- AIDS
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Herpes
- Salmonella
- Crabs
- Genital Warts
- Hepatitis
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Scabies
- Urethritis
- Vaginitis
- Yeast Infections
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are serious, sometimes painful, and can cause a lot of damage.
Some STD infect your sexual and reproductive organs. Others (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis) cause general body infections.
Sometimes you can have an STD with no signs or symptoms. Other times, the symptoms go away on their own. Either way, you still have the STD until you get treated.
A few STD cannot be cured. But most STD can be cured if you get treated.
STDs are spread during sexual activity (vaginal, anal and oral sex). Some STD’s (HIV and hepatitis B) are also spread by contact with infected blood.
Most STD germs need to live in warm, moist areas. That’s why they infect the mouth, rectum and sex organs (vagina, vulva, penis and testes).
If you think you might have an STD, get checked out. Don’t just hope the STD will go away. It won’t!
Most county health departments have special STD clinics. Private doctors also treat STDs.
If you don’t know where to get help, call your local health department for information. Your case will be kept private.
You may feel embarrassed about having an STD. It may be hard for you to go to a doctor or clinic for help.
But you must get treatment for the STD, even if it is hard thing for you to do. This is the only way you will get well.
Most STDs can be treated with antibiotics. Do exactly what your doctor tells you. Be sure to use all of your medicine.
You also must tell your sexual partner(s). If they aren’t treated, they can get sick. They can spread the STD. They might even give it to you again!