Bacterial & Parasitic Infections
Bacterial and parasitic sexually transmitted infections are curable through treatment with antibiotics. Curable, that is, as long as you see a health-care provider, get tested and treated, follow through on all the medication, avoid sexual contact until cured, and make sure your sexual partner(s) get tested and treated as well.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common STD that can infect both men and women. It can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect both men and women. It is a localized infection that can be contained in the genitals, rectum, or throat. There are an estimated 820,000 new cases of gonorrhea in the United States, and less than half of them are reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Syphilis
Syphilis is an STD that can cause long-term complications if not treated correctly. Symptoms in adults are divided into four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and late syphilis.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis (or “trich”) is a very common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Although symptoms of the disease vary, most women and men who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected.
Viral Infections
Viral sexually transmitted infections especially herpes, hepatitis B and C, and HIV infections, usually persist for life. Antiviral drugs can control but not yet cure all of these infections, except hepatitis C, which can be cured in some people after prolonged treatment.
HIV
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. No effective cure exists for HIV. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
HPV
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). HPV is a different virus than HIV and HSV (herpes). HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives. There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems including genital warts and cancers. But there are vaccines that can stop these health problems from happening
Hepatitis
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus, but can also be caused by heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Herpes
Genital herpes is an STD caused by two types of viruses. The viruses are called herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2.