Common STD’s include:
- Chlamydia
- Crabs
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis
- Herpes
- HIV/AIDS
- HPV
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- NGU
- PID (Pelvic Inflammatory disease)
- Scabes
- Syphilis
- Vaginitis/Trichomoniasis
What is it?
A Highly contagious, yet curable, disease where puss-filled lumps/ulcers form on the skin, usually around the groin area. Lymph glands also usually occur on either side of the body around the groin region although it can occur on both sides of the body.
How common is it?
Chancroid is not yet common within developed countries, however, the numbers of infected people in the
How is it transmitted?
This disease is spread through any contact with the sore or the fluids from within the sore. Therefore they can be spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex as well as general sexual contact.
What symptoms are there?
Symptoms begin to show from around 3-10 days after contact, however, it is common in women for chancroid to be asymptomatic (there are no symptoms). Therefore, this disease can go unnoticed in women for a great deal of time. If ulcers occur, they are usually soft unlike the syphilis sore which is hard and rubbery.
How is it treated?
Chancroid is treated with antibiotics which reduce symptoms and prevents transmition.
How do you test for it?
It is important that you go to the doctor as other diseases such as syphilis or herpes need to be ruled out so it can be treated properly.
What complications/effects can occur?
Common complications that can occur include the swelling and connection of glands to form bubos, which are much more uncomfortable. In this case, surgery may be required to dull the pain. Once ruptured, a bubo also has an increased chance of contracting a secondary infection. Phimosis can also occur in uncircumcised males (when the foreskin is unable to retract over the glands or head of penis). In some cases, Circumcision may be required.
How is it prevented?
Chancroid is most commonly prevented by abstinence, however it can also be prevented by using a latex condom or water-based spermicides.
Chlamidia:
What is it?
[A good description will follow]
How common is it?
Very common, especially in the
How is it transmitted?
It is transmitted through vaginal, anal and sometimes oral sex
How is it treated?
Chlamidia is a curable disease, however, it is not considered cured until after the treatment consisting of antibiotics.
What symptoms are there?
Usually Chlamidia is asymptomatic for both men and women; however, if there are any symptoms they usually occur within 3 weeks of infection.
How do you test for it?
You can test for Chlamidia by collecting a specimen from infected area or urine sample.
What complications/effects can occur?
One major complication that sometimes occurs is that Chlamidia can cause PID to occur as well as infertility.
How is it prevented?
It can only be prevented by abstinence or if latex condoms are used from beginning to end of sexual contact.
Hepatitis:
There are five types of Hepatitis. Of these five, Hepatitis D and E are not very common, however, Hepatitis A, B and C are.
Hepatitis A:
What is it?
Hepatitis A is a liver disease……
How common is it?
Hepatitis A is extremely common. For example, In the United States, 125,000-200,000 infections occur among the population per year. Also, in the U.S, around 100 people will die per year.
How is it transmitted?
Hepatitis A is generally transmitted through “oral contact with feces”. This means that Hepatitis A can be transmitted through contaminated water and food sources as well as sexual contact. The sexual contact which this disease is most commonly transmitted through is oral or anal sex. Hepatitis A is also commonly transmitted in young children who have not washed their hands properly, especially in a Day-care type facility as there are many children who are unclean or infected and many other children for it to be transmitted to. Hepatitis A is also very rarely transmitted through blood transfusions, however, the numbers have decreased rapidly after 1992 where people in such clinics began to screen the blood for diseases and infections.
What symptoms are there?
There are many symptoms associated with Hepatitis A. These infections generally occur between 15-50 days after infection, however, not all people experience any or all of these symptoms. The symptoms include:
- Low grade fever
- The general feeling of being sick/ill
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain/discomfort
- Dark coloured urine
- Jaundice (Yellowing of the skin and eyes)
Young children (under 6) usually do not experience any symptoms; however, some children do experience mild diarrhoea.
How do you test for it?
Blood Tests are used to test for HAV antibodies (the cells the body produces to fight Hepatitis A infection). These antibodies can be detected through Blood tests for up to six months after infection.
How is it treated?
Hepatitis A does not currently have a cure; however, through the suggested rest by a doctor, people can recover completely. However, this rest period can take weeks, even months and can sincerely affect your social life as the rest requires you to stay in, sleep and come into contact with as few people as possible as well as to avoid all types of stress.
What complications/effects can occur from it?
The common effects that Hepatitis A can cause are chronic infections as well as Cirrhosis, which is when the liver becomes so damaged that it begins to scar. Also, Hepatitis A can cause Liver cancer and eventually if problems become too extreme, they can even lead to death.
How is it prevented?
The main Preventative for Hepatitis A is Abstinence as well as mutual monogamy, latex condoms, avoiding contaminated water or food sources, avoiding sharing needles or other drug equipment, and to maintain personal hygiene such as washing your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
Hepatitis B:
What is it?
Hepatitis B is a virus effecting the liver and causing liver inflammation.
How common is it?
Hepatitis B, like Hepatitis A is very common and even more common than Hepatitis A. Around 1.25 million people in the United States have chronic Hepatitis B with 73,00 new infections just in 2003. Also, every year, around 5,000 people die from complications caused by Hepatitis B infection.
How is it transmitted?
Hepatitis B is generally transmitted through direct contact with either blood, semen or “vaginal excretions”. Therefore, it can be transmitted through Sexual contact including vaginal, anal or oral sex. Because it can be passed on through contact with the blood of the infected, it can be transmitted through sharing needles and/or drug equipment as well as through Tattoo/body-piercing and Blood transfusion. However, this is much less common as all blood donated is screened for infection or disease before transmitted to the patient (began this screening process in 1992). Hepatitis B can also be transmitted through infected saliva from bites and can be passed on from mother to child at birth.
