SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STI)

What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years.

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How is gonorrhea spread?

You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea. A pregnant woman with gonorrhea can give the infection to her baby during childbirth.

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How can I reduce my risk of getting gonorrhea?

The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea:

• Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results;

• Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if it is not treated. Syphilis is divided into stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary). There are different signs and symptoms associated with each stage.

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How is syphilis spread?

You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can find sores on or around the penis, vagina, or anus, or in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth. Syphilis can spread from an infected mother to her unborn baby.

What is urethritis?

Urethritis is a condition in which the urethra, or the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body, becomes inflamed and irritated. Semen also passes through the male urethra.

Urethritis typically causes pain while urinating and an increased urge to urinate. The primary cause of urethritis is usually infection by bacteria.

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What are the symptoms of urethritis?

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Symptoms in men

Males with urethritis may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• burning sensation while urinating

• itching or burning near the opening of the penis

• presence of blood in the semen or urine

• discharge from the penis

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Symptoms in women

Some symptoms of urethritis in women include:

• more frequent urge to urinate

• discomfort during urination

• burning or irritation at the urethral opening

• abnormal discharge from the vagina may also be present along with the urinary symptoms

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What is oral herpes?

Oral herpes is usually caused by HSV-1 and can result in cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth. However, most people do not have any symptoms. Most people with oral herpes were infected during childhood or young adulthood from non-sexual contact with saliva.

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Is there a link between genital herpes and oral herpes?

Oral herpes caused by HSV-1 can be spread from the mouth to the genitals through oral sex. This is why some cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-1.

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How common is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is common in the United States. More than one out of every six people aged 14 to 49 years have genital herpes.

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How is genital herpes spread?

You can get genital herpes by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the disease.

If you do not have herpes, you can get infected if you come into contact with the herpes virus in:

• A herpes sore;

• Saliva (if your partner has an oral herpes infection) or genital secretions (if your partner has a genital herpes infection);

• Skin in the oral area if your partner has an oral herpes infection, or skin in the genital area if your partner has a genital herpes infection.