STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can affect all people. While some have obvious symptoms, others do not until it is too late. That is why it is so important to be vigilant and practice safe sexual habits, including using condoms every time you have sex and going for STD testing every time you have a new sexual partner. For pregnant women this is especially vital, as certain STDs can pose serious risks to pregnancy.

One of the most common STDs is genital herpes, affecting over 40 million Americans. Read an overview of common sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, "crabs," and hepatitis B.

These STDs can make an infected individual more prone to acquiring HIV, another STD that affects women much more often than many realize. This serious infection can lead to AIDS and other complications. Like HIV, the human papillomavirus (HPV) may not cause symptoms in those infected right away. Going for a regular PAP smear can help detect the virus, though, as well as other conditions. Read our FAQs page on HPV to understand more.

While some strands of HPV are associated with cervical cancer, and typically do not cause symptoms, other HPV strands lead to genital warts. Learn about the some of the treatments available for genital warts and get the answers to some of the questions you may have about warts treatment. while Genital Wart Recurrence discusses how likely those genital warts are to come back after treatment.

Sometimes, an STD can have similar symptoms to other gynecological issues. For instance, trichomonas can easily be mistaken for a yeast infection. This is also the case of Syphilis. Before you try to treat yourself, it might be a good idea to have a doctor make a definite diagnosis first.

Teens that are sexually active can be more at risk of contracting an STD yet are less likely to visit a health facility for testing. STDS and Teenagers examines the unique issues involved in testing and diagnosing adolescents.

Related Sites:

Epigee.org