STDs/HIV
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that pass from one person to another through sexual contact (e.g., vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and genital to genital contact).
Seventy-five percent of STDs are acquired in persons who range in age from 15 to 24 years old.
Common STDs in the U.S. are: Chlamydia; trichomoniasis; gonorrhea; genital herpes; hepatitis B; human papillomvirus (HPV), the cause of genital warts; syphilis; and HIV/AIDS. The most common ones among college students are chlamydia and HPV.
More than 1 STD can be present at the same time. Some can be present without symptoms. If you are sexually active or have ever had sex without adequate “barrier” protection (e.g. latex condom), you could have an STD and not even know it.
Prevention
See “Safer Sex”.
Signs, Symptoms & Causes
Chlamydia is caused by different strains of the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis.
Seventy-five percent of females have few or no symptoms, but can still transmit the disease. When present, symptoms show up 2 to 4 weeks after infection and include: Slight yellowish-green vaginal discharge; vaginal irritation or pain or burning feeling when urinating; abdominal pain; and abnormal vaginal bleeding. In females, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility. (See PID symptoms.)
Fifty percent of males have few or no symptoms, but can still transmit the disease. Symptoms may show up 2 to 4 weeks after infection and include: Watery, mucous discharge from the penis; burning or discomfort when urinating; and pain in the scrotum.
The Herpes simplex virus (type 1 or type 2) causes genital herpes. Type 1 often affects the oral area, showing up as cold sores, but can affect the genital area, too. Type 2 usually affects the genital area, upper thighs, and area near the anus, but can also affect the oral area. The virus is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact from the site of infection to the contact site, but can also be spread during periods where there are no noticeable symptoms. Oral sex can spread herpes from the mouth to the genital area and from the genital area to the mouth.
Signs and symptoms (which may appear as early as 2 to 20 days after contact) include:
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Itching, irritation, and tingling in the genital area 1 to 2 days before the blisters appear |
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Painful blisters and/or sores on the genital area, anus, and thighs and/or buttocks |
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After a few days, the blisters break open and leave painful, shallow ulcers, which can last from 5 days to 3 weeks. |
With outbreaks, especially the first one, there may be flu-like symptoms (swollen glands, fever, body aches). Subsequent outbreaks are usually milder and shorter. Stress, fatigue, illnesses, vigorous sexual intercourse, sunburn, etc., may trigger outbreaks.
Using a latex barrier (condom, dental dam, etc.) when you have sex or skin-to-skin contact may help prevent transmission, but this is not guaranteed.
The sores may be located on skin areas not covered by the latex barrier. The virus can also be transmitted when sores are not present. This is known as “viral shedding.”
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – Genital Warts
About 25 types of HPV can infect the genital area, causing genital warts. Certain types increase the risk for cervical cancer.
Often, there are no clearly visible signs or symptoms. The warts are often skin-colored, do not hurt, and may be located inside the vagina or the head of the penis, or in the anus, which make it hard to see if warts are present. To find out if you have genital warts, a health care provider can put a solution of acetic acid (vinegar) on the genitals. This makes them easier to see.
HPV is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or (rarely) oral sex with an infected partner. You don’t get genital warts from touching warts on other parts of the body, such as the feet or hands
Genital warts can appear several weeks after being infected or may not show up for months or even years. It is difficult, then, to know when the virus was contracted and which partner was the carrier.
To lower your risk for getting HPV, use latex condoms, which are most likely to cover potentially affected areas of the body. (A diaphragm will not prevent transmission.)
Gonorrhea is also called “the clap,” “dose,” or “drip.” It is caused by a specific bacterial infection.
If not treated, it can spread to joints, tendons, or the heart. In females, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is directly linked to infertility in females. (See PID.)
Sixty to 80% of females have no symptoms. If symptoms are present, they appear 2 to 10 days after infection and include: Mild vaginal itching and burning; thick, yellow-green vaginal discharge; abnormal vaginal bleeding; burning when urinating; and severe pain in lower abdomen.
