Common Bacterial STDs

Chlamydia

Transmission:

Oral, anal, and vaginal sex; Mother to child.

Where is it found?:

Vagina, cervix, urethra, throat, and anus.

Symptoms:

Urethral / vaginal irritation and/or pain in testicles

Chronic low stomach pain

PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), which can cause premature birth, infant pneumonia, and infertility.

Treatment:

Cured with antibiotics (bacterial)—Antibiotics do not restore damage that occurred before treatment (such as PID).

Prevention:

Abstinence is the only 100% protection. Condom use showed some decreased risk, but risk reduction was less than 50%.

Teens Infected:

3 –14% of women age 15 –24 who visited family planning clinics.

4 million new cases are diagnosed each year.

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Gonorrhea (The Clap)

Transmission:

Oral, anal, and vaginal sex; Mother to child.

Where is it found?:

Vagina, cervix, urethra, throat, and anus.

Symptoms:

Discharge from penis, vagina, or rectum

Redness on the cervix

Swollen glands in the groin or penis area

Burning and/or itching during urination

Chronic low stomach pain--PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), which can cause premature birth, infant pneumonia, and infertility.

Treatment:

Cured with antibiotics (bacterial)—Antibiotics do not restore damage that occurred before treatment (such as PID).

Doctors will treat for Chlamydia at the same time because it is likely a person has both STDs.

Prevention:

Abstinence is the only 100% protection. Condom use showed some decreased risk, but risk reduction was less than 50%.

Teens Infected:

2.8% of women age 15- 24 who visited family planning clinics (based on reporting states).

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Trichomoniasis

Transmission:

Oral, anal, and vaginal sex

Where is it found?:

The vagina is the most common site of infection in women, and the urethra (urine canal) is the most common site of infection in men.

Symptoms:

Urethral/ vaginal discharge.

Discomfort during intercourse and/or burning after urination.

Trichomoniasis increases the likelihood of giving or receiving the HIV/AIDS virus.

Treatment:

Cured with antibiotics (bacterial)—Antibiotics do not restore damage that occurred before treatment.

Prevention:

Abstinence is the only 100% protection.

Teens Infected:

There are at least 7.4 million new cases of trichomoniasis diagnosed each year.

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Syphillis

Transmission:

Oral, anal, and vaginal sex; Contact with sores; Mother to child.

Where is it found?:

Vagina, cervix, urethra, anus, mouth, throat, and all genital areas.

Symptoms:

Flat, scaly, round, bumpy or crater-like rashes anywhere on the body.

Within 6 months of infection an individual might experience flu-like symptoms (fever, fatigue, and sore throat)

Painless sores on genitals, rectum, or mouth

Treatment:

Cured with antibiotics (bacterial)—Antibiotics do not restore damage that occurred before treatment.

Prevention:

Abstinence is the only 100% protection. Condom use showed some decreased risk, but risk reduction was less than 50%.

Teens Infected:

In 2002, there were about 350 cases of primary and secondary syphilis in 15 – 19 yr olds.