Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Everyone who has sex with another person can get an STD. People with an STD may not even know they have it. Often there are no signs or symptoms.

STD's can cause damage to your body — even death. STD's can be passed to others through contacts with skin, genitals, mouth, rectum, or body fluids.

Symptoms of an STD can range from no symptoms, to mild irritation to severe pain. STD's are caused by tiny living organisms called bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Infections caused by viruses cannot be cured, but symptoms can often be treated.

STDs Include:

• Gonorrhea - a bacteria. 800,000 people in the U.S. are infected annually.
• Chlamydia - a bacteria. About 4 million get infected yearly.
• HPV - human papilloma virus is a virus which causes genital warts. Some strains are associated with cancer or pre cancer of the cervix.
• Syphilis - caused by a bacteria called a spirochete. If not treated in can infect many other parts of the body causing major health problems, even death.
• Herpes - may be the most common of the STD's. Most common symptom is sores around the genital area. It is caused by a virus.
• HIV - a virus that causes AIDS.
• Trichomonas - a microscopic parasite.
• Hepatitis - serious viral infections of the liver that can be fatal.

Condoms are important in preventing the spread of STD's. Unfortunately it is still possible to contract some STD's even with perfect condom use.

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in the Gynecology and Infertility Associates web site should be relied upon for medical education purposes only. It is not intended to replace the independent judgment of a health care provider. The appropriateness of a course of treatment for a patient may vary from the medical information provided herein due to individual conditions and/or complications.