These and other STIs, if left untreated, may lead to serious reproductive and other health problems or even, as with HIV/AIDS and syphilis, to death. STIs can be avoided by consistently using condoms, having sex only in a relationship with an uninfected partner, or abstaining from sex—
| Sexually Transmitted Infection (and Cause) | Symptoms | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia (bacterium) | The most frequently reported bacterial STI in the United States. In women, abnormal vaginal discharge or burning sensation when urinating; may be followed by pain in low abdomen or low back, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. In men, discharge from penis or burning sensation when urinating. | Antibiotics |
| Genital HPV infection (virus) | One of the most common STIs in the world. Causes no symptoms or health problems in most people, but certain types may cause genital warts and others can cause cervical cancer in women and other cancers of the genitals in both sexes. | A vaccine is now available and is recommended for 11- |
| Genital herpes (virus) | Blisters on or around the genitals or rectum that break and leave sores, which may take 2 to 4 weeks to heal; some people may experience fever, swollen glands, and other flu- |
There is no vaccine or cure, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks. |
| Gonorrhea (bacterium) | Some men and most women have no symptoms. In men, a burning sensation when urinating; a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis; painful or swollen testicles. In women, symptoms— |
Antibiotics |
| Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (various bacteria) | A common and serious complication in women who have certain other STIs, especially chlamydia and gonorrhea. Pain in lower abdomen, fever, unusual vaginal discharge that may have a foul odor, painful intercourse, painful urination, irregular menstrual bleeding, and (rarely) pain in the right upper abdomen. May lead to blocked fallopian tubes, causing infertility. | Administration of at least two antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of infectious agents. In severe cases, surgery. |
| HIV/AIDS (virus) | Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) eventually leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Infection with other STIs increases a person’s likelihood of both acquiring and transmitting HIV. Soon after exposure, some people have flu- |
There is no vaccine or cure, but antiretroviral drugs can slow the growth of the virus; antibiotics can cure some secondary infections, and various treatments are available to relieve painful or unpleasant symptoms. |
| Syphilis (bacterium) | Symptoms may not appear for years. Primary stage: One or more sores (chancres) a few days or weeks after exposure. Secondary stage: Skin rash, lesions of mucous membranes, fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, fatigue. Latent stage: Primary and secondary symptoms disappear, but infection remains in the body. Late stage (10 to 20 years after first infection): Damage to brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints, progressing to difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, blindness, dementia. | Penicillin injections will kill the syphilis bacterium and prevent further damage but cannot repair damage already done. |
| Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis, a single- |
Most men have no symptoms, but some may temporarily have an irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation. Women may have a frothy, yellow- |
A single oral dose of metronidazole or tinidazole |
| Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012. | ||
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