In males, signs and symptoms include: Pain at the tip of the penis; pain and burning during urination; and a thick, yellow, cloudy, penile discharge that gradually increases.
Hepatitis B is a virus that causes liver inflammation. The virus can be contracted from contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, such as having sex and/or sharing drug needles with an infected person. It can also be transmitted through expo-sure to infected blood through cuts, open sores, and unsterilized instruments used for body piercing, etc. Sharing razors with an infected person and even exposure to an infected person’s saliva may transmit the virus. Hepatitis B is not spread through food or water or by casual contact.
Three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent getting this virus. Consult your health care provider if you have not yet received this vaccine.
Some persons have no symptoms. When symptoms first occur, they are flu-like (fatigue, fever, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, and joint pain).
Later, symptoms include jaundice, dark urine, and pale, clay-colored stools.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is caused by HIV. HIV destroys the body’s immune system leaving a person unable to fight off diseases.
The virus also attacks the central nervous system causing mental and neurological problems.
HIV is spread when body fluids, such as semen and blood, pass from an infected person to another person. Usually, the virus is spread by sexual contact or by sharing drug needles and syringes. It can also be passed from an infected female to her baby during childbirth or breast-feeding.
You cannot get HIV from donating blood, touching, hugging, or social (dry) kissing a person with HIV. You cannot get HIV from a cough, sneeze, tears, or sweat, using a hot tub, telephone, or restroom.
Early symptoms of HIV/AIDS:
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Fatigue |
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Loss of appetite |
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Chronic diarrhea |
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Weight loss |
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Persistent dry cough |
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Fever |
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Night sweats |
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Swollen lymph nodes |
Persons with AIDS are susceptible to many diseases, such as skin infections, fungal infections, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and cancer. These “opportunistic” infections are what lead to death in an AIDS victim.
When HIV invades the brain, it leads to forgetful-ness, impaired speech, trembling, and seizures.
Syphilis is sometimes called “pox,” “siff,” or “bad blood.” Untreated, it can lead to serious health problems or death. It is caused by a specific bacterium. You get syphilis through direct contact with a sore or lesion on an infected sexual partner.
There are three stages of progression:
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Primary stage. A large, painless ulcer-like sore known as a chancre occurs 2 to 6 weeks after infection usually around the area of sexual contact. The chancre disappears within a few weeks. |
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Secondary stage. Within a month after the end of the primary stage, a skin rash appears on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes around the mouth and nose. The rash commonly has small, red, scaly bumps that do not itch. Other rashes, swollen lymph nodes, fever, and flu-like symptoms may also occur. Small patches of hair may fall out of the scalp, beard, eyelashes, and eyebrows. |
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Latent stage. Once syphilis reaches this stage, it may go unnoticed for years, damaging the heart, central nervous system, muscles, and other organs and tissues. The results are often fatal. |
Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite, not by bacteria or a virus.
In females, the parasite can be present in the vagina for years without causing symptoms. If they do occur, typical symptoms include:
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Vaginal itching and burning |
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A yellow-green or grey vaginal discharge with odor |
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Burning or pain when urinating |
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Painful sexual intercourse |
In males, symptoms are not usually present. Males may infect their sexual partners and not know it. When present, symptoms include:
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Discomfort when urinating |
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Pain during intercourse |
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Irritation and itching of the penis |
Treatment
Call your health care provider or the National STD Hotline (1-800-458-5231) to find out how to get tested for STDs. Treatment depends on proper diagnosis.
