What is it?
A bacterial infection of the genitals, anus, or throat.
How common is it?
Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in the U.S. Over 1 million cases are reported each year. The highest proportion of cases is among women aged 15 to 24.
What are the symptoms?
Often there are no symptoms. For women who do experience symptoms, they may have vaginal discharge that is discolored or yellow-green, bleeding (not their period), and/or burning and pain during urination. For men who do experience symptoms, they may have discharge or pain during urination, and/or burning or itching around the opening of the penis.
How do you get it?
Through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It can also be passed on from mother to child during childbirth.
What is it?
A viral infection with over 40 types that can infect the genitals, anus, or throat. Some types of HPV can cause warts and cancer.
How common is it?
More than 50% of sexually active people will get HPV at some point in their lives. An estimated 6 million new cases occur each year, with at least 20 million people already infected.
What are the symptoms?
Most infected people have no symptoms. But some HPV types can cause genital warts– small bumps in and around the genitals (vagina, vulva, penis, testicles, and anus, etc.). If they do occur, warts may appear within weeks or months of having sex with an infected partner. Cancer-causing HPV types do not cause symptoms until the cancer is advanced.
What is it?
A viral infection of the genital areas. It can also infect the mouth and lips.
How common is it?
At least 50 million people are already infected with herpes, or about one in six people. An estimated 1 million new infections occur each year.
What are the symptoms?
Most people have no symptoms. Herpes 1 typically causes cold sores and fever blisters in or around the mouth; Herpes 2 typically causes genital sores or blisters. But both viruses can cause sores in either area. A herpes outbreak can start as red bumps and then turn into painful blisters or sores. During the first outbreak, it can also lead to flu-like symptoms (like a fever, headaches, and swollen glands).
What is it?
A parasitic infection of the genitals.
How common is it?
There are an estimated 3.7 million people in the U.S. infected with Trich.
What are the symptoms?
Often there are no symptoms. For women who do experience symptoms, they may notice a frothy, smelly, yellowish-green vaginal discharge, and/or genital area discomfort. Men who have symptoms may temporarily have a discharge from the penis, slight burning after urination or ejaculation, and/or an irritation in the penis.
What is it?
An infection caused by bacteria that can spread throughout the body.
How common is it?
About 36,000 new cases are reported each year.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms vary based on the course of infection—beginning with a single, painless sore (called a chancre) on the genitals, anus, or mouth Other symptoms may appear up to 6 months after the first sore has disappeared, including a rash. However, there may be no noticeable symptoms until syphilis has progressed to more serious problems (see below).
What is it?
A bacterial infection of the genitals, anus, or throat.
How common is it?
An estimated 700,000 people in the U.S. get gonorrhea each year. The highest rates are among women aged 15 to 24 and men aged 20 to 24.
What are the symptoms?
Most infected people have no symptoms. For those who do, it can cause a burning sensation while urinating, abnormal white, green, and/or yellowish vaginal or penile discharge. Women may also have abnormal vaginal bleeding and/or pelvic pain. Men may also have painful or swollen testicles.
What is it?
A viral infection affecting the liver – HBV can be acute (mild illness lasting for a short time) or chronic (a serious life-long illness).
How common is it?
An estimated 38,000 people are infected with HBV each year (most of which are acquired through sex). Up to 1.4 million people are already infected with chronic HBV.
What are the symptoms?
Many people don’t have any symptoms, especially adults. People may experience tiredness, aches, nausea & vomiting, loss of appetite, darkening of urine, tenderness in the stomach, or yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (called jaundice). Symptoms of acute HBV may appear 1 to 6 months after exposure. Symptoms of chronic HBV can take up to 30 years to appear, although liver damage can occur silently.
What is it?
Hep C is a contagious liver disease that can range from mild illness to a serious, life-long condition. It can be transmitted sexually, but is most often transmitted through contaminated needles.
How common is it?
An estimated 3.2 million persons are chronically infected with HCV in the United States. There are an estimated 17,000 new Hepatitis C virus infections each year.
What are the symptoms?
Most HPV infections have no symptoms. Some people may experience illness like fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain and jaundice, a yellow color to the skin and eyes.
Can it be prevented?
There is currently no vaccine for Hep C. Risk of the getting Hep C is cut by not injecting drugs, and using condoms every time if you have sex. Abstaining from sex and sexual contact is the surest way to avoid getting an STD.
