You may think you know everything you need to know about STDs: Syphilis was a threat, like, 200 years ago, HPV is a woman thing, and HIV is really scary—but would never happen to you. Plus, you wear condoms like a good, responsible guy, so you have nothing to worry about, right?



Not exactly. Most people are under the impression that only societal "outcasts" get STDs, says Jill Grimes, M.D. and author of Seductive Delusions: How Everyday People Catch STDs. "Let me tell you, that is not the population I treat with STDs. My patients are doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, models, students, and athletes."

Here's another fact: Condoms don't fully protect you against STDs that are spread from skin-to-skin contact, says Grimes. That makes you susceptible to herpes, syphilis, HPV, and pubic lice—not to mention the 11% annual fail rate of condoms.



So what can you do?



First, get tested. Make an appointment with your regular physician or contact a Planned Parenthood to get screened for cheap. While getting your penis swabbed or being jabbed with a needle might be uncomfortable, it sure beats a bad case of the clap—or an angry partner whom you unknowingly infected.



Second, refresh your facts to protect yourself: We dug up data on the most prevalent STDs and how to prevent them—without swearing off sex.

CHANCROID

Symptoms: Within two weeks of exposure, a small bump appears that grows into a painful gray or yellow-gray ulcer. Men tend to only have a single ulcer on the penis or scrotum.

How it spreads: Through sexual contact with an infected partner, usually at the site of an open sore or cut. Most people in the U.S. diagnosed with chancroid have traveled to developing countries where the disease is more common.

Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; using a condom can help decrease your risk but wont prevent it.

Treatment: Antibiotocs

Just so you know: Uncircumcised men are at much higher risk than circumcised men for infection.



CHLAMYDIA

Symptoms: May be asymptomatic; a burning sensation when urinating; abnormal discharge from penis or vagina; untreated cases can lead to complications that can cause pain, fever, pelvic inflammatory disease and (more rarely and mostly in women) sterility.

How it spreads: Oral, anal, and vaginal sex through bodily secretions; mother to child.

Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationships with uninfected partner use a condom; screen annually if you have new or multiple partners.



Treatment: Antibiotocs

Just so you know: This is the fastest spreading infection disease in the United States. Many infected people don't know they have it. Women should be screened annually during pelvic exams.

GONORRHEA (AKA "THE CLAP")



Symptoms: Usually develops within 10 days. Often there are no symptoms early on; discharge from the penis and vagina; frequent urination and discomfort during urination; may lead epididymitis in men, which can cause fertility.



How it spreads: Transmitted through semen and vaginal secretions during intercourse. Gonorrhea is actually easily cured. Like Chlamydia, it's caused by a bacteria, so a simple course of antibiotics will zap the clap right out of your system. According to the CDC, it's the second most reported infectious disease with nearly 356,000 infections in 2007, but it's estimated that about twice as many new cases actually occur but are undiagnosed and unreported.

Prevention: Use a condom; mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; testing if you have new or multiple partners.



Treatment: Antibiotocs

Just so you know: Gonorrhea has shown resistance to certain drugs, so treatments are limited to one type of antibiotic, the CDC reports. Women should be screened annually during pelvic exams.

HERPES



Symptoms: Genital: Itching, burning, soreness, and small blisters in the genital area and possibly headache, and fever usually within 2 weeks after contact small sores when blisters brake; enlarged or painful lymph nodes (swollen glands) in the groin area.



How it spreads: Oral, anal, and vaginal sex; contact with infected skin.

Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; use a condom.



Treatment: No cure, but symptoms can be controlled to reduce recurrence.

Just so you know: These are two strands of the cirus: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) which causes cold sores, and herpes simples virus type 2 (HSV-1), which is responsible for genital herpes. At least 50 million people in the country have genital herpes.

HEPATITIS B



Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms, fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, joint pain, although there may be no early symptoms in up to one third of cases.



How it spreads: Through the passing of bodily fluids such as semen, blood, and vaginal fluid, during all types of intercourse, IV drug use with shared needles; mother to child.

