, before decreasing slightly in 2010 and stabilizing in 2011.

But the rate rose in 2012 and again in 2013, when the number of reported syphilis cases increased from 15,667 in 2012 to 17,535 in 2013, an increase of 10.9%. The rate from 5.0 to 5.5 cases per 100,000 population, making both the 2013 case count and rate the highest since 1995.

Among men, the rate of primary and secondary syphilis rose 12% in 2013, compared with 2013 — from 9.2 to 10.3 cases per 100,000 men — while the rate among women remained unchanged at 0.9 cases per 100,000 women.

Men accounted for 91% of all reported primary and secondary disease cases; in the 49 states and the District of Columbia that reported the sex of partners of patients, men who have sex with men accounted for 75% of cases.

In jurisdictions where information for both sex of partner and HIV status was relatively complete — defined as 70% or greater for all cases — 52% of men who have sex with men with syphilis also had HIV. The co-infection rates for men who have sex with women and for women were 9.9% and 5.2%, respectively.

For gonorrhea, there were 333,004 reported cases yielding a rate of 106.1 cases per 100,000 population, which was down 0.6% over 2012. On the other hand, the rate still represented an 8.2% increase over 2009.

Compared with 2012, the 2013 gonorrhea rate among men increased 4.3%, and the rate among women decreased 5.1% — a difference that suggests either increased transmission or increased case ascertainment among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.