sexually transmitted disease (STD), venereal disease, also called venereal disea se.

A contagious disease usually caught by sexual intercourse or genital contact . These diseases are quite common. Kinds of venereal diseases are gonorrhea, syp hilis, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, scabies, herpes genitalis and anorectal herpes and warts, pediculosis, trichomoniasis, genital candidiasis, molluscum contagiosum, nonspecific urethritis, chlamydial infection s, cytomegalovirus, and AIDS. Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases Gonorrhea Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, or "clap." It is o ften symptomless, especially in women. When symptoms do occur, they appear 2 to 14 days after exposure in men, and 7 to 12 days in women. Women may have painful urination and a vaginal discharge. Men have painful urination and a puslike dis charge from the urinary opening. Rectal gonorrhea can cause anal discomfort and a rectal discharge, and the stool may be coated with pus. Infection of the throa t (called gonococcal pharyngitis) is often symptomless, but some patients develo p a sore throat. Babies born to mothers with gonorrhea may develop an eye infect ion (neonatal ophthalmitis), which can cause blindness if not treated. Complications of untreated gonorrhea can be serious. In men, painful infection o r abscesses involving the testicles and sperm duct can cause sterility. Pelvic i nflammatory disease (PID), or salpingitis, in women usually requires hospitaliza tion and can also cause sterility. Occasionally, the bacteria spread through the bloodstream, causing disease elsewhere in the body. Gonorrhea can be completely cured with antibiotics. There are several different courses of treatment, some involving only one injection of an antibiotic, some c onsisting of oral antibiotics for 7 days, and some requiring a combination of in jections and oral drugs. If an oral antibiotic is prescribed, take it exactly as ordered, for as long as you are supposed to. Do not have sexual contact until y ou have finished treatment and the infection is cured. If symptoms persist after completing the medication, return to your doctor. You may require treatment wit h a different antibiotic. Chlamydia and nongonococcal urethritis These diseases are caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis and can ca use symptoms similar to gonorrhea. Like gonorrhea, Chlamydia is often symptomles s in women. Men usually have burning during urination and a clear or puslike dis charge. Women may have a vaginal discharge, burning on urination, and pain simil ar to menstrual cramps. The symptoms usually appear 5 to 10 days after exposure. Untreated infection can lead to the same serious complications as gonorrhea, in cluding blindness in newborns. Treatment consists of taking an oral antibiotic for 7 to 10 days. Be sure to tak e the antibiotic exactly as prescribed, for as long as prescribed. Do not have s exual contact until you have finished therapy and are completely cured. Syphilis Syphilis is caused by an organism called Treponema pallidum. The organism rapidl y travels through the blood and invades the bones, brain, heart, and other organ s. Untreated syphilis can cause serious disability. There are four stages that m ark the progression of this disease: primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, laten t syphilis, and tertiary (late) syphilis. Treatment at early stages will stop th e progression to later stages. A chancre, the sign of primary syphilis, usually appears within 4 weeks of expos ure. The chancre starts as a small red pimple or blister that soon becomes an ul cer. It is not painful, but a clear fluid oozes from the ulcer. This fluid conta ins many organisms. One or more chancres can appear anywhere on the body exposed to the infection--on the penis, vulva, anus, rectum, inside the vagina, or on t he lips or mouth. Even without treatment, the chancres disappear in about 4 to 6

