GONORRHEA & CHLAMYDIA (the 'clap') ('Klamydia')
- Caused by bacteria germs; the infection starts a
few days to a few weeks after having sex with an
infected person.
- In men it causes a liquid (pus) to come out of
the opening in the penis. It may also hurt to
pee(urinate). The symptoms may be very strong or very
mild and hardly noticeable.
- Women usually have very mild or no symptoms, but
if untreated it can progress into a more serious
disease (P.I.D.) and cause her not to be able to have
babies in the future.
- These diseases can be completely cured by
antibiotics if treated early.
HERPES
- Caused by a virus germ that can be treated but
not cured.
- The symptoms may appear 3 to 10 days after having
sex with a person who already has the disease.
- The herpes sores start as blisters, then they
open up into little holes, and then they scab up.
- By 5 to 15 days they heal and disappear.
- The germs stay in your body and the sores may
return in the future, sometimes often.
- Women may not know they have herpes because the
sores may be inside the vagina.
protect yourself. REMEMBER TO USE A CONDOM.
GENITAL WARTS
- Caused by a virus (the Human Papilloma Virus or
HPV).
- Appear as one or many raised lumps or bumps 1
month to 1 year after having sex with an infected
person.
- Often cannot be seen in women because they may be
all inside the vagina. They may also be too small in
men to be easily seen. A vinegar wrap may be used as
a test for warts.
- More serious in women because they may change
into cancer of the cervix.
- They are treatable. Women should get a PAP smear
after every new sex partner.
SYPHILIS
- Caused by a bacteria (germ), the sores appear 3
weeks to 3 months after having sex with an infected
person.
- The sores look like holes in the skin that have a
raised edge. They are usually painless.
- The sores disappear after a few weeks but the
germ remains in the body and the disease reappears as
a rash all over the body.
- This rash disappears too but the germs can attack
other parts of the body years later.
- Syphilis can be completely cured at any stage by
penicillin.
- In women the sores may be hidden in the vagina.
STD'S are preventable
PUBIC LICE ('Crabs')
- Very small (1/8th inch) gray to brown bugs that
live in the pubic hair and cause itching.
- Easily treated with a liquid medicine that is put
directly on the pubic hair.
SCABIES
- Similar to pubic lice but the bugs are too small
to be seen and they live under the skin.
- They cause very itchy small sores all over the
body.
- Treated with a liquid medicine that is applied
over the whole body.
- Clothes, bed sheets and towels must be washed
after treatment since the bugs can live in them.
VAGINITIS
- Infection of the vagina that usually causes a
vaginal discharge. It is sometimes smelly or
irritating.
- Caused by one of many different germs such as
gonorrhea, chlamydia, or yeast. Also can be caused by
other germs such as trichomonas or bacteria that are
normal inside the vagina.
- Found by examining the discharge under a
microscope.
- Usually easy to treat by the proper medicine
depending on the germ that caused it.
YEAST INFECTION
- Caused by a fungus germ.
- It causes an itchy redness under the foreskin in
uncircumcised men.
- In women it causes a thick white, itchy vaginal
discharge.
- Easily treated with an anti-fungal cream or pill.
HEPATITIS
- A serious virus disease affecting the liver.
- May cause fever, abdominal pain, fatigue,
yellowing of the eyes and skin, and darkening of the
urine.
- Treated by rest. There is a vaccine available to
prevent being infected.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) / HIV
Disease
- The most serious STD caused by the HIV (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus). It causes the part of the
body that defends against disease (the immune system
) to not work right.
- There are no visible symptoms during the first
years of infection so it is not possible to tell if
your partner has AIDS unless he or she has an HIV
blood test.
- It can cause death about ten years after being
infected but we now have very good treatment
available.
- AIDS is a preventable disease. It is spread by
sex and by sharing drugs by needles and syringes.
|