Sexually Transmitted Diseases
STDs are pathogens transmitted through sexual contact. Our primary ways of protecting ourselves against them are using condoms during intercourse and maintaining good hygiene. Common STDs include syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, HPV, and genital herpes.
Infection usually happens during unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person, but can also be caused by sharing anything that may have come in contact with body fluids (towels, razors, underwear), eating contaminated food, or kissing an infected person with mouth sores.
You can protect yourself from STDs by using correctly using condoms during sex, educating yourself about STD symptoms, getting tested regularly, and vaccinating yourself against hepatitis B and HPV. In other words—behaving responsibly.
Most STDs are fairly easily curable if they’re caught in time. If left untreated, however, they can cause blindness, infertility, dementia, even death. Most non-curable STDs (HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C, a few types of HPV) can act as a gateway to potentially fatal conditions.
Which STDs can be asymptomatic? What are common symptoms of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis? Read more about STDs here.
