Sexual health & common STDs | symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases

Common STDs

The information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose any condition or pregnancy and should not take the place of your doctor. Consult your physician with any medical questions you might have.

STD data used with permission from Heritage House 76.

common STDs - pregnancy counseling and options

Chlamydia
	Men	Women
Symptoms:	Usually none. Some have discharge from the penis and burning with urination.	Called the “silent disease.” Usually no symptoms. Some have pain and/or vaginal discharge.
Damage:	Sterility	Known to be one of the most common cause of sterility. Advanced stage may require removal of uterus, tubes and ovaries. Can cause PID (below).

Gonorrhea
	Men	Women
Symptoms:	Pus from urethra. Burning upon urination.	If symptoms occur at all, they include pelvic pain, painful urination and pus-like discharge.
Damage:	Sterility. Scarring of the urethra and urinary tract problems. Can increase risk of HIV infection two to five times.	Sterility. Scarring of the urethra and urinary tract problems. Can increase risk of HIV infection two to five times.

Syphilis
	Men	Women
Symptoms:	First stage: swollen non-painful ulcers on external genitalia. Second stage: changes of skin, fever, enlarged lymph nodes.	First stage: often unnoticed. Second stage: changes of skin, fever, enlarged lymph nodes.
Damage:	Brain disorders, heart disease, blindness, dementia and death. Can increase risk of HIV infection.	Brain disorders, heart disease, blindness, dementia and death. Can cause birth defects or death in newborns if mother is infected. Can increase risk of HIV infection.

HIV/AIDS
	Men	Women
Symptoms:	Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands. Must be tested, as symptoms mimic many other diseases.	Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands. Must be tested, as symptoms mimic many other diseases.
Damage:	Immune system breakdown, eventually, death.	Immune system breakdown, eventually, death.

Genital Herpes
	Men	Women
Symptoms:	Lesions appear at the site of infection; periodic eruptions of painful blister and ulcers anywhere on the body.	Lesions appear at the site of infection; periodic eruptions of painful blister and ulcers anywhere on the body.
Damage:	Continuous outbreaks. May eventually lead to hospitalization. Lifetime medication is required.	Continuous outbreaks. May eventually lead to hospitalization. Lifetime medication is required.

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)
	Men	Women
Symptoms:	Wart-like genital growths.	Often no visible symptoms. Some experience vulvar burning, itching and pain. Abnormal pap smears.
Damage:	Cancer of the penis and anus.	Initially, premalignant changes that are difficult to eradicate. Develops into cervical cancer if not treated.

Hepatitis B
	Men	Women
Symptoms:	Often none. Some men experience yellowing of skin (jaundice), tiredness, dark urine and grey-colored stools.	Often none. Some women experience yellowing of skin (jaundice), tiredness, dark urine and grey-colored stools.
Damage:	Severe liver damage. Can eventually lead to cancer of the liver and cirrhosis. Death in 15 to 25% of chronically infected persons.	Severe liver damage. Can eventually lead to cancer of the liver and cirrhosis. Death in 15 to 25% of chronically infected persons.


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