Chlamydia

What gives it to you:

Chlamydia trachomatis (bacteria)

Symptoms:

May be asymptomatic, but usually painful and frequent urination, and abnormal discharge from the vagina and penis.

Treatment:

Antibiotics such as azithromycin and doxcycline

Complications:

In women, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility, in men, swollen or painful prostate or testicles, infertility

Gonorrhea

What gives it to you:

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (bacteria)

Symptoms:

Women have may have abnormal vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, painful urination. Men have frequent and painful urination, and urethral discharge.

Treatment:

Antibiotics such as Cefixime , Ceftriaxone, or Ciprofloxacin

 Complications:

In women, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility. In men, swelling of the testicles or penis, infertility. Both sexes may suffer from arthritis, skin problems and other organ infections caused by the spread of gonorrhea within the body.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

What gives it to you:

Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Symptoms:

Symptoms including marked weight loss, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, fever, symptoms from opportunistic diseases. Keep in mind there are NO specific symptoms for HIV and that AIDS can only be diagnosed by a physician.

Treatment:

A combination of antiviral and protease inhibitors (HAART) have shown to decrease the amount of virus in the blood and therefore decrease the risk of acquiring opportunistic infections. No known cure.

Complications:

Opportunistic infections such as Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, very high mortality rate.

Genital Herpes

What gives it to you:

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2

Symptoms:

Very often there are none.  The most common symptom is a cluster of blistery sores - usually on the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, or anus.

The first episode of symptoms of a first infection of genital herpes is called "primary herpes." Symptoms may include:

- Blisters                  - Open Sores

- Pain                       - Itching

- Burning feelings   - Inability to urinate

Treatment:

There is no vaccine that prevents this disease from occurring. Oral anti-viral medications such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir have been developed to effectively treat herpes infections. These medications can be used to treat an outbreak or can be used for suppressing herpes recurrences. Lower doses may be helpful in reducing the number of herpes attacks in people with frequent outbreaks.

Complications:

Reoccurrence, spread of the virus to other organs of the body in immunosuppressed people

Genital Warts

What gives it to you:

A specific type of Human Papilloma virus (HPV)

Symptoms:

Genital warts are growths or bumps that appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin or thigh.  They may be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large. Some cluster together forming a cauliflower-like shape. In addition, they are often flesh-colored and painless. Only rarely do they cause symptoms such as itching, pain, or bleeding.

Treatment:

Depending on factors such as their size and location, genital warts are treated in several ways.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved imiquimod cream, which the patient can apply to the affected area, to treat genital warts. Other treatments include a 20 percent podophyllin solution, which the patient can apply to the affected area and later wash off, and a 0.5 percent podofilox solution, which also is applied to the affected area, but is not washed off. Pregnant women should not use podophyllin or podofilox because they are absorbed by the skin and may cause birth defects in babies. The doctor may also prescribe 5 percent 5-fluorouracil cream, which also should not be used during pregnancy, or trichloroacetic acid (TCA).

Small warts can be removed by cryosurgery (freezing), electrocautery (burning), or laser treatment. Occasionally, surgery is needed to remove large warts that have not responded to other treatment.

Some doctors use the antiviral drug alpha interferon, which they inject directly into the warts, to treat warts that have recurred after removal by traditional means. The drug is expensive, however, and does not reduce the rate of recurrence.

Complications:

Genital warts sometimes cause problems during pregnancy and delivery. Because of hormone changes in the body during pregnancy, warts can grow in size and number, bleed, or make delivery more difficult. Very rarely, babies exposed to HPV during birth may develop warts in the throat.  Despite these risks, a woman with genital warts does not need to have a caesarean-section delivery unless warts are blocking the birth canal.

Syphilis

What gives it to you:

Treponema pallidum

Symptoms:

Classic blister (chancre) at site of exposure is a painless and hard. It usually is found on the part of the body exposed to the infected partner's ulcer, such as the penis, vulva, or vagina. A chancre also can develop on the cervix, tongue, lips, or other parts of the body. 3 to 6 weeks after the chancre appears, may have a highly variable skin rash, or swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment:

Bensathine penicillin G; alternative is doxycycline.

Complications:

Syphilis bacteria frequently invade the nervous system during the early stages of infection. Approximately 3 to 7 percent of persons with untreated syphilis develop neurosyphilis, a sometimes serious disorder of the nervous system. In some instances, the time from infection to developing neurosyphilis may be up to 20 years.

