What Are Sexually Transmitted Diseases STD

STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease. These are diseases caused by a pathogen (e.g. virus, bacterium, parasite, fungus), transmitted between humans mainly through sexual intercourse (vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex). 

These diseases were known as "venereal diseases" until the 1990s: Veneris is the Latin genitive (possessive) form of the name Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Nowadays, newer terms like sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or sexually transmitted infections (STI) have been introduced in order to make the warning more clear to the public.

However, some physicians make a clear distinction between STD and STI. On one hand an infection presupposes the presence of a germ (virus, bacteria or parasite) that can cause disease inside the person’s body. But, an infected person does not necessarily have symptoms that the germ is actually harming their body. On the other hand a disease means that the germ is actually harming a person's body. Infection is a much broader term. 

Most of the STIs are transmitted through the mucous membranes of the penis, vulva and rarely the mouth. There are STIs that can be transmitted by direct skin contact such as Herpes simplex and HPV (Human Papillomavirus). 

STDs occur mostly in sexually active teenagers and young adults, the majority having multiple sex partners. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there are over 15 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases reported annually in the United States. 

Many STDs do not cause very harmful diseases. Some persons carry the disease for longer periods, during which they are contagious. 

There are cases, in persistent infections, when the pathogen escapes detection by the immune system and remains inactive, causing no overt disease. This is known as "latency". Nevertheless, the infection may be reactivated by multiple factors: stress, immune suppression, injury etc. Reactivated diseases can be asymptomatic (e.g. Chlamydia) or overt (e.g. genital herpes), and even fatal (e.g. HIV/AIDS, hepatitis). 

STD infection can have severe consequences, if not treated: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis) in women, inflammation of the urethra (urethritis) and inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) in men, and fertility and reproductive system problems in both sexes. Some of them can be even fatal. 

STD infection during pregnancy may have serious consequences on the fetus: stillbirth, blindness and permanent neurological problems are just a few of them. 

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

STDs are divided into several groups according to their pathogenic causes: 

BACTERIAL

• Chancroid (Haemophillius ducreyi)

• Chlamydia infection (Chlamydia trachomatis)

• Donovanosis (Granuloma inguinale or Calymmatobacterium granulomatis)

• Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)

• Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) (Clamydia trachomatis serotypes L1, L2, L3)

• Non – gonococcal urethritis (NGU) (Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis)

• Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)

 VIRAL 

• Cytomegalovirus

• Hepatitis B

• Herpes /HSV (Herpes simplex virus)

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS)

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

• Molluscum (MC)

• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

 PARASITES 

• Pubic Lice or, more popular, “crabs” (Phthirius pubis)

• Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei)

FUNGAL 

• Candidiasis (thrush) (Candida albicans) – can be sexually transmitted but not strictly an STD

PROTOZOAL 

• Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis)

How Can I Tell If I am Infected With A STD? 

Most of the symptoms of STDs can be found either on the genitals or in and around the mouth. Some of the most common STD symptoms are:

• Itching around the vagina and/or discharge from the vagina for women

• Discharge from the penis for men

• Pain during sex, when urinating and/or in the pelvic area

• Sore throats in people who have oral sex

• Pain in the anus for people who have anal sex

• Chancre sores (painless red sores) on the genital area, anus, tongue and/or throat

• A scaly rash on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet

• Dark urine, loose, light-coloured stools, and yellow eyes and skin

• Small blisters that turn into scabs on the genital area

• Swollen glands, fever and body aches

• Unusual infections, unexplained fatigue, night sweats and weight loss

• Soft, flesh-coloured warts around the genital area

Since symptoms can vary from one person to another, the best way to know for sure whether you are infected or not with an STD is to have a medical examination.  

Can STD Infection Be Prevented? 

It is not so difficult to prevent becoming infected with an STD. The risk of getting one can be reduced by using condoms during vaginal and anal sex. It has been scientifically proven that condoms help prevent HIV and other major STDs. Nevertheless STDs like herpes, pubic lice and wart virus can be spread by simple skin – to – skin contact. 

In order to be effective the condom MUST be used every time you have sex.

Or you can think about these other solutions:

• Not having sex at all. It is up to you to decide whether you want to have sex or not.

• Have sex only in ways that do not present the risk of catching a major STD, like kissing, mutual masturbation or whatever you can think of.

• Have sex with only one partner (monogamous relationship).

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