Human Papillomavirus Infection (HPV)
Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis (“Trich”)
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
HIV
Human Papillomavirus Infection (HPV)
What is it?
There are many types of HPV infection that affect the body in different ways. Although the majority of HPV infections have no symptoms, some cause genital warts (soft, small, flesh-colored, cauliflower-like growths found on the genitals and anus), and some strains of HPV infection have been linked to cancer.
How do you get it?
You get it by vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse with a person who has HPV.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
There are many forms of HPV that have no signs of infection. Warts may be seen in the genital and anal area but can also be located in places not as easily seen such as the walls of the vagina, cervix, and throat. Symptoms may not show up until 1 to 8 months after contact with HPV.
How is a diagnosis made?
Warts can be diagnosed by an external exam of the genitals and rectal area. Since most HPV is not visible a woman’s annual exam and Pap smear are important to detect it and prevent cancer.
What is the treatment?
HPV can never be cured but treatment is available. There are creams, gels, and solutions available by prescription that an individual can use to destroy the warts. Also, warts can be removed by freezing, burning, or surgery in a healthcare provider’s office.
Abnormal Pap smears due to HPV infection will be followed closely. You may be referred for microscopic exam and biopsy of cervix.
What happens if you don’t get treated?
Whether you are treated or not, HPV can still be given to another person and unborn child since the virus is always present in your body. Treatment of warts for men is for cosmetic reasons only. Treatment of HPV for women is to decrease risk of getting cervical cancer.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms can decrease the risk of getting HPV and giving it to new sexual partners. Women can now get Gardasil, the new HPV vaccine, to decrease their risk of acquiring the 4 most common HPV strains that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts.
Where can I find more information?
Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection
What is it?
Herpes may start with a tingling feeling followed by the development of a blister-like sore. The sore then drains fluid, forms an ulcer, scabs, and heals. There are 2 types of HSV infection, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is generally “above the waist” and includes herpes lesions that are found on the lips (cold sores/fever blisters), in the mouth and throat, and on the face. HSV-2 is generally “below the waist” and includes herpes found on the genitals.
How do you get it?
You can get it by vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse. HSV spreads from an individual who has the virus to body areas through broken skin, or thin skin (mouth and genitals). HSV can also spread by touching the herpes sore and touching another area of one’s self or another person.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
Although the virus is always in your body once infected, a herpes sore may not always be present. Herpes can easily be seen in the genital area, anal area, face, lips, and mouth. Before the sore erupts a tingling or itching feeling may occur. It usually reoccurs in the same area. Occasionally, swollen glands, body aches, and fever may occur. Symptoms may not show until 2 to 30 days after contact with HSV.
How is a diagnosis made?
Diagnosis can be made from a blood test and culture of fluid from a herpes sore.
What is the treatment?
HSV is a virus and can never be cured but treatment is available. There are 2 types of treatment, episodic treatment, to shorten the length of the outbreak AND suppressive therapy, to decrease the rate of outbreaks. Creams and oral medications can be used for treatment.
What happens if you don’t get treated?
If you don’t get treated your outbreaks may be more frequent, last longer, and consist of more sores. During an outbreak, HSV can spread to the infant during childbirth. HSV, like other STIs, increases your risk of being infected with HIV.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms can decrease the risk of getting herpes and giving it to other partners. During outbreaks, you should abstain from sex (vaginal, oral, and anal). Frequent handwashing and not touching herpes sores decrease HSV from spreading.
Where can I find more information?
Chlamydia
What is it?
A bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
How do you get it?
You get it by vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse with a person who has Chlamydia.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
It is not unusual to have no signs of infection. Women may have vaginal discharge, spotting between periods, burning with urination, and pain in the abdomen (stomach area). Men may have white, thin discharge from the penis, burning and frequency associated with urination, swelling and pain of the testicles, and pain in the stomach area. Symptoms may not appear until 7 to 21 days after contact with Chlamydia.
How is a diagnosis made?
Diagnosis can be made from a urine test or a swab of fluid from the woman’s cervix or man’s penis.
What is the treatment?
Since Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, it can be cured with antibiotics. Sexual partners should also be treated with antibiotics.
What happens if you don’t get treated?
If you don’t get treated you can spread Chlamydia to your sexual partner or your unborn child. Chlamydia can spread to other areas of your body. If not treated, sterility (losing the ability to have children) and arthritis in men can become issues. Chlamydia, like other STIs, increases your risk of being infected with HIV.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms can decrease the risk of getting Chlamydia and giving it to new sexual partners. If you are diagnosed with Chlamydia, you and your partner should not have sex (vaginal, oral, and anal) again until both of you have finished your medication and no signs and symptoms of Chlamydia are present.
Where can I find more information?
Gonorrhea
What is it?
A bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
How do you get it?
You can get it by vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse with a person who has Gonorrhea.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
Women may note a thick yellow, gray vaginal discharge, spotting between periods, burning when urinating, or pain in the abdomen (stomach area). Men may have a thick yellow, green discharge from the penis, burning and frequency associated with urination, swelling and pain of the testicles. Symptoms may not show until 2 to 21 days after contact with Gonorrhea.
How is a diagnosis made?
Diagnosis can be made from urine, cultures taken from affected areas, and examination of vaginal and penile discharge under the microscope.
What is the treatment?