Some people with neurosyphilis never develop any symptoms. Others may have headache, stiff neck, and fever that result from an inflammation of the lining of the brain. Some people develop seizures. People whose blood vessels are affected may develop symptoms of stroke with numbness, weakness, or visual problems.

Pediculosis Pubis (pubic lice)

What gives it to you:

Phthirius publis (pubic or crab louse).

Symptoms:

The primary symptom of infestation is itching in the pubic area. Scratching may spread the lice to other parts of the body; thus, every effort should be made to avoid touching the infected area, although this may be difficult.

Treatment:

Lotions and shampoos that will kill pubic lice are available both over the counter and by prescription. Creams or lotions containing lindane, a powerful pesticide, are most frequently prescribed for the treatment of pubic lice.

Complications:

Skin abrasions, swollen lymph nodes, inflammation and drainage of the skin

Scabies

What gives it to you:

Sarcoptes scabiei – a female mite burrows under skin to deposit eggs

Symptoms:

Scabies causes intense itching, which often becomes worse at night. Small red bumps or lines appear on the body at sites where the female scabies mite has burrowed into the skin to lay her eggs. The areas most commonly affected include the hands (especially between the fingers), wrists, elbows, lower abdomen, and genitals. The skin reaction may not develop until a month or more after infestation. During this time, a person may pass the disease unknowingly to a sex partner or to another person with whom he or she has close contact.

Treatment:

As with pubic lice, lindane is an effective treatment for scabies. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before using this product. Nonprescription remedies such as sulfur ointment also are available. Sulfur is fairly effective but may be objectionable because of its odor and messiness. Itching can persist even after the infestation has been eliminated because of lingering skin irritation. A hydrocortisone cream or ointment or a soothing lotion may provide relief from itching.

Complications:

If left untreated, a secondary skin infection can occur because of intense scratching.  The infestation may last for years without treatment.

Candida/Vaginal Thrush (not a true STD)

What gives it to you:

Candida (yeast fungus)

Symptoms:

vaginal itching or discomfort, thick, clumpy vaginal discharge, redness and/or swelling of vaginal area, stinging or burning during urination

Treatment:

Anti-fungal cream or vaginal suppositories

Moluscoum Contagiosum

What gives it to you:

molluscum contagiosum virus

Symptoms:

This is a skin infection that creates firm flesh-covered bumps that appear on virtually any region of the body, but especially on the genital areas or thighs when transmitted sexually.  It is identifiable because the doughnut shaped bumps have a sunken center containing a whitish, waxy substance.  The lesions may begin as small bumps which can develop over a period of several weeks into larger sores.  The lesions may cause itching or tenderness in the area, but in most cases the lesions cause few problems.  Lesions can last from 2 weeks to 4 years -- the average is 2 years. 

Treatment:

Treatment is done primarily for aesthetic reasons and to prevent the spread of infection.  The soft centers of the sores are removed, and the lumps can be frozen, electrified or chemically burned away.  Lesions may recur, but it is not clear whether this is due to re-infection or activation of a latent infection.

Complications:

Secondary bacterial infection sometimes occurs, requiring treatment with antibiotics.

Hepatitis A

What gives it to you:

Hepatitis A virus

Symptoms:

Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain in the liver area, dark urine or light colored stools and fever. Liver function tests are elevated, with many adults developing jaundice. Children under two rarely have symptoms. Most people recover within six months.

Treatment:

No specific treatment. People otherwise in good health usually recover in several months.

Resource:

CDC Hepatitis Branch

Hepatitis B

What gives it to you:

Hepatitis B virus

Symptoms:

Fever, nausea, dark urine or jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), not everyone will have symptoms

Treatment:

Rest, antibiotics, bland diet. A vaccine is available for those who are not infected.

Complications:

Serious cases may require hospitalization.

Resource:

CDC Hepatitis Branch

Hepatitis C

What gives it to you:

Hepatitis C virus

Symptoms:

Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, vomiting

Treatment:

Drug therapy

Complications:

Liver damage

Resource:

CDC Hepatitis Branch

Trichomoniasis (Trich)

What gives it to you:

Trichomonas vaginalis (parasite)

Symptoms:

In women, a large amount of foul-smelling greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge, itchy, swollen genital area, painful intercourse. In men, there are often no symptoms. Men with symptoms may have penile itching or discharge, as well as burning with urination/ejaculation.

Treatment:

Antibiotics for infected person and sexual partners, even those without symptoms

Complications:

Trichomoniasis is associated with increased risk of transmission of HIV and may cause a woman to deliver a low-birth-weight or premature infant.