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General Information
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 Human Papillomavirus |
| Chlamydia |
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| Gonorrhea |
Pubic Lice, or "Crabs" |
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Who gets STDs?
Anyone who has had sexual contact can get a STD. Men and women of all ages, regions, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels can get them. One out of four Americans between ages 15 and 55 will catch at least one STD. However, STDs are most common among teens and young adults, with about two-thirds of all STDs occurring in people under age 25. This is because young people are more likely to be more sexually active and take more risks, and the cervix of a female teenager is more likely to get infected by Chlamydia and gonorrhea.
How are STDs spread?
Many STDs are spread through contact with infected body fluids, such as blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. They can also be spread through contact with infected skin or mucous membranes, like sores in the mouth. You may be exposed to infected body fluids and skin through vaginal, anal or oral sex. Anal sex is very risky because it usually causes bleeding. Sharing needles or syringes for drug use, ear piercing, tattooing, etc. can also expose you to infected fluids.
Most STDs are only spread through direct sexual contact with an infected person. However, pubic lice and scabies can be spread through close personal contact with an infected person, or with infested clothes, sheets, or towels.
What are the symptoms of an STD?
Many STDs may not cause any symptoms. If you do get symptoms caused by an STD, you may think you have another disease, since STD symptoms are similar to those caused by other diseases. Symptoms vary for each STD, but they include sores or blisters on or around the genital area or in the mouth, pain or burning during urination, unusual discharge from the vagina, itching, swelling, pain in or around the vagina, pain in the pelvic area or abdomen (sometimes with fever or chills), or bleeding other than your menstrual period. If you have any of these symptoms, you could have an STD, but they might also not mean anything serious. Talk to your health care provider right away and get checked out to be safe.
How can I prevent getting an STD?
The best way to prevent getting a STD is to not have sex. There are many other ways to be intimate in a romantic relationship without having sex. Try massaging, cuddling, or kissing (this is safe as long as both partners don't have cuts or sores in the mouth – note that someone can spread herpes by kissing w/o having sores).
If you do decide to have sex, you should limit the number of people you have sex with. You should also try to choose partners who have not had sex with many other partners, who will have sex only with you while you are together, and who has never injected drugs. Remember, the more partners you have, the greater risk of being exposed to a STD. You should ask your partner if he/she has a STD, has been exposed to one, or has physical symptoms that could mean a STD. You should not have sex with anyone that has signs of a STD (sores, rashes, or discharge from the genital area). It is also possible that your partner may have a STD without having any symptoms and could pass it on to you. If you think your partner could have a STD, even if he/she doesn't show symptoms, have him/her get tested before the two of you have sex.
If you are having sex, condoms are your best protection against STDs, even though they aren't 100% effective. You need to make sure that you use a new latex condom (or dental dam) correctly every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. If you are allergic to latex, use a polyurethane male or female condom. Along with a condom, you should also use a water-based lubricant to keep the condom from breaking. Never use lubricants that contain oil or fat, like petroleum jelly or cooking oil. These products weaken latex and can cause the condom to break.
Some STDs can't be cured, so you should always practice safer sex. Safer sex means finding ways to be intimate while lowering the risk of spreading a STD. This means preventing the passing of body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluids, and avoiding direct oral, anal, or genital contact (by using a latex condom).
Other ways to prevent getting an STD include:
What should I do if I think I have a STD?
If you have any symptoms of a STD, any unexplained problems, or you think you may have been exposed to a STD (even if you don't have symptoms), see your health care provider right away and get tested. You can't correctly test and diagnose yourself with a STD. Only your health care provider can do that. Most STDs can be treated. The earlier you get treatment, the better. More serious problems can develop if you wait. Whenever possible, treatment is given in a single dose, but sometimes, you need to take medication over a period of time.
Are STD tests always accurate?
No test for any STD is 100% accurate. Some STDs don't show up right away. It could take an infection anywhere from a couple of days to a few years to show up in testing. But if you think you have an STD, get tested. You may have to go back again to get tested if you test negative. Even if you test negative, keep practicing safer sex. Talk to your health care provider about speaking with a counselor if you have concerns.
What about confidentiality?
What you tell your health care provider about your sexual behavior is confidential. By law, your health care provider can't talk about anything you tell him/her, unless he/she seriously believes that you are a danger to yourself or others, or that you aren't able to make decisions on your own. So your parents, teachers, partners, or friends can't find out any information from your health care provider about STDs. But you may find it very helpful to talk to your parents about your health and your worries. This can be a scary time for you and it is always good to have an adult to talk to.
What should I do if I have an STD?
You need to tell all sex partner(s) who may have been exposed. Try to get them to get tested. If you feel that you cannot tell your partner(s), talk to your health care provider. He/she will help you to tell your partner(s) or will help you find another way to let your partner(s) know he/she has been exposed. You and your current sexual partner(s) need to get treated at the same time to prevent passing the infection back and forth. Make sure you follow your health care provider's directions on taking medication and make sure you finish all of the medicine, even if you feel better. Schedule a follow-up exam with your health care provider after you have finished treatment. Don't have sex again until your health care provider says you are cured. If you are concerned or upset about having a STD, think about getting counseling. Your health care provider can help you find a counselor.
If I've had an STD, can I get it again?
Yes! You can get the same STD again if you have sex, especially without a condom. You can also have more than one STD at a time. Also, some STDs are not curable, so you can still have the STD even if you have gotten treatment.
What serious problems can STDs cause?
If STDs aren't treated, they can have serious side effects such as:
What is the relationship between STDs and pregnancy?
Pregnant women with STDs may miscarry or may pass on their STD to their baby. STDs can also cause low birth weight and premature babies. Babies with infected mothers can have problems like pneumonia, eye infections, and permanent brain damage.
When should I get a Pap test?
A Pap test is usually done in the first three years after you have become sexually active and then yearly after that, or when you turn 21, which ever comes first. A Pap test does not check for STDs directly. However, problems on the Pap test may mean that you have gotten an STD (usually human papillomavirus, or HPV). The Pap test is the only way to check the cells on your cervix for changes that can lead to cervical cancer. If you think you might have an STD and you have been sexually active for less than a couple of years, it is likely that your health care provider will do the necessary tests to check you for an STD and do the Pap test later.
The only 100% way to prevent getting an STD is by not having sex. The next best ways to prevent an STD is by using a latex condom every time you have sex and to choose partners who are at low risk for an STD. Seeing a health care provider regularly is important to learn more about how to prevent STDs and to be checked to see if you have gotten an STD. And definitely see a health care provider if you think you might have an STD. It’s really important to be treated early to prevent future problems. |
Resources
Where to Get Tested in the USA:
National HIV and STD Testing Resources
This website has a feature where you can type in your zip code, and get the names and addresses of testing locations near you. It's sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Updated: 3/29/2006
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