Since Gonnorhea is a bacterial infection, it can be cured with antibiotics. Your partner must be tested and treated.
What happens if you don’t get treated?
Gonorrhea can spread to your partner. If not treated, the infection can spread and lead to sterility (losing the ability to have children), arthritis, and heart problems. Gonorrhea can affect pregnancy and also be spread to the infant during childbirth causing illness or blindness. Gonorrhea, like other STIs, increases your risk of being infected with HIV.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms can decrease the risk of getting Gonorrhea and giving it to new sexual partners. If you are diagnosed with Gonorrhea, you and your partner should not have sex (vaginal, oral, and anal) again until both of you have finished your medication and no signs and symptoms of Gonorrhea are present.
Where can I find more information?
Syphilis
What is it?
A bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum.
How do you get it?
You can get it by vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse with a person who has Syphilis.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
The signs and symptoms of the infection change with the phase of the infection.
The primary phase is associated with a painless sore called a chancre (ulcer) that may appear on the sex organs, anus and/or in the mouth. The chancre may not appear until 21 days to 90 days after being infected.
The secondary phase is after the chancre has appeared and may not occur until 3 to 6 weeks after the chancre or chancres have healed. The secondary phase is associated with a body rash (especially on the palms and soles of the feet), fever, swollen glands, hair and weight loss, and muscle pains.
The late phase can cause damage to the nervous system, heart, and brain as well as death.
How is a diagnosis made?
Diagnosis can be made from a blood test and culture of fluid from a syphilis chancre.
What is the treatment?
Since Syphilis is a bacterial infection, it can be cured with antibiotics. Your partner must also be tested and treated.
What happens if you don’t get treated?
If you don’t get treated you can spread Syphilis to your sexual partner or your unborn child. Syphilis can spread to other areas of your body. If not treated, it can cause serious permanent damage such as neurological disorders and DEATH. Once a person receives treatment, Syphilis will stop damaging your body but it can not reverse the damage already caused. Syphilis, like other STIs, increases your risk of being infected with HIV.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms can decrease the risk of getting Syphilis and giving it to your sexual partners. If you are diagnosed with Syphilis, you and your partner should not have sex (vaginal, oral, and anal) until both of you have finished your antibiotics.
Where can I find more information?
Trichomoniasis (“Trich”)
What is it?
A bacterial infection caused by a parasitic organism called Trichomonas vaginalis.
How do you get it?
Trichomoniasis is transmitted through vaginal sex with an infected person.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
Women may have a yellow-green frothy vaginal discharge with a fishy odor, pain and burning with urination, and irritation and itchiness of the genital area. Men usually have no symptoms but may have watery discharge from the penis and burning, pain, and increased frequency with urination. Symptoms may not appear for 4 to 28 days after contact with Trich.
How is a diagnosis made?
A diagnosis can be made by examining the discharge under the microscope.
What is the treatment?
Trich can be cured with antibiotics. Sexual partners should also be treated with antibiotics.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Trich can spread to your sexual partner and cause problems with your ability to become pregnant. Trich, like other STIs, increases your risk of being infected with HIV.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms and spermicide can decrease the risk of getting Trich and giving it to your sexual partners. If you are diagnosed with Trich, you and your partner should not have vaginal sex until both of you have finished your antibiotics.
Where can I find more information?
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
What is it?
A bacterial infection in women caused by an overgrowth of naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina.
How do you get it?
Sexual activity increases your risk of BV but it is not always associated with sexual contact. It is thought that anything that disrupts the balance of naturally occurring good and bad vaginal bacteria can cause BV.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
Women may note a thin, milky white or gray, fishy smelling vaginal discharge, or itching of the vaginal area. Despite the common signs and symptoms BV can occur without symptoms.
How is a diagnosis made?
Diagnosis can be made by microscopic evaluation, pH of vaginal discharge, and a positive whiff test (fishy odor).
What is the treatment?
Since BV is a bacterial infection, it can be cured with oral antibiotics or vaginal creams that are only available by prescription. It is not usually necessary that a partner be treated for BV.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Symptoms will continue without treatment. BV can affect your pregnancy by causing a preterm birth.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms can decrease the risk of getting BV. Avoid douching or using feminine hygiene sprays since they may upset the balance of naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina.
Where can I find more information?
HIV
What is it?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
How do you get it?
You can get HIV through exchange of blood (small cuts during intercourse, shared needles, and blood transfusions) or bodily fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, saliva, and breast milk) with someone who has it.
What are some of the common signs and symptoms of it?
Symptoms can include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms that do not go away. Also, thrush (patches of white in mouth) and persistent vaginal yeast infections can occur.
How is a diagnosis made?
There are blood, urine, and saliva tests to detect the presence of antibodies that form in response to the presence of HIV infection. The antibody can be detected in most people within six weeks to six months from the time of infection. A positive test for HIV does not necessarily mean that the person has AIDS.
What is the treatment?
There is no cure. Symptoms of HIV can be treated and there are medications available that slow the progress of the disease. HIV is considered a fatal disease.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
If you don’t get treated the disease may progress at a faster rate. Whether you are treated or not, HIV can still be given to another person because the virus is always present in your body.
How can I reduce my risk of getting it?
Using condoms can decrease the risk of getting HIV and giving it to new sexual partners.
Where can I find more information?