Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Symptoms of vaginitis, such as itching, burning, and irritation, can be caused by infection with viruses and bacteria that are spread through sexual contact. A woman with this type of infection can pass it to her sexual partner. Although men have symptoms of these types of infections less often than women do, men can still spread the infection to their sexual partners. Using condoms during sex can help prevent the spread of these infections. See your doctor right away if you notice any type of growth or sore in the genital area or if you have any of these symptoms.

• Herpes Simplex Virus
  Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD). It is caused by the herpes simplex viruses (HSV). There are 2 types of HSV, and both can cause genital herpes.
• Human Papillomavirus and Genital Warts
  Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. Experts estimate that as many as 24 million Americans are infected with HPV.
• Gonorrhea
  An estimated 800,000 cases of gonorrhea occur annually in the United States. Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium, and is most commonly spread during sexual intercourse...
• Chlamydia
  Chlamydial infections are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (diseases spread through sexual contact) in the United States today. Although a chlamydial infection can cause serious problems such as infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease if it is not treated, these problems can be avoided if it is cured...
• Syphilis
  Syphilis, once a cause of devastating epidemics, can be effectively diagnosed and treated with antibiotic therapy. Although treatment is available, the early symptoms of syphilis can be very mild, and many people do not seek treatment when they first become infected...
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
  As the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues grow, more women are becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Because the number of women who are becoming infected is increasing, it is important for you to know how to prevent HIV infection...

Source: Patient education material from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology was used as a source of information to develop the content for this topic.

Other related topics

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  Aside from AIDS, the most common and serious complication of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among women is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the upper genital tract. Untreated, PID causes scarring and can lead to infertility, tubal pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and other serious consequences...

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