My Sister's Keeper 2007

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) can affect anyone. Every year approximately 12 million new STD cases occur in the United States. At this time, there are roughly 50 identified organisms and syndromes (aka: STD's) identified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). STD's can be either viral or bacterial infections-with some treatable and others that are non-responsive to drug treatments.

How Are STD's Spread?

Sexually transmitted diseases are often spread through sexual activity including vaginal, anal and oral sex. HIV and hepatitis B can also be transmitted through blood. The only way to ensure that you do not contract an STD is through abstinence. However, through safer sex practices, you can significantly reduce your risk of contracting an STD.

Chlamydia or NGU (Non-Gonococcal Urethritis)

Symptoms: Can show up 7 to 28 days after intercourse.
Many men and women are asymptomatic (without symptoms).
Chlamydia can occur in men and women; men can get NGU.

Women:

Vaginal discharge
Bleeding between periods
Pain or burning during urination
Abdominal pain (sometimes accompanied by fever and nausea)
Increased need to urinate

Men:

Watery, white discharge (drip) from penis
Pain or burning during urination
Increased need to urinate
Swollen or tender testicles

Treatment: Antibiotics for both partners to prevent reinfection

Genital Warts (See also HPV below)

Symptoms: Can be visible 1 to 8 months after transmission from infected partner small bumps (dark pink or red) may be seen or felt on or in the infected area. Other times the warts are not visible to the naked eye but you might experience itching or burning around the genitals. In some cases, a person can be infected and never show any symptoms.

Treatment: Even though warts can sometimes go away on their own, most treatments involve the removal of the warts. This can be done through the application of a caustic solution directly on the wart, through cryotherapy (using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart), burning the wart via electrosurgery or surgically removed.

Gonorrhea:

Symptoms: Usually show up 2 to 21 days after having sex with an infected partner. In some instances, no symptoms are present.

Women:

Thick yellow or white vaginal discharge
Burning or pain with urination or with bowel movements
Bleeding between periods or abnormal bleeding
Lower abdominal pain or cramping

Men:

Thick yellow or white penile drip
Burning or pain with urination or with bowel movements
Increased frequency of urination

Treatment: Since gonorrhea is a bacteria infection, it is curable with anti-biotics. Usually penicillin is the treatment of choice, but other combinations of antibiotics also work.

Hepatitis B (Viral Hepatitis Type B):

Symptoms: Show up 1 to 9 months after contact with the virus.

Many people do not experience any symptoms or only mild ones.
May include flu-like symptoms that will not go away.
Feeling constantly tired
Jaundice (yellow tinted skin)
Dark urine and light-colored bowel movements

Treatment:

Usually consists of rest, nutritious diet and limited alcohol use.
Some infected persons recover completely but any person who is infected with
Hepatitis can still infect others without practicing safe sex.
There is a vaccine for Hepatitis B-contact Cowell Health Center for information

Herpes (Herpes Simplex-Type I or Type II):

Type I herpes is the cause of cold sores while type II is responsible for sores on or around the genitals. Either virus can infect either area. Transmission of the virus occurs through direct contact with an active sore or genital secretions which contain the virus (blood, semen, vaginal fluid).

Symptoms: show up between 1 to 30 days (or more) after contact with infected partner.

Some infected persons may show no symptoms
Flu-like symptoms
Small, painful blisters on mouth or genitals (with itching or burning before blisters appear.

Treatment:

Since herpes is a virus, there is no cure. There are now products on the market that can help alleviate some of the symptoms and their severity.

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) (Updated)

Genital HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Human papillomavirus is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, or rectum. Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own.

Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.

Most people who have a genital HPV infection do not know they are infected. The virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and usually causes no symptoms. Some people get visible genital warts, or have pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, vulva, anus, or penis. Very rarely, HPV infection results in anal or genital cancers.

There is no "cure" for HPV infection. Approximately 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead, in rare cases, to development of cervical cancer. A Pap test can detect pre-cancerous and cancerous cells on the cervix. Regular Pap testing and careful medical follow-up, with treatment if necessary, can help ensure that pre-cancerous changes in the cervix caused by HPV infection do not develop into life threatening cervical cancer.