ARE YOU AT RISK?

Infectious diseases seem to come and go, sometimes causing scary outbreaks, while other times seeming to disappear. But some infectious pathogens are always with us, lurking just below the surface of society.

Sexually transmitted diseases are one major group of diseases that make for ongoing hidden epidemics: In the United States alone, there are nearly 20 million cases of new sexually transmitted infections yearly, from just eight viruses and bacteria, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

STDs are infections spread by sexual contact with skin, genitals, mouth, rectum, or body fluids. Although some STDs can be treated, others cannot. People with an STD may not know they have it.1 According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States, 1 out of 4 women between the ages of 14 and 19 is infected with at least one STD.

More more statistical information, please visit this site.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s) pose a serious risk to future reproductive and overall health, especially if left untreated. People who have an STD are at least 2 to 5 times more likely to contract HIV, the virus which leads to AIDS.2

More than 1 in 3 female teens who have had sex have an STD.3 As your number of partners and sexual encounters increases, your risk of contracting an STD increases dramatically.

WHAT IS YOUR STD RISK RATIO?

PREVALENT STDS

CHLAMYDIA | GONORRHEA | BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV) | HEPATITIS B | HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS | HIV/AIDS | SYPHILIS | TRICHOMONIASIS

CHLAMYDIA

Definition: A common sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, which can damage a woman’s reproductive organs.
Chlamydia is the most prevelant STD. Use of hormonal contraceptives increases your risk of contracting Chlamydia. 75% of women who are infected with Chlamydia do not know they have it, because they have NO SYMPTOMS.

Symptoms of Chlamydia in women include:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Burning sensation with urination
• Lower abdominal pain
• Low back pain
• Painful intercourse

Symptoms of Chlamydia in men include:

• Discharge from the penis
• Burning sensation with urination
• Burning and itching around the opening of the penis
• Symptoms can take 1-3 weeks to appear after exposure

Risks: Increases a woman’s susceptibility to HIV.

If left untreated: Can develop into a “silent” infection, impacting a woman’s future ability to have children.

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GONORRHEA

Definition: A sexually transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract in women and men. Many women and men have NO SYMPTOMS of Gonorrhea. Symptoms can take up to 30 days to appear.

Symptoms of Gonorrhea in women include:

• Painful or burning sensation when urinating
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods

Symptoms of Gonorrhea in men include:

• Burning sensation when urinating
• White, yellow, or green discharge

Risks: Increases a woman’s susceptibility to HIV. Can be transmitted to infants during birth, causing blindness, joint and blood infections.

If left untreated: Can develop into PID and infertility in both men and women.

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BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV)

Symptoms: Can include abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor, pain, itching or burning.

Risks: Increases a woman’s susceptibility to other STDs.

If left untreated: Can develop into PID, resulting in damage to the fallopian tubes and infertility.

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HEPATITIS B

Symptoms: Can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, jaundice.

Risks: Can cause jaundice; is easily spread through fecal-oral contact.

If left untreated: Is the leading cause of liver cancer.

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HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS

Symptoms: Can include small red bumps or tiny white blisters that become ulcers and can be found on the genitals, buttocks, anus or thighs; sometimes flu-like symptoms.

Risks: Causes recurrent, painful sores and can be transmitted to infants during birth.

If left untreated: Can increase a woman’s chances of contracting HIV.

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HIV/AIDS

Symptoms: Can include fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat, rash, swollen lymph glands, diarrhea, dry cough, sudden weight loss.

Risks: Can be symptomless for 10 years or more, but still transmitted to sexual partners or infant during childbirth.

If left untreated: Can progress into AIDS and death.

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HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV)

Symptoms: (image) Can include genital warts, sometimes in the mouth or throat, genital itching or discomfort, bleeding with intercourse.

Risks: Can be spread through contact with the infected area regardless of whether symptoms are present.

If left untreated: Causes genital warts, cervical and vaginal cancers, and rarely, penile and anal cancers.

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SYPHILIS

Symptoms: Can include one or more painless, open sores called chancres.

Risks: Can be spread when sores are present anywhere on the body, including the anus and mouth; sores can last 3-6 weeks and leave scars.

If left untreated: Can damage internal organs, resulting in paralysis, blindness, dementia and even death.

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TRICHOMONIASIS

Symptoms of Trichomoniasis in Women include:

• discomfort during intercourse and urination
• greenish yellow, possibly frothy discharge
• strong odor
• irritation and itching

Symptoms of Trichomoniasis in Men include:

• discomfort during intercourse and urination
• irritation inside the penis
• mild discharge
• slight burning after urination or ejaculation

Risks: Can increase the probability of acquiring HIV.

If left untreated: Can result in premature or low birth-weight babies.

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