Men's Health

Men's Health Conditions

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States today.

More than 20 STDs have now been identified.
STDs affect more than 13 million men and women in this country each year.

How can STDs be prevented?

The best way to prevent STDs is to not have sexual intercourse, however, there are things that you can do to reduce the risk of developing an STD.

Be direct and frank about asking a new sex partner whether he or she has an STD, has been exposed to one, or has any unexplained physical symptoms.

Learn to recognize the physical signs of STDs and inspect a sex partner's body, especially the genital area, for sores, rashes, or discharges.

Don't have sex if your partner has signs or symptoms of STDs, and urge him or her to get medical attention as soon as possible.

Use a condom during sexual intercourse and use it correctly. Diaphragms may also reduce the risk of transmission of some STDs. Although there is some laboratory evidence that spermicides can kill STD organisms, the usefulness of spermicides in preventing STDs is still under evaluation.

Anyone who is sexually active with someone other than a long-term monogamous partner should:

Have regular checkups during routine visits to the physician's office, even in the absence of symptoms.

Learn the common symptoms of STDs, and get medical help immediately if suspicious symptoms develop -- even if they are mild.

What are the different types of STDs?

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
The first reported cases of AIDS in the United States occurred in 1981. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a virus that destroys the body's ability to fight off infection. An estimated 1 million people are currently infected in the US, including more than 2000 infants, most of whom contracted the disease from their mothers. People who have AIDS are very susceptible to many life-threatening diseases, called opportunistic infections, and to certain forms of cancer.

Transmission of the virus primarily occurs during sexual activity and by sharing of needles used to inject intravenous drugs.

Chlamydial Infections
Chlamydial infections are now the most common of all STDs, with an estimated 4 million new cases occurring each year. In both men and women, a chlamydial infection may cause an abnormal genital discharge and burning with urination. In women, untreated chlamydial infection may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), one of the most common causes of infertility and ectopic pregnancy in women. However, many people with chlamydial infection have few or no symptoms of infection. Once diagnosed, chlamydial infections are often treatable with an antibiotic drug.

Genital Herpes
Genital herpes affects an estimated 30 million Americans -- with approximately 500,000 new cases of this incurable infection developing annually. Herpes infections are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Facts about STDs:

Health care professionals at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health, believe it is important to understand at least five key points about all STDs in this country today:

Although STDs affect men and women of all backgrounds and economic levels, they are most prevalent among teenagers and young adults -- nearly two-thirds of all STDs occur in people younger than 25 years of age.
The incidence of STDs continues to rise. The suggested reason for this continued rise is that sexually active people today are more likely to have multiple sex partners during their lives, and are potentially at risk for developing STDs. This may be due to:
- young people have become sexually active earlier than in previous generations
- people are marrying later in life
- divorce is common
Many STDs initially cause no symptoms, and when symptoms do occur, they may be confused with those of other diseases not transmitted through sexual contact. This is particularly true in women. Even when an STD causes no symptoms, it is still contagious to a sex partner. For this reason, physicians suggest periodic testing for people who have more than one sex partner.
Problems associated with or caused by STDs are usually more severe and more frequent in women.
When diagnosed and treated early, almost all STDs can be treated effectively, although some organisms, such as certain forms of gonococci, have become resistant to the drugs used to treat them and now require newer types of antibiotics.

The most serious STD for which no successful treatment now exists is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a fatal viral infection of the immune system. Experts believe that having STDs other than AIDS increases one's risk for becoming infected with the AIDS virus.

The major symptoms of herpes infection are painful blisters or open sores in the genital area, which may be preceded by a tingling or burning sensation in the legs, buttocks, or genital region. The herpes sores usually disappear within a few weeks, but the virus remains in the body and the lesions may recur from time to time. Severe or frequently recurrent genital herpes can now be treated with an antiviral prescription drug that helps control the symptoms. However, it does not eliminate the herpes virus from the body. Women who acquire genital herpes during pregnancy can transmit the virus to their babies, which can result in mental retardation and death.

Genital Warts

Genital warts or venereal warts (condylomata acuminata) are caused by a virus related to the virus that causes common skin warts. Genital warts infect 500,000 Americans each year. Usually, they first appear as small, hard, painless bumps in the vaginal area, on the penis, or around the anus.

Scientists believe that the virus responsible for genital warts also may cause several types of genital cancer. Genital warts are treated with a prescription drug, by freezing, or if they recur, with injections of a type of interferon. If the warts are very large, they can be removed by surgery.

Human Papillomaviruses

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are viruses that can cause warts. Some HPVs are sexually transmitted and cause wart-like growths on the genitals.

More than 70 types of HPV have been identified: 30 types infect the cervix, and about 15 types are associated with cervical cancer. Nearly all cervical cancers show evidence of HPV, but not all cases of HPV develop into cervical cancer.

HPV infection is more common in younger age groups, particularly in women in their late teens and twenties. Because HPV is spread mainly through sexual contact, risk increases with number of sexual partners. Women who become sexually active at a young age, who have multiple sexual partners, and whose sexual partners have other partners are at increased risk. Non-sexual transmission is also possible.

Infection with a cancer-associated type of HPV does not always lead to a precancerous condition or cancer. Most infections appear to go away on their own without causing any kind of abnormality. However, infection with cancer-associated HPV types may increase the risk that mild abnormalities will progress to more severe abnormalities or cervical cancer. With regular follow-up care by trained clinicians, women with precancerous cervical abnormalities should not develop invasive cervical cancer.

Gonorrhea

Approximately 1.5 million cases of gonorrhea occur each year in the United States. The most common symptoms of gonorrhea are a discharge from the vagina or penis and painful or difficult urination. The most common and serious complications occur in women, which include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Historically, penicillin has been used to treat gonorrhea. However, several penicillin-resistant forms of the bacteria have recently appeared, and antibiotics or combinations of drugs must be used to treat these resistant strains.

Syphilis

Syphilis has increased dramatically in recent years, with more than 130,000 cases reported in 1990. The first symptoms of syphilis may go undetected because they are very mild and disappear spontaneously. The initial symptom is a painless open sore that usually appears on the penis or around or in the vagina. If untreated, syphilis may go on to more advanced stages, including a transient rash and, eventually, serious involvement of the heart and central nervous system. Penicillin remains the drug most commonly used to treat syphilis.

Other diseases that may be sexually transmitted include trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, cytomegalovirus infections, hepatitis B, scabies, and pubic lice.

This page was last updated on: February 1, 2008.

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