Sexually transmitted disease

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) also known as Sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) are diseases that are commonly transmitted between
partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal
intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. They were known as venereal diseases
(VD) until some time around 1990, when public health officials introduced
the new term in an effort to improve the clarity of their warnings to
teenagers.

Note that all sexual behaviors that involve contact with another person or
the bodily fluids of another person should be considered to contain some
risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Most attention has
focussed on controlling the HIV virus which causes AIDS, but each STD
presents a different situation.

As may be noted from the name, sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted
from one person to another by bacteria, fungi or viruses, rather than being
actually caused by specific sexual activities. It is not possible to catch
any sexually transmitted disease from a sexual activity with a person who is
not carrying a disease; conversely a person who has an STD got it from
contact (sexual or otherwise) with someone who had it, or their bodily
fluids.

Although the likelihood of transmitting various diseases by various sexual
activities varies a great deal, in general, all sexual activities should be
considered as being a two-way route for the transmission of STDs (i.e.,
"giving" or "receiving" are both risky).

Health care professionals suggest safer sex, such as the use of condoms in
any sexual activity, but safer sex should by no means be considered an
absolute safeguard. Another way to prevent STDs is through abstinence.

Since prostitutes tend to have large numbers of sexual partners,
prostitution has often been associated with the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases. However, sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted
by many other forms of sexual activity, so it is important that all members
of the community use safer sex precautions, regardless of the nature of
their relationships.

It is possible to have many of the types of sexually transmitted diseases
without having any symptoms. In particular, sexually transmitted diseases in
women often cause the serious condition of pelvic inflammatory disease.

The first venereal diseases clinic opened on January 31, 1747 at London Dock Hospital.

Types of sexually transmitted diseases and their causative organisms

(Note that some of the diseases on this list are commonly transmitted in
other ways besides sexually, e.g. AIDS is also commonly transmitted through
the sharing of infected needles by drug users.)

Bacterial

   * Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)
   * Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)
   * Chlamydia infection (Chlamydia trachomatis)
   * Chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi)
   * Donovanosis (Granuloma inguinale or Calymmatobacterium granulomatis)
   * Lymphogranuloma venereum /LGV (Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes L1, L2,
     L3. See Chlamydia)
   * non-gonococcal urethritis /NGU (Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma
     hominis)

Viral

   * AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus /HIV)
   * Herpes /HSV (Herpes simplex virus)
   * Genital warts (human papillomavirus), believed to cause cervical cancer
   * Cytomegalovirus
   * Hepatitis (note that Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are transmitted via
     the faecal-oral route)
        o Hepatitis B
        o Hepatitis C
        o Hepatitis D
   * Molluscum contagiosum

Parasites

   * Pubic lice (Phthirius pubis)
   * Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei)

Fungal

   * Candidiasis (thrush) (Candida albicans) is not strictly an STD but can
     be transmitted through sexual contact

Protozoal

   * Amoebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica)
   * Giardiasis (Giardia lamblia)
   * Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis)

How to - Physics - History - Companies - Internet - Video Games - List of Phobias - September 11, 2001
Radio - Timelines - Chemistry - Genealogy - Family - Film - SARS - Cancer - Medicine - DVD - Calendar
Countries - Disease - Health Science - Dentistry - Economics - AIDS - Law - Autism - Statistics - Bible
Recipes - Architecture - Computers - History of the Internet - Personal computer - Apple Macintosh
War - Presidents of the United States - United States Constitution - Universe - Philosophy - Animals
Biology - United States Constitution - Marketing Topics - Sports - Television - History of Computing

Find jobs - Watch Anime - High Paying Adsense List - Internet Dating - Shops