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Infection
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Facts
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Transmission
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Symptoms
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Complications (if left untreated or not treat early)
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Treatment
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Chlamydia
Bacteria
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Known as "silent" STI; 3/4 of infected women and about 1/2 of infected
men have no symptoms
If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure2
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Vaginal, anal, and oral sex
Mother to child during childbirth
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Men: Usually none; Some experience discharge from the penis and burning during urination; pain or swelling in the testicles
Women: Usually none; Some experience abnormal vaginal discharge; painful urination; fever; abdominal pain; vaginal bleeding; low back pain; nausea; painful intercourse
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Men: Inflammation of male organs, which can lead to sterility
Women: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID); infertility; tubal pregnancies
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Curable with antibiotics
Surgery may be needed if PID has developed
Infertility is permanent
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Genital Herpes
Virus
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Caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2)
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Virus is released from sores and from skin that does not appear to have a sore
Skin-to-skin contact
Vaginal, anal, and oral sex
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Men and women: Usually none, but if symptoms appear, they can be pronounced
Some experience lesions at the site of infection within two weeks of infection; sores typically heal within two to four weeks
Subsequent outbreaks may occur, but are usually less severe than the first
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Men and women: Recurrent outbreaks; more severe in people with suppressed immune systems
It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy; can lead to fatal infection in babies
Suppressive drugs can help prevent outbreaks during pregnancy and delivery; C-section is performed if mother has an active infection during delivery
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No medical cure
Antiviral drugs can reduce the number and duration of outbreaks
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Gonorrhea
Bacteria
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Common STI that grows and multiplies in warm areas, such as cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes (women), and urethra, mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. (men and women)
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Contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus (ejaculation does not have to occur)
Mother to baby during delivery
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Men: Usually none; Some experience white, yellow, or green discharge from penis; burning during urination; painful or swollen testicles
Women: Usually none; Some experience pelvic pain; painful urination; pus-like discharge; and/or bleeding between periods
Rectum: Discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements
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Men: Epididymitis (may lead to infertility)
Women: PID; infertility; tubal pregnancies; long-lasting pelvic pain
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Curable with antibiotics
Some strains are drug-resistant, making treatment difficult
Surgery may be needed if PID has developed
Infertility is permanent
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Hepatitis B
Virus
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“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease, which ranges from mild (lasting a few weeks) to serious (lasting a lifetime)
Can either be acute or chronic
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When blood, semen or another body fluid from an infected person enters the body of an non-infected person
Sharing needles; Vaginal, anal, or oral sex
Mother to baby during delivery
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Men and women: Sometimes none; Some experience fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, gray-colored stool, joint pain, and jaundice
Symptoms appear within three months of exposure and can last from a few weeks to several months
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Men and women: Severe liver damage; liver cancer; cirrhosis of the liver; inflammation of the liver
Acute infection can – but not always – lead to chronic infection
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No medication for acute hepatitis B; doctors recommend rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids
Chronic hepatitis B patients are monitored for signs of liver disease; some people benefit from specific medications
Best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated
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HIV/AIDS
Virus
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HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease
When someone has one or more specific infections, certain cancers, or a very low number of T cells, he/she is considered to have AIDS
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Transmission of body fluids (blood, sexual fluids, breast milk)
Vaginal, anal, and oral sex; sharing needles
Mother to baby before or during birth or through breastfeeding
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Symptoms may not appear for up to ten years
When symptoms appear, they may include weight loss, chronic diarrhea, thrush, fever, tiredness, and purplish growths on the skin
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HIV: Development of AIDS, weekend immune system and susceptibility of acquiring other illnesses and diseases
AIDS: Susceptibility of acquiring other illnesses and diseases; death
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No medical cure
Anti-retroviral drugs have markedly decreased the amount of infections patients experience and have prolonged life
Early treatment can prevent HIV from developing into AIDS
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Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Virus
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There are over 40 different types of HPV. Some types cause genital warts, while others can cause cancer
HPV types are often referred to as “low-risk” (wart-causing) or “high-risk” (cancer-causing)
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Passed through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex
Mother to baby during delivery (very rare)
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Usually no symptoms
Genital warts: Fleshy warts that can be flat, raised, or shaped like cauliflower on the genitals or anus
Cancer-causing warts: Changes occur in cells, but often cause no symptoms
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Can lead to cervical, vaginal, or anal cancer
Can block vaginal opening
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No medical cure for virus, but a healthy immune system can usually fight off HPV naturally
Visible warts: surgical removal, laser, freezing, or acid
Cervical cancer: More treatable when diagnosed and treated early; routine Pap tests are recommended; a vaccine can help protect against most cervical cancers
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Bacteria
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PID refers to infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other reproductive organs
100,000 people become infertile yearly due to PID
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Vaginal, anal, or oral sex
Occurs when bacteria move upward from a woman’s vagina or cervix into her reproductive organs
Usually caused by gonorrhea or Chlamydia, but can be caused by other organisms as well
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Affects only women
Symptoms are none to severe; some experience lower abdominal pain, fever, unusual vaginal discharge, painful intercourse, painful urination, irregular menstrual bleeding, pain in the right upper abdomen (rare)
See Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
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Scaring to normal tissue and permanent damage to reproductive organs leading to infertility and ectopic pregnancy (fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus); also may cause chronic pelvic pain
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Can be cured with antibiotics
Hospitalization may be needed
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Syphilis
Bacteria
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Syphilis has been called “the great imitator” since its symptoms mimics those of other diseases
It has three stages: primary (1), secondary (2), and late and latent (3)
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Vaginal, anal, or oral sex
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Stage 1: Painless sores that may last 3-6 weeks and disappear; Stage 1 is often unnoticed
Stage 2: Rashes (usually painless), fever, sore throat, hair loss, headaches, weight loss, fatigue, muscle pain
Stage 3: Can appear 10-20 years after infection; causes damage to internal organs (brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints); signs includes paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, dementia, and even death
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If untreated, severe damage to the brain, heart, eyes, nervous system, bones, and joints; paralysis, death, increased risk of HIV/AIDS
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Curable with antibiotics if treated early
Damage caused by the infection in the later stages may be irreversible
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Trichomoniasis
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Affects both men and women, although symptoms are more common in women
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Penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva contact
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Men: Usually no symptoms; some experience irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation
Women: Yellow-green vaginal discharge with a strong odor; painful intercourse and urination; itching of genital area; lower abdominal pain (rare); symptoms appear within 5 to 28 days of infection
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Increased women’s susceptibility to HIV infection
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Prescription drugs
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