Transmission of Sexual Disease
More than 65 million people in the U.S. are living with an STD. This is an approximate number, because only four STDs must be reported to the state department, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and hepatitis A and B.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are exactly what their name says: diseases that are transmitted by sexual intercourse or oral sex. They can also be transmitted by needles used for IV drug use is the needle is shared between a person with an STD and another person. Mothers can pass STDs on to their babies during childbirth and while breastfeeding.
Other sexually transmitted diseases include:
- chlamydia
- one of the most common diseases
- antibiotic cure the infection
- if left untreated, it can lead to cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease
- gonorrhea
- known as “the clap”
- can be cured with a single dose of antibiotics
- can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease
- women who are pregnant have a higher chance of miscarriage or going into preterm labor
- Human Papilloma Virus
- linked to cervical cancer
- in 2006, an HPV vaccine was introduced
- herpes
- blisters or sores that break out on the genital regions
- hepatitis A, B and C
- chronic infections of the liver and other areas
- HIV/AIDS
- leads to decreased life span
- more than 40 million people in the world are infected
- there may be no symptoms for the first few years, making it easier to spread to others
- people who fail to disclose their HIV/AIDS status may receive jail time
- syphilis
- if untreated, it can lead to nervous system damage and brain injury
- trichomoniasis
- most curable disease
- mistaken for a yeast infection in women
