Get the facts!
The term "STD" or “Sexually Transmitted Disease” is outdated. Health officials now use "STI" which stands for "Sexually Transmitted Infection". So if anyone ever says "STI" it is the same thing as "STD."
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Chlamydia
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. It can occur on the genitals or in the throat. Chlamydia has a cure and is generally treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms
Chlamydia doesn't usually cause any symptoms. So you may not realize that you have it. People with chlamydia who have no symptoms can still pass the disease to others. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after you have sex with an infected partner. Symptoms occur 7-28 days after having sex.
Symptoms in Women
Abnomal vaginal discharge, which may have a strong smell
A burning sensation when urinating
Pain during intercourse
If the infection spreads you might get lower abdominal pain, pain during sex, nausea, or fever.
Symptoms in Men
Discharge from your penis
A burning sensation when urinating
Burning or itching around the opening of your penis
Painful swelling in one or both testicles
Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding.
Testing Services
If you are experiencing symptoms, or want some reassurance on your status, please take a look at our testing services page.
For more information about chlamydia, click here.
Gonorrhea
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Symptoms show up 2-21 days after having sex. Gonorrhea is generally treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms
A thick yellow, gray, or greenish discharge from the vagina or penis
Burning/painful urination
A need to urinate more often
Lower abdominal pain.
If untreated
Long-term pain
Ectopic pregnancy in women
Inability to have children
Testing Services
If you are experiencing symptoms, please check out our testing services page.
For more information about gonorrhea click here.
Syphilis
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and sometimes by genital touching with someone who this sexually transmitted infection. Symptoms show up 1-12 weeks after having sex. Syphilis is deadly if left untreated. Therefore, it is crucial that people are tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) annually. Syphilis is generally treated with antibiotics.
The Three Stages of Syphilis
First Stage: They usually include a painless sore or rash on the mouth or sex organs (wherever sex had occurred) which lasts 2-6 weeks. The sore may go away, but syphilis will not without treatment.
Second Stage: Includes having a rash anywhere on the body where the sex did not occur. Flu-like feelings can also occur. If left untreated, these symptoms will go away, but you still have syphilis.
Latent Stage: All past symptoms disappear, can take 10-30 years before latent stage occurs. Can lead to difficulty coordinating your muscle movements, paralysis (not able to move specific parts of your body), numbness, blindness, and dementia (mental disorder). In the late stages of syphilis, the disease damages your internal organs and can result in death.
Testing Services
If you are experiencing symptoms, or want reassurance on your status, please take a look at our testing services page.
For more information about syphilis click here.
Herpes
What Is Herpes?
A virus causing contagious sores, most often around the mouth or on the genitals. Herpes is spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has herpes. Also, Herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Symptoms show up 1-30 days or longer after having sex. Herpes causes blisters, which may last 1-3 weeks. Even in the absence of blisters, Herpes infection does not go away. There is no cure for Herpes. However, there are treatments to manage the symptoms associated with Herpes infection.
Symptoms
Painful or itchy blister-like lesions
Fever
Headache
Tiredness
Nerve Pain
Sore Throat
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Sometimes Enlarged Liver and Spleen
Testing Services
If you are experiencing symptoms, or want reassurance on your status, please take a look at our testing services page.
For more information about herpes click here.
HPV Infection
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
Human papillomavirus, HPV, is a viral infection spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and sometimes by genital touching with someone who has HPV. There are over 100 strains of HPV, not all of them are symptomatic.
Symptoms
Many people experience no symptoms.
Some strains of HPV cause genital warts: small bumpy warts on the penis, vagina, or anus and can cause itching or burning around the sex organs. After warts go away, the virus sometimes stays in the body. The warts can come back.
Some strains of HPV cause cervical cancer in women, can only be detected by a Pap test from a health care provider.
Timeline
Symptoms show up in weeks, months, or years after contact with HPV.
Is There a Cure for HPV?
No, there is no cure for HPV. However, treatments the manage symptoms of HPV.
Vaccine Recommendation for HPV
There is also a vaccine available for men and women to prevent certain strains of HPV. The vaccine is available to anyone between the ages of 11-26. There are two FDA approved vaccines for HPV, Gardasil and Cervarix. Both brands prevent most cervical cancers caused by HPV. Gardasil can prevent genital warts in both males and females.
Testing Services
If you are experiencing symptoms, or want reassurance on your status, please take a look at our testing services page.
For more information about HPV click here.
Trichomoniasis (Trich)
What is Trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis or "Trich" is caused by an infection with a protozoan parasite and spread during vaginal sex. Symptoms show up 5-28 days after having sex. Symptoms can happen in males and females, but is more common in females. Trichomoniasis is generally treated with a single dose of a prescription antibiotic.
Symptoms
Symptoms do not always appear.
Frothy yellow or green vaginal discharge
Inflammation of the Urethra
Vaginitis
Itching
Red Patches on Cervix or Vaginal walls
Difficulty peeing
Pain in the scrotum in males
Testing Services
If you are experiencing symptoms, or want reassurance on your status, please take a look at our testing services page.
For more information on Trichomoniasis, click here.
Pubic Lice (Crabs)
What is Pubic Lice (Crabs)?
Parasitic insects spread during close physical contact with a person with pubic lice or their personal belongings. Pubic lice can be treated with a special skin lotion or shampoo sold by drug stores and pharmacies. There are both over-the-counter or prescription medications to treat crabs.
Symptoms
Intense itching on the genitals or anus
Mild fever
Presence of lice or small egg sacs in pubic hair
Testing Services
If you are experiencing symptoms, or want reassurance on your status, please take a look at our testing services page.
For more information, click here.