What symptoms are there?
The symptoms that can occur as a result of Hepatitis B are generally flu-like, such as:
- Loss of appetite
- The general feeling of being sick/ill
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain/discomfort
- Dark coloured urine
- Jaundice
- Rash or arthritis
- 1% of people infected with Hepatitis B have sudden liver failure that, if left untreated for too long can result in further complications and even death.
How is it treated?
The treatment for Hepatitis B depends on the type of Hepatitis B you have. There are two types of Hepatitis B, Acute and Chronic. Acute Hepatitis B is when people are newly infected with the disease and have only had it for a short period of time. Chronic Hepatitis B is where people have been infected with the disease for a long period of time. Although the treatment for these different types is different the common treatment for both is a type of vaccination.
What complications/effects can occur from it?
The common effects that Hepatitis B can cause are chronic infections as well as Cirrhosis, which is when the liver becomes so damaged that it begins to scar. Also, Hepatitis B can cause Liver cancer and eventually if problems become too extreme, they can even lead to death.
How is it prevented?
The most effective type of preventative is abstinence as well as mutual monogamy, latex condoms, avoiding contact with razors, toothbrushes, and infected blood on needles or other drug equipment, as well as covering cuts, sores and rashes with bandages.
Hepatitis C:
What is it?
Hepatitis C, like all other Hepatitis infections, affects the Liver.
How common is it?
Hepatitis is the most common for of Hepatitis and is also the most common blood borne infection in the
How is it transmitted?
Hepatitis C is generally transmitted through “direct contact with blood of an infected person”. It can be transmitted through infected needles or other drug equipment, organ transplants from and infected person and a blood transfusion, although the chance of transmitting it in this way is much less likely after 1992 when all clinics began to screen donated blood for Diseases and infections. Hepatitis C can also be transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex and can be passed on from mother to child at birth.
What symptoms are there?
There are different symptoms for each type of Hepatitis although almost 80% of the people infected with Hepatitis C do not actually experience any symptoms. Acute Hepatitis (short term) does not usually have any symptoms; however, sometimes people do experience Flu-like illnesses and occasionally Jaundice. The symptoms of Chronic (long term) Hepatitis C are from either liver disease or liver scarring. The symptoms of liver disease include Jaundice, Fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, malaise. The symptoms that result from liver scarring are muscle weakness, poor appetite, nausea, weight loss, itching, dark coloured urine, Jaundice, abdominal swelling, and fluid retention.
How do you test for it?
The common method of testing for Hepatitis C is through Blood Tests.
What complications/effects can occur from it?
The common effects that Hepatitis C can cause are chronic infections as well as Cirrhosis, which is when the liver becomes so damaged that it begins to scar. Also, Hepatitis C can cause Liver cancer and eventually if problems become too extreme, they can even lead to death. Complications from Hepatitis C cause around 8,000-10,000 deaths per year.
How is it prevented?
Hepatitis C is prevented through abstinence, mutual monogamy, and avoiding all contact with infected blood. Therefore, covering wounds can help prevent transmitting the disease.
Hepatitis D:
What is it?
Hepatitis D is also a liver disease, however, it can only be obtained if someone already has Hepatitis B.
How common is it?
Hepatitis D is extremely uncommon.
How is it transmitted?
Hepatitis D is transmitted by sharing needles with a person with an infection in their blood. Rarely, Hepatitis D can also be transmitted by mothers to their children at birth.
What symptoms are there?
Hepatitis D had very similar symptoms to hepatitis A, including low grade fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea, etc. People with Hepatitis B and D can also develop extreme, more serious conditions that could be infectious for their entire life.
How do you test for it?
Doctors can test for Hepatitis D through blood tests.
How is it treated?
Hepatitis D can be treated by an injection that cures Hepatitis B, as without it, Hepatitis D cannot occur.
What complications/effects can occur from it?
Having Both Hepatitis B and D can have higher risk of developing Liver disease or malfunctions and can be fatal.
How is it prevented?
The most effective type of preventative is abstinence as well as mutual monogamy, latex condoms, avoiding contact with razors, toothbrushes, and infected blood on needles or other drug equipment, as well as covering cuts, sores and rashes with bandages.
Hepatitis E:
What is it?
Hepatitis E is a viral hepatitis, and like all of the rest, it infects the liver.
How common is it?
Hepatitis E is not common at all in well-developed countries; however, it is very common in un-developed countries with unclean drinking water.
How is it transmitted?
Hepatitis E is transmitted through oral contact with faeces which can occur through unclean drinking water and food.
What symptoms are there?
The symptoms of Hepatitis E are also similar to Hepatitis A, including nausea, abdominal pain/discomfort, dark coloured urine, and Jaundice (Yellowing of the skin and eyes), etc.
How do you test for it?
You can test for Hepatitis E through Diagnostic tests which are available to anyone through the reference of your doctor/GP.
How is it treated?
There is no vaccine or anything else to treat Hepatitis E. Instead, rest is required and suggested by doctors to help the disease improve.
What complications/effects can occur from it?
The effects can be liver complications and a chance of liver disease as well as a higher risk of death for pregnant women of around 15%-20%
How is it prevented?
Hepatitis E can be prevented through avoiding contact with any unclean drinking water and food.
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