weeks. Without treatment, however, many organisms continue their destructive pa th through the body. In secondary syphilis, skin rashes appear 6 to 12 weeks after infection. The ras hes may come and go on different parts of the body or they may be persistent. Sw ollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpit, and neck are common, as are fever and ot her flulike symptoms. The latent stage begins about 1 year after exposure. Skin rashes sometimes erupt , but by the second year, all symptoms usually disappear. This stage can last a few years. In the tertiary stage (about 3 to 10 years after exposure--much soone r in patients with HIV infection), a type of ulceration called a gumma develops on the skin, bone, or internal organs. Heart, brain, and nervous system complica tions are common at this stage. Untreated syphilis, even in the absence of chancres, can be transmitted sexually and to the fetus. Infections can cause serious malformations and even death of the fetus. Often a single dose of penicillin injected into a muscle will cure early syphili s. For syphilis that has been present for over 1 year, several injections are ne cessary. Do not have sexual contact until you have finished treatment. See your doctor 3 months after finishing treatment to ensure that you are cured. Genital herpes Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. About 4 to 7 days after ex posure, a small cluster of blisters appears on the external genitals, around the anus, or inside the vagina. The blisters, which may be very painful and itchy, form ulcers. The tissue around the ulcers is very red and inflamed. After a few days, the ulcers crust over, and by about the tenth day, they heal. Some people have swollen lymph nodes, fever, and flulike symptoms. If you are pregnant, tell your doctor if you have ever been infected with herpes . Babies born to mothers with active herpes can be infected during passage throu gh the birth canal. This can cause serious, life-threatening infection in newbor ns. For this reason, cesarean delivery may be performed. Unfortunately, the virus stays inside the body, and herpes nearly always recurs, although subsequent attacks are milder. Treatment with an antiviral drug (acycl ovir) for 7 to 10 days helps lessen the symptoms and speeds healing of the ulcer s. Do not have sexual contact while the herpes is active. Tell your sex partner( s) that you have herpes, because there is a chance you can transmit the virus ev en between attacks. Genital warts Genital warts (also called venereal warts or condylomata acuminata) are caused b y papillomaviruses. The warts appear 1 to 20 months (within an average of 4 mont hs) after exposure. They begin as small, soft, moist, red or pink swellings and quickly develop into the taglike pendulum-shape typical of warts. Often they gro w in clusters and have a texture similar to cauliflower. Genital warts can appea r on the outer genitals (penis or vulva) and around the anus or inside the urina ry opening, vagina, or rectum. Genital warts are removed by cauterization, freezing (cryosurgery), or surgery. In some cases drugs are applied directly to the warts. Genital warts are not eas ily cured, and repeated treatments are often necessary. No therapy kills the vir us; the warts may reappear after treatment. Do not have unprotected sex while t he warts are present. Trichomoniasis Trichomoniasis is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. In women this S TD causes a heavy greenish-yellow, frothy discharge with a strong odor. Irritati on and soreness in the genital area and pain on urination are common. Many women are symptomless carriers of Trichomonas for a long period, although symptoms ca n appear suddenly. Most men are symptomless but can carry and transmit the disea se. The drug metronidazole, which is taken orally in one large dose or in smaller do

ses for 7 days, cures the infection completely. Both the woman and her sexual pa rtner(s) must be treated. Do not have sexual contact until treatment is complete d. Protecting yourself in the future To protect yourself from getting an STD, you have three choices: (1) complete ab stinence from sex, (2) having a totally monogamous relationship, and (3) using a condom correctly from start to finish. Abstinence is not acceptable to many peo ple; for this reason, learn to use a condom and use one every time you have sex. There is no way to be certain whether your partner is sexually active with othe rs. If you get an STD during pregnancy, seek treatment immediately. If you are treat ed for an STD, make sure that your sexual partner is treated also to avoid being reinfected. Signs and Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases I've been told I may have a sexually transmitted disease. Does that mean I have AIDS? No. There are over 50 known sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is certainly the most talked about these days, but i t's only one kind. Most STDs can be treated, others can be controlled, and all c an be prevented. However, it's important to receive treatment for any STD, becau se left untreated, some STDs can cause serious health problems, including infert ility, heart disease, brain damage, damage to unborn children, and even death. Who is most at risk for getting a sexually transmitted disease? Anyone who has sexual relations is potentially at risk, but particularly those w ho are not monogamous or have not been monogamous in the past. With the exceptio n of AIDS and hepatitis B (which can be spread by sharing drug needles), if you don't have sex, you have virtually no risk of getting an STD. If you have sex wi th only one person who also has had no other sex partners, you have a low risk o f infection. If you have sex with a few people you know well, your risk increase s. The sex partners you choose determine the risk you face. If your partner has sex with others, your risk increases, because you have no control over your part ner's choices. Finally, of course, if you have sex with many people, you are at highest risk of getting an STD. What are the signs, symptoms, and treatment of the more common sexually transmit ted diseases? There are many different kinds of infections that can be transmitted during sexu al activity. Never attempt to make a diagnosis on your own; the following list o ffers only a general description of a few of the most common sexually transmitte d diseases. Chlamydia--Symptoms: Pain on urination, vaginal discharge, or abdominal pain. Ke ep in mind, though, that often a woman doesn't have symptoms at first. Left untr eated, chlamydia leads to serious infection, called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); symptoms usually occur within 1 to 3 weeks after sex with an infected par tner. Treatment: When diagnosed early, chlamydia can be cured easily with antibi otics. Genital herpes--Symptoms: Early symptoms include burning or pain with urination, pain in the buttocks, legs, or genital area, vaginal discharge, or a feeling of pressure in the pelvic area. In a few days, small red bumps appear in the genit al area; later the bumps develop into blisters, which open, crust, and then heal . Even after the sores disappear, the herpes virus remains in the body and can r eactivate at any time, causing a new outbreak of blisters. The symptoms develop within 2 to 10 days after sex with an infected partner. Treatment: Herpes can't be cured, but it can be controlled. The drug acyclovir may speed healing and pre

