STD

Symptoms

Can show up 7 to 28 days after intercourse. Many men and women are asymptomatic (without symptoms). Chlamydia can occur in men and women; men can get NGU.

Women

• Vaginal discharge
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain or burning during urination
• Abdominal pain (sometimes accompanied by fever and nausea)
• Increased need to urinate

Men

• Watery, white discharge (drip) from penis
• Pain or burning during urination
• Increased need to urinate
• Swollen or tender testicles

Treatment

Antibiotics for both partners to prevent reinfection.

Symptoms

Can be visible 1 to 8 months after transmission from infected partner small bumps (dark pink or red) may be seen or felt on or in the infected area. Other times the warts are not visible to the naked eye but you might experience itching or burning around the genitals. In some cases, a person can be infected and never show any symptoms.

Treatment

Even though warts can sometimes go away on their own, most treatments involve the removal of the warts. This can be done through the application of a caustic solution directly on the wart, through cryotherapy (using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart), burning the wart via electrosurgery or surgically removed. HPV is a virus and will remain in your system even when not physically present.

Symptoms

Usually show up 2 to 21 days after having sex with an infected partner. In some instances, no symptoms are present.

Women

• Thick yellow or white vaginal discharge
• Burning or pain with urination or with bowel movements
• Bleeding between periods or abnormal bleeding
• Lower abdominal pain or cramping

Men

• Thick yellow or white penile drip
• Burning or pain with urination or with bowel movements
• Increased frequency of urination

Treatment

Since gonorrhea is a bacteria infection, it is curable with anti-biotics. Usually penicillin is the treatment of choice, but other combinations of antibiotics also work.

Symptoms

Show up 1 to 9 months after contact with the virus.

• Many people do not experience any symptoms or only mild ones
• May include flu-like symptoms that will not go away
• Feeling constantly tired
• Jaundice (yellow tinted skin)
• Dark urine and light-colored bowel movements

Treatment

• Usually consists of rest, nutritious diet and limited alcohol use
• Some infected persons recover completely but any person who is infected with Hepatitis can still infect others without practicing safe sex.
• There is a vaccine for Hepatitis B-contact Cowell Health Center for information

Type I herpes is the cause of cold sores while type II is responsible for sores on or around the genitals. Either virus can infect either area. Transmission of the virus occurs through direct contact with an active sore or genital secretions which contain the virus (blood, semen, vaginal fluid).

Symptoms

Show up between 1 to 30 days (or more) after contact with infected partner.

• Some infected persons may show no symptoms
• Flu-like symptoms
• Small, painful blisters on mouth or genitals (with itching or burning before blisters appear

Treatment

Since herpes is a virus, there is no cure. There are now products on the market that can help alleviate some of the symptoms and their severity.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The HIV virus attacks and weakens the immune system of the infected person causing the body to lose its ability to fight disease and infection.

A person can be infected with HIV for many years before symptoms present themselves. One can feel healthy and look healthy for years (and continue to spread the HIV virus) before becoming sick.

Click here for more information about HIV/AIDS

Caused by a bacterium, this disease can infect most organs or tissues of the body. The process of infection has four stages: primary, secondary, latent and late. It is imperative to seek treatment during the first stage as, if left untreated, syphilis can be fatal.

Symptoms of 1st Stage (primary)

• Appear 3 to 12 weeks after intercourse with infected partner
• Appearance of sores on the mouth, genitals, breasts or finger-sores are painless and reddish brown in color
• Sores will remain for 1 to 5 weeks and then disappear but the infection remains

Symptoms of 2nd Stage (secondary)

• Second set of symptoms occurs 1 week to 6 months after first stage sores have healed
• Rash may appear anywhere on the body
• Flu-like symptoms appear
• Both symptoms go away but the infection remains

Symptoms of 3rd Stage (latent)

• There are no outward physical symptoms, though the infection remains
• The latent stage may last for years

Symptoms of 4th Stage (late)

• Symptoms can appear 10 to 30 years after infection
• Difficulty coordinating movements
• Paralysis or numbness
• Gradual blindness
• Dementia

Late stage syphilis causes irreparable harm to internal organs including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. This damage can be fatal.

Trich can be spread through sexual intercourse but can also be transmitted through wet towels, washcloths and underwear. Left untreated, trich can also cause urinary tract infections.

Symptoms

Women

• Increased vaginal discharge
• Vaginal discharge of a greenish white or yellowish brown color accompanied by itching or burning
• Some women do not experience any symptoms

Men

• Some men can notice a small amount of discharge but most carry the infection without experiencing symptoms

It is important to note that with most sexually transmitted diseases, both partners must be treated to prevent re-infecting one another. In cases of viral STD's there is not treatment and no cure, so safe sex practices are vital to prevent further transmission of the disease.