Description of Common Diseases

Chancroid

Chancroid is an infection that is caused by a bacteria that can be transmitted during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It can also be transmitted during mutual masturbation. In women, symptoms include raised, red bumps on the labia, cervix, vagina, or rectum. Men may experience raised, red bumps on the penis and genital area. Within a few days, for both men and women, these bumps become filled with pus and eventually rupture, leaving painful, open sores in the genital region. The sores are called ulcers, and can bleed or ooze pus. They may take weeks to heal if untreated.

In half of chancroid infections, the infection also spreads into the lymph glands in the genital region. These glands become hard and swollen, and may fill with pus. They can burst, becoming extremely painful; scarring and infection are other common complications. It can also cause an increased risk for developing other STDs. Chancroid is common in tropical areas of the world, and less common in the United States. Nonetheless, sexually active men and women are still at risk for contracting the disease.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is caused by a bacterium that can be transmitted through vaginal or anal sex. Symptoms include abnormal genital discharge and burning when urinating. In women it can cause lower back or abdominal pain during sex, and in men swelling and pain of the testicles. Chlamydia is considered to be the most common cause of permanent infertility. Advanced stages may require removal of uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

Antibiotics can cure Chlamydia but will not undo damage done to the body prior to treatment. Nearly 4 million new cases are reported annually. Of these, 70% are not aware they are infected. Approximately 40% of sexually active individuals are thought to be carriers. By age 30, approximately 50% of sexually active women may have had Chlamydia at some time during their lives. Latex condoms can help prevent the spread of this STD to a certain degree, but abstinence is the only sure prevention.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium that can be transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. The effects include abnormal discharge from penis, vagina, or anus, and burning or itching during urination. Men have an increase in urination, while women may have abnormal vaginal discharges or no symptoms at all. This STD is a major cause of pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can be fatal or cause permanent infertility. In men the disease may cause sterility as well.

Antibiotics will stop any further damage done by gonorrhea, but will not undo the changes already inflicted. About 650,000 new cases of gonorrhea are acquired each year. Latex condoms can help prevent the spread of this STD to a certain degree, but abstinence is the only sure prevention.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that may be contracted through vaginal, oral, and especially anal sex. Heterosexual intercourse is the most common way to contract it sexually, but shared needles and blood transfusions are also major routes of transmission for the virus. One-third of the infected people have no symptoms; others may experience fever, headache, muscle ache, fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dark urine, abdominal pain, and/or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

There is no cure for Hepatitis B, but the fever symptoms can clear up in 4 to 8 weeks. In order to completely prevent infection, no bodily fluids can be exchanged. There is a vaccine for Hepatitis B that is widely available. Latex condoms can help prevent transmission in people who are sexually active, but will not always prevent infection.

Genital Herpes

Genital Herpes is a virus obtained by skin-to-skin contact of warts in the anus, vagina, or mouth. It causes minor itching, rear, genital, or leg pain, or abnormal vaginal discharge.

There is no known cure for genital herpes. This virus can leave its victims more susceptible to AIDS as it leaves a place for HIV to enter the body. Abstinence is a sure way to prevent infection; and latex condoms will only help to a certain degree as the warts are present in areas not covered by the condom.

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is a virus transmitted through any type of sex, infected blood, sharing needles, during birth, or during breast-feeding. Initially it causes flu like symptoms: fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, or enlarged lymph nodes. It weakens the immune system to the point where other viruses and bacteria can easily take control. Eventually the victim's immune system becomes so compromised that the infected person dies from other infections.

There is no known cure for AIDS, however anti-viral drugs will extend the life of the patient. Prevention means avoiding sex of any sort with an infected person and especially shared needles. Since latex condoms are not completely effective, abstinence the best solution.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Human papilloma virus is transmitted through any type of sex. It creates painless fleshy warts inside the throat, genitals, and anus. HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer, which kills approximately 5,000 American women yearly.

There is no cure, however measures can be taken to shrink or remove the warts via freezing or surgery. Abstinence will prevent infection, and condoms are an ineffective method of prevention.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacteria that is not only transmitted by any type of sex, but can also be spread if the rashes caused by the bacteria touch broken skin of another person. It creates sores called chancres in various places around the body, but tend to be mostly in the genital area. These can change to rashes, sore throat, and loss of hair and swelling of glands throughout the body.

Penicillin is an effective way of killing the bacteria, but most damage done already is irreversible. Syphilis creates an entry point for the AIDS virus, and can do major damage to the heart, brain, eyes, joints, bones, and nervous system. Avoid contact, whether sexually or physical, and it will be nearly impossible to contract this disease.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a bacteria transmitted through physical sexual contact. It is the easiest STD to cure. Symptoms include a frothy dark yellow vaginal discharge, pain in intercourse and urination is common, as well as pain or itching of the genitals. Often infected people have no symptoms at all.

Antibiotics are an effective way of eliminating the infection. Abstaining from intercourse can prevent sexual transmission, and latex condoms as well as other types of condoms will reduce the risk, but it can be obtained through contact with washcloths that the infected person has used.

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