Introduction:

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infectious diseases that are spread through sexual contact. STDs are among the most common infectious diseases in the world today. There are more than 20 types, affecting more than 13 million men and women in the United States each year. Some of the most common STDs include chlamydia infection, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and syphilisyphilis.

Signs and Symptoms:

STDs often happen without symptoms, particularly in women. However, STDs may have the following signs and symptoms:

• Itching
• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pustules (pus-containing blisters)
• Genital sores including ulcers, blisters, rashes, and warts.
• Abdominal pain
• Rectal infection and inflammation of the rectum
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Painful urination
• Painful sex
• Bleeding between menstrual cycles
• Repeated urinary tract infections
• Swollen lymph glands in the groin

What Causes It?:

STDs are caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites spread primarily (but not always) through sexual contact. Some STDs can be passed from a mother to her baby during delivery and through breast-feeding while infected. Others may be passed by sharing infected needles. Some of the most common STDs, and the microorganisms that cause them, include:

• AIDS: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Chlamydia infection: Chlamydia trachomatis
• Genital herpes: herpes simplex virus (HSV)
• Genital warts: human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Gonorrhea: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Syphilis: Treponema pallidum
• Other infections can be spread through sexual contact or non-sexual contact, such as the Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis A, and candidal (yeast) infections.

Who's Most At Risk?:

These conditions or characteristics put you at risk for developing STDs:

Sexually active adults ages 18 - 28. Teens are at highest risk for acquiring an STD for the first time.

Having a sexual partner with an STD. In many cases, the person may not have symptoms.

Having many sexual partners, or a partner who has many sexual partners.

Having sex without a condom or other protection.

Having one STD increases the chance of getting another.

Living under stress from poverty, poor nutrition, or lack of health care.

Having anal intercourse increases risk for HIV, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Having a weakened immune system.

Using IV drugs and sharing needles.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office:

Your health care provider will do an examination and check for physical signs of disease. Blood tests and tests of discharge or fluid or material from a genital sore can help find what is causing the infection so you can get the right treatment.

Treatment Options:

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of getting an STD with these actions:

• Delay first sexual experience.
• Have a mutually monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner.
• Always use a male or female condom for every act of oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse.
• Use clean needles if injecting intravenous drugs.
• Prevent and control other STDs.
• Have regular checkups for STDs even if you have no symptoms, especially if you are having sex with a new partner or with multiple partners.
• Learn the common symptoms of STDs and seek medical help immediately if you develop any symptoms.
• Take medications to suppress the virus if you have HPV or HSV.
• If you are a girl age 11 - 26, get vaccinated for HPV.

Anyone diagnosed with an STD should be treated, avoid sexual activity while being treated, notify all recent sexual partners, complete the course of any medications prescribed, and take a follow-up test.

Drug Therapies

STDs are generally treated with antibiotic and antiviral medicines. Your doctor may recommend suppressive medications if you have HSV or HPV. These therapies reduce the number and length of outbreaks, as well as the rate of transmission.. See also: HIV and AIDS.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Some CAM therapies can be helpful for STDs -- as treatment along with conventional medicines, as prevention, to improve the immune system, or to reduce certain complications, such as arthritis from gonorrhea.

Some CAM therapies can help treat specific STDs, including human papilloma virus and herpes viral infections. Check with your health care provider about which supplements to use for your condition, and about how herbs and supplements may interact with prescription and non-prescription drugs.

None of these CAM approaches offers a cure or a single treatment option. You should not use these therapies instead of seeing your doctor and getting conventional medications. Even during treatment, STDs remain highly contagious -- and you must take the necessary precautions so that you don' t transmit the STD to your sexual partner (see "Prevention" section).

Always tell your health care provider about the herbs and supplements you are using.

Nutrition and Supplements

These supplements may help when you have an STD:

• B-complex vitamins, for immune support, particularly if you have HPV.
• Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day. Taking antibiotics to treat an STD can upset the balance of bacteria in your intestines and cause diarrhea. Probiotics, or “friendly” bacteria, can help restore the balance. Refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results.
• Propolis, 3% ointment, applied topically, may speed the healing of genital lesions caused by herpes simplex virus type 2. Propolis is a resin made by bees. One small study of people with genital herpes compared an ointment made from propolis to Zovirax ointment. People using propolis saw the lesions heal faster than those using topical Zovirax. More studies are needed to say for sure whether propolis works.
• Zinc, applied in a topical cream, may reduce the severity and duration of genital herpes lesions.

Herbs

Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to diagnose your problem before starting any treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day.

• Green tea (Camellia sinensis), proprietary extract, applied topically. A proprietary extract of green tea, called Polyphenon E ointment, is approved by the FDA as a topical treatment for genital warts caused by HPV.
• Aloe (Aloe vera), 0.5% cream. Some early evidence suggests that aloe gel used topically may improve the symptoms of genital herpes in men. In two studies, men who used the aloe vera cream saw lesions heal faster than those who used a placebo cream.
• Eleutherococcus or Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus/Acanthopanax senticosus). One 6-month study of 93 people with genital herpes found that Siberian ginseng reduced the frequency, severity, and duration of outbreaks. Other studies have found no effect. Don' t take this herb if you have high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy (frequent day time sleeping), are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), 150 - 300 mg 2 - 3 times daily, may help boost the immune system. You may also take a tincture of this mushroom extract, 30 - 60 drops 2 - 3 times a day. High doses of reishi may have a blood thinning effect and could increase the effect of medicines such as warfarin (Coumadin) and aspirin. Ask your doctor before taking reishi.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses many herb combinations to strengthen and tone the immune system, and as antiviral agents. Check with your health care provider for more information on TCM.

Homeopathy

Homeopaths use various homeopathic remedies to treat STDs. However, no scientific studies have looked homeopathy for this purpose. An experienced homeopath would consider each individual case and may recommend treatments to address both the underlying constitution and the specific symptoms of the STD.

Prognosis/Possible Complications:

Many STDs can be treated effectively when they are diagnosed early. However, many complications can result from not treating STDs. Some types of STDs often come back. Some can cause permanent damage to the reproductive organs and infertility. Having other STDs increases the risk for becoming infected with HIV. Some bacteria may become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat some STDs.

Following Up:

Depending on the type of STD you have, your health care provider may want to see you for follow-up visits to be sure the disease has not come back or to continue your treatment. If you are pregnant, an STD can cause serious complications for your unborn baby. Your health care provider will discuss treatment options with you.

Alternative Names:

STDs