vent recurrences. It also helps to keep the sores clean, dry, and free of irrita tion. Don't scratch them. Pregnant women who have had herpes should tell their d octors so precautions can be taken to protect the baby. Gonorrhea--Symptoms: Often there are no signs. The person may experience pain or burning when urinating, or a woman may have a yellowish vaginal discharge. Adva nced symptoms include bleeding between menstrual periods, swollen joints, fever, or pain in the pelvic area. Left untreated, gonorrhea leads to pelvic inflammat ory disease (PID); symptoms usually occur within 2 to 10 days after sex with an infected partner. Treatment: Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that can be quic kly treated with antibiotics. Your partner should also be examined, and sexual a ctivity should be avoided during treatment. Genital warts (condylomata)--Symptoms: Genital warts are small bumpy warts that appear on or near the sex organs, usually 3 weeks to 3 months after sex with an infected partner. The warts sometimes develop inside the vagina, on the lips of the vagina, or around the anus, and they may grow into large masses. A mother ma y pass them on to her baby during childbirth. Treatment: Condylomata are most ea sily removed when they are small, so get treatment early. They're usually remove d with chemicals such as podophyllin, but they may also be frozen off with liqui d nitrogen or surgically removed. Repeat treatments often are necessary to remov e all warts. A single wart can multiply. Syphilis--Symptoms: The first symptom of syphilis, which usually occurs 1 to 12 weeks after sex with an infected partner, often is a painless sore on the genita ls. The sore may occur inside the body and go unnoticed. The sore disappears wit hin a few weeks, but the disease progresses. In the second stage, a skin rash ap pears, along with flulike symptoms. These, too, eventually go away, but the dise ase doesn't. Left untreated, syphilis can lead to blindness, heart disease, brai n damage, and even death. Treatment: Early antibiotic treatment is important. Th e symptoms of the infection may disappear, but the disease will remain in the bo dy. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS--Symptoms: HIV infection a nd AIDS may produce no symptoms for months or years. As the immune system weaken s, the symptoms include swollen lymph glands, fever, night sweats, severe fatigu e, and weight loss. AIDS may be diagnosed when the person develops rare cancers and pneumonia. Treatment: If you have symptoms of HIV infection or are in a high -risk group or have sexual intercourse with someone in a high- risk group, see a doctor immediately. Although there is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS, treatm ents to fight the infection are available. For information, call the AIDS 24-hou r hotline: 1-800-342-AIDS. Vaginitis--Symptoms: Although vaginitis is considered mainly a woman's problem, it can be carried and spread by men. In fact, one form, trichomoniasis, often is considered a "ping pong" disease because sex partners don't know they have it a nd keep reinfecting each other. All forms of vaginitis share a common symptom of unusual discharge. Trichomoniasis produces a frothy yellow discharge with a per sistent itching or burning and possibly an unpleasant odor. Yeast infection prod uces a discharge that looks like cottage cheese and possibly an intense itch. A Gardnerella infection causes a grayish-white, watery, strong-smelling discharge. Treatment: Both you and your partner should be treated with metronidazole for t richomoniasis to avoid reinfecting each other. Gardnerella infections are also t reated with either metronidazole or ampicillin; yeast infections are treated wit h antifungal vaginal suppositories or creams, such as nystatin. How can I reduce my chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease? Naturally, the best way to reduce your risk is by not having sex or by having se x with one mutually faithful, uninfected partner, or by using a condom during se x. Remember, the more sexual partners you have, the greater your risk. You can a lso reduce your risk by using condoms and spermicidals during sex; by urinating and washing after sex (but not douching; douching may actually force germs highe r up into the body); by not having sex with someone who uses intravenous drugs o r engages in anal sex; and by not engaging in oral, anal, or vaginal sex with an infected person. If you think you may have AIDS or an STD, seek treatment immed

iately. How do I give myself a genital self- examination? Start by examining the area that the pubic hair covers. It may help to position a mirror so that you can see your entire genital area. Even with a mirror, it ma y be difficult to see all areas. Experiment with positions that work best for yo u without making yourself uncomfortable. Start by spreading your pubic hair apar t with your fingers. Carefully look for any bumps, sores, or blisters on the ski n. Also look for warts. Genital warts may look like other warts; they may first appear as very small bumpy spots. Left untreated, they could develop a fleshy, c auliflower-like appearance. Next, spread the outer vaginal lips apart and take a close look at the hood of y our clitoris, which is at the top of the inner lips. Then gently pull the hood u p to reveal your clitoris. Once again, look for bumps, blisters, sores, or warts . Finally, examine both sides of your inner lips and the area around your urinary and vaginal openings for the same signs. Besides these visual bumps and sores, what are other signs and symptoms of an ST D? Some STDs may cause a vaginal discharge that may be thicker, possibly yellow, an d may also have an odor. Other symptoms or signs include a painful or burning se nsation when urinating, pain in your pelvic area, bleeding between menstrual per iods, or an itchy rash around the vagina.