STD

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Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), also known as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and formerly called venereal diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites and protozoa that are transmitted from person to person through bodily contact and sexual intercourse.

STDs are very common in the world with more than 15 million annual infections in the United States alone. About fifty percent of Americans get infections before reaching 35 years old.

Many STDs may seem to have no symptoms, further increasing the risk of spreading the organisms. With proper education, practice of safe sex and avoidance of random and multiple sex partners and abstinence from having sexual contacts with infected people, STDs can be easily prevented from spreading rapidly.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is an STD infected by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacterium attacks membranes linings of the genitals. An estimated 650,000 Americans get infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the United States each years but only roughly half the number gets reported. The infected sometimes shows no symptoms. If symptoms show, they are characterized by burning sensation when urinating and genital discharges.

Genital Herpes

The HSV type 2 of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) is responsible for genital herpes infection. An infected person may feel pain and sore in the genital. One out of five persons over 12 years old in the United States acquire the HSV type 2 virus and about 90 percent are not aware of the infection. It is recommended that if a person suspects of an infection, blood test should be done immediately.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a very common STD caused the bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis which can lead to severe health problems especially in women.

Like many other STDs, Chlamydia sometimes does not exhibit symptoms in 50 percent of men and 75 percent of women. About 3 million infections take place annually in the United States and only approximately 660,000 are reported.

Noticeable symptoms in men include unusual discharges from the penis and burning sensation during urination. In women may experience abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, burning sensation in urination and bleeding between menstruation periods. Chlamydia can damage the women’s reproductive tissue leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) when left untreated.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that affects 360,000 people in the United States every year. It is caused is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The early stage of Syphilis is characterized by chancre, a kind of genital sore. This may disappear on its own later but when left untreated, it may have undesirable effects on the vertebrae, brain, and heart. Disorders like lack of coordination, stroke and meningitis can occur as a result. Pregnant women get hard effects on the infection because the bacterium can devastate the fetus.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis infection is characterized by itching and burning sensation in the vagina in women and urethra in men. It is caused by a protozoa called Trichomonas vaginalis. A single does of antibiotics usually treats this infection easily. An estimated five million Americans get Trichomonas vaginalis annually.