For Chlamydia:
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Oral antibiotics for the infected person and his or her partner(s) |
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Avoiding sex until treatment is completed in the infected person and his or her partner(s) |
For Genital Herpes:
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There is no cure. Symptoms occur, though, only during flare-ups. |
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Antiviral medicines (e.g. acyclovir, Valtrex) |
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Self-care measures listed below |
For Gonorrhea:
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Antibiotics |
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Pain relievers |
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Treating sexual partner(s) to avoid reinfection |
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Follow-up cultures to determine if the treatment was effective |
For Hepatitis B:
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Self-care measures below |
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Medication may be prescribed for chronic cases. |
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While most people with this type recover, up to 10% can become chronic. (The person can spread the infection even though he or she has no symptoms.) This type can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure in some persons. |
For HIV/AIDS:
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Medications. There are older drugs, such as AZT, and newer ones, such as protease inhibitors and ones known as “Nukes” and “non-Nukes”. These drugs are often used in combinations. |
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Treating infections, such as giving antibiotics for pneumonia |
For HPV (Genital Warts):
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There is no cure. |
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The warts can be removed medically by cryosurgery (freezing them); an acidic chemical that burns them; or laser surgery |
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Females who’ve had genital warts need a Pap test every 6 months or as advised by their health care providers to check for cervical cancer. |
For Syphilis:
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Antibiotics (usually penicillin). If you are allergic to it, another antibiotic can be taken. |
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After treatment, a blood test is taken at 3, 6, and 12 months to be sure the disease is cured. |
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Once treatment is complete, you’re no longer contagious. |
For Trichomoniasis:
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The oral medication metronidazole (Flagyl). {Note: Don’t drink alcohol for 24 hours before, during, and 24 hours after taking metronidazole. The combination causes vomiting, dizziness, and headaches.} |
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Treating sexual partners to prevent reinfection and spreading the infection further |
Questions to Ask
| Do you test positive for HIV or do you have signs and symptoms of any STD listed in this topic? |
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| Are you symptom-free, but worried about having contracted an STD from someone you suspect may be infected? |
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| Do you want to rule out an STD because you have had multiple sex partners and you are considering a new sexual relationship, planning to get married or pregnant? |
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Self-Care
Sexually transmitted diseases need medical care, not self-care alone. Along with medical care, do the following:
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Take a hot bath if you can tolerate it. This may help to inactivate the virus and promote healing. |
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Bathe the affected area twice a day with mild soap and water. Pat dry with a towel or use a hair dryer set on warm. Using a colloidal oatmeal soap or bath may be soothing. |
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Use sitz baths to soak the affected area. You can get a sitz bath basin from medical supply or drug stores. |
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Apply ice packs on the affected genital area for 5 to 10 minutes to relieve itching and swelling. |
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Wear loose fitting pants or skirts. Don’t wear pantyhose. Wear cotton (not nylon) underwear. |
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Squirt tepid water over the genital area while urinating to help with the pain. |
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Take a mild pain reliever. |
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Ask your doctor about using a local anesthetic ointment, such as Lidocaine, during the most painful part of an attack. |
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Wash your hands if you touch the blisters or sores. To avoid spreading the virus to your eyes, don’t touch your eyes during an outbreak. |
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To avoid spreading the virus to others, use latex barriers during sex and skin to skin contact. |
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Rest. |
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Drink at least 8 glasses of fluids a day. |
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Avoid alcohol and any drugs or medicines that affect the liver, such as acetaminophen. |
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Follow a healthy diet. Take vitamin and mineral supplements as advised by your health care provider. |
For HIV/AIDS:
Medical care, not self-care alone, is needed to treat HIV/AIDS. Self-care measures include:
Taking steps to reduce the risk of getting infections and diseases:
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Get adequate rest |
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Get proper nutrition |
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Take vitamin supplements as suggested by your doctor |
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Get emotional support: Join a support group. Also ask your family and friends for support. |
For Information, Contact
AIDS Information Hotline
1-800- 342-AIDS (342-2437)
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention Division of
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
1-800- 458-5231
www.cdcnpin.org
CDC National STD Hotline
1-800- 227-8922
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases
www.niaid.nih.gov