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CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the United States. It can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra or eye.

Transmission/prevention

Chlamydia is spread through unprotected vaginal and anal sex.

Symptoms

Three-quarters of the women and half of the men with the disease have no symptoms. Possible symptoms include discharge from the penis or vagina and a burning sensation when urinating. Additional symptoms for women include lower abdominal pain or pain during intercourse and bleeding between menstrual periods. Men may experience burning and itching around the opening of the penis or pain and swelling in the testicles.

Testing

Urine test or collection of fluid from an infected site.

Treatment

Antibiotics

Genital warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus. An estimated 40 million Americans are infected with HPV, with 1 million new cases each year.

Transmission/prevention

Latex condoms provide some protection if they cover the area of infection.

Symptoms

In women, warts may develop inside the vagina, where they are hard to detect. They may also appear on the lips of the vagina or around the anus. In men, they can appear on the penis, the scrotum or around the anus. If there are visible signs, you will notice them within three weeks to six months after having sex with someone who is infected. Most HPV infections show no visible signs.

Testing

A healthcare provider can check for warts or other abnormal tissue. For women, a Pap smear can detect precancerous changes in the cervix and may show changes caused by HPV infection.

Treatment

There are ways to remove warts, but the underlying HPV infection can’t be cured.

Gonorrhea is a common STD that, if not treated early, can cause serious problems, especially for women. About 1 million American men and women contract gonorrhea each year.

Transmission/prevention

You can get and spread gonorrhea through oral, anal and vaginal sex.

Symptoms

Some men and about half of the women with gonorrhea have no symptoms. Symptoms may include discharge from the penis or vagina, the need to urinate often, burning or pain when urinating, and in women, bleeding between monthly periods.

Testing

Fluid sample from the penis or vagina.

Treatment
Antibiotics. An infected person can continue to transmit the disease until cured.

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It’s 100 times more infectious than HIV. About 300,000 Americans get hepatitis B each year.