Prevention: Hepatitis B vaccine; mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; condoms but they don't fully protect against the infection; do not share needles.



Treatment: Symptoms usually clear up in a few months with rest and fluids. Drugs are prescribed for chronic infection but there is no cure. Left untreated, Hepatitis B can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.

Just so you know: The virus can be transmitted through contact with contaminated medical instruments and tattoo and piercing needles. Hepatitis C virus is similar to hepatitis B. It can be sexually transmitted, but is most often passed though IV drug use.

HIV/AIDS



Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms, or no early symptoms; fever, swollen glands, weight loss, fatigue, rash, weakened immune system.



How it spreads: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is transmitted primarily via bodily fluids through sex, blood transfusions, or contaminated syringes. Semen to blood contact through anal intercourse in the greatest risk.



Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; condoms reduce, but don't eliminate risk; do not share needles; wear latex gloves when treating open wounds of others.



Treatment: No cure, although antiretroviral drugs are effective at suppressing the virus, increasing CD4 cell count, and strengthening the immune system. For more on the effort to eliminate the disease, click here.



Just so you know: If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, contact your doctor immediately. The risk of getting HIV/AIDS can be decreased with post exposure treatment with highly active antiretroviral treatment. Always inform your past partners if you've been diagnosed with HIV. Note that nonoxynol-9 spermicide irritates vaginal tissues, increasing risk of HIV infection in women.

HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV)



Symptoms: Often no symptoms occur but some people can get genital warts, small raised bumps on the genitals, which may be itchy.



How it spreads: Skin-to-skin contact with the vagina, penis and vulva, anus scrotum an other genital areas—even when the infected partner has no signs or symptoms; mother to child.



Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. HPV vaccine available for some strains (click here for more info on the vaccination effort); condom use reduces, but does not eliminate risk.



Treatment: No cure, but genital warts can be removed by laser, with chemicals or by freezing with liquid nitrogen.



Just so you know: A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine found a strong correlation between oral sex and throat cancer from HPV. People with five or more oral sex partners are 2.5 times more likely to get throat cancer than those who don't have oral sex.

PUBIC LICE (AKA "CRABS")



Symptoms: itching in the area covered by pubic hair.



How it spreads: Sexual activity with an infected partner.



Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; use a condom; good personal hygiene.



Treatment: Comb the pubic hair with a fine-toothed comb to remove eggs and apply a prescription shampoo.



Just so you know: While you are treating pubic lice, wash all clothing and linens in hot water. Items that cannot be washed may be sprayed with a medicated spray or sealed in plastic bags and not used for two weeks.

SYPHILLIS



Symptoms: Primary: An ulcer or sore at the infection site. Secondary: A rash which may look like "copper penny" spots or fine red dots on palms or soles of the feet; a skin rash on arms, legs, and trunk, sore throat, sores in throat, fever. Latent Stage: typically syphilis then goes undercover for years, and can eventually cause severe and fatal complications.



How it spreads: The microorganism passes from sores though tiny breaks in the uninfected partner’s skin during vaginal, oral or anal intercourse.



Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; use condoms; but they don't fully protect against the disease since it can be spread through unprotected areas of skin.



Treatment: Antibiotics, but permanent damage may have occurred prior to treatment.



Just so you know: Syphilis peaked in the nineteenth century, but there was a re-emergence of the disease in the past decade. This disease is highly infectious and can be deadly; its crucial to receive treatment in its early stages.

TRICHOMONIASIS



Symptoms: Men typically have no symptoms or a minor irritation in the urethra. Women may experience vaginal discharge, itching and pain during urination or intercourse.



How it spreads: The one-celled parasite passes between partners though vaginal intercourse. The protozoan can also be passed from one person to another via wet towels and washcloths, sex toys, and other moist objects.



Prevention: Mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner; use condoms but they don't fully protect against infection since the parasite can be spread through unprotected areas of the skin.



Treatment: Antibiotics



Just so you know: It may take weeks or months before symptoms show up.

For more information about STD awareness and prevention, contact the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at cdc.gov/nchhstp or call the National STI Resource Center Hotline at 1-919-361-8488.

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