Sexual Health

Infection

How you get it

Symptoms

Effects

Chlamydia       

Having sex with an infected person.  Most infected people have no symptoms. But, even without symptoms, they can pass on Chlamydia. 
Chlamydia can also be passed during oral or anal sex.

If you are like most people, you will have no symptoms at all.  On the other hand, you could have symptoms such as pain when going to the bathroom or a "discharge" coming from your penis or vagina.  If you are a female, you may have abdominal pain.  This could be from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), caused by Chlamydia.

Complications:
Women - if untreated:
- Infertility; infected cervix; pelvic pain; pelvic inflammatory disease; ectopic pregnancy, arthritis.
.-PID can interfere with your ability to get pregnant.Chlamydia also increases your chance of getting HIV.
- Infants can get pneumonia or become blind.

Men - if untreated:
- Infertility; arthritis; eye infections; urinary infections.
Treatment:
- Yes (antibiotics)
Cure – Yes

Genital Herpes

Having sex with an infected person.Babies can get it during childbirth if their mothers are infected.[3] Most infected people have no symptoms. But, even without symptoms, they can pass on herpes. It can also be passed during oral or anal sex. 

If you are like most people, you will have no symptoms at all.  On the other hand, you could have symptoms such as painful outbreaks of blisters, sores or ulcers. Infected people can also have pain and burning while urinating. Genital herpes infection also increases your chance of getting HIV.

Once you get herpes, you always have herpes. There is no cure. However, some medicines can reduce your symptoms

Gonorrhea

You get it from having sex with an infected person.  Most infected people - especially women - have no symptoms.  But, even without symptoms, they can pass on Gonorrhea.  Babies can get it during childbirth if their mothers are infected. It can also be passed during oral or anal sex

If you are like most people, you will have no symptoms at all.  On the other hand you could have symptoms such as pain when going to the bathroom or a "discharge" coming from the penis or vagina. If you are a female, you may have abdominal pain.  This could be from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

PID can interfere with your ability to get pregnant. Untreated infection can spread to the whole body. This can damage your joints, heart, or brain. Gonorrhea also increases your chance of getting HIV.
Men:
- sterility, swollen testes
- urinary infections
Men and women may have heart, brain and liver infections, arthritis
Treatment:
- Yes (antibiotics)
Cure - Yes, although some strains are resistant

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious viral STI that affects the liver. It is transmitted through blood and body fluids. You can get hepatitis B from having sex with an infected person. Many infected people have no symptoms. But, even without symptoms, they can pass on hepatitis B. You can also get it by sharing needles used for drugs, tattoos or body piercing. Babies can get it from their mothers during pregnancy.

You may have no symptoms at all. On the other hand, you could have symptoms such as weakness, loss of appetite and nausea. Your skin or eyes could look yellow.

Although most people get over their hepatitis B infections, some people have it for life.  Anyone with hepatitis B can infect people exposed to their blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or saliva. Long-term infection can cause liver damage, cancer and death.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a serious viral STI that affects the liver. It is transmitted through blood and body fluids. You can get it by sharing needles used for drugs, tattoos, or body piercing. You can also get it from having sex with an infected person. Many infected people have no symptoms. But, even without symptoms, they can pass it on. Babies can get it from their mothers during childbirth. Many people who have HIV infection also have hepatitis C infection.

You may have no symptoms at all. On the other hand, you could have symptoms such as weakness, loss of appetite and nausea. Your skin or eyes could look yellow.

Most people who get hepatitis C infection have it for life. Long-term infection can cause liver damage, cancer and death. If you also have HIV, your hepatitis C infection may get worse faster.

HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that invades the immune system and slowly destroys it. This reduces your ability to fight off infections and cancer.  Without treatment, people with HIV develop AIDS, which is fatal.

You get HIV from having sex with an infected person. Most infected people have no symptoms. But, even without symptoms, they can pass on HIV. You can also get HIV from contact with infected blood. Your risk is greatly increased if you have multiple sex partners or shoot drugs. Babies can get it from their mothers during pregnancy.

At first, you may just have brief flu-like symptoms (tiredness, fever, aches). You may have no other symptoms for years. Even with no symptoms, you can still pass on the disease during sex.

If you go on to get AIDS, you may get cancers or multiple infections that other people fight off easily.

HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common viral STD in the US. You get HPV from having sex with an infected person. You can also get it from just "fooling around." Most infected people have no symptoms. But, even without symptoms, they can pass on HPV.

If you are like most people, you will have no symptoms at all. Some people with HPV have warts. These are usually in the genital area.

People with HPV can get cervical, penile or anal cancer.  Babies can get HPV infection from their mothers during childbirth. They can even get warts in their throats.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial STD. You get it from having sex with an infected person. You usually get it through contact with sores or infected patches. These can be on the genitals or sometimes even on the mouth. Most infected people don't notice any symptoms, but they can still pass on syphilis. Babies can get it from their mothers during pregnancy.

Syphilis symptoms are often similar to those of other diseases. At first, you may get a painless sore. But this goes away in a few weeks. If you don't get treatment, your syphilis will get worse. Next, you may feel like you have the flu. At this point, you may notice a rash.

If you still don't get treated, syphilis can cause blindness, brain damage, heart damage and death. If you are pregnant, you can have a miscarriage or a stillborn baby. A baby born with syphilis can have serious birth defects. Syphilis also increases your chance of getting HIV.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomonasis is a very common STD. It is caused by a parasite. You get it from having sex with an infected person. Most infected people have no obvious symptoms. But, even without symptoms, they can pass on the infection. Babies can get it during childbirth if their mothers are infected.

If you are like most people, you will have no symptoms at all. On the other hand, you could have symptoms such as itching or a discharge from the penis or vagina. Other symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating and pain during sex. If you are pregnant, you could have a premature baby.Trichomoniasis also increases your chance of getting HIV.

- Premature delivery
- Increased HIV suseptability