November 8, 2017

Most Common STDs

Common STDs

What Are The Most Common STDs?

The most common types of STDs in the United States are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, hepatitis B and HIV.

There are other STDs and they can indeed be serious. Many are also easily treatable. This list merely discusses the most common STDs in the United States.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common STD in the United States. It can be cured with a single dose of antibiotics. Up to half of men with chlamydia experience no symptoms and nearly three quarters of women with the disease experience no symptoms.

When symptoms are present, women tend to have vaginal discharges that they are not used to. They also experience bleeding from the vagina. Men have a burning sensation when they urinate and they can also have abnormal discharges from the tip of their penises.

Chlamydia can cause both men and women to become infertile if they do not get the disease treated.

Gonorrhea

Many people with gonorrhea also are infected with chlamydia. Up to a third of women with gonorrhea are also infected with chlamydia.

Most women with gonorrhea do not develop symptoms. Most men do. For the women that do develop symptoms, they are similar to those of chlamydia: an abnormal vaginal discharge. Men also get abnormal discharges from the penis and pain during urination. If left untreated, gonorrhea can damage a woman’s reproductive system.

Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics. The most common drug that is used is called cefixime. Alternative drugs are available in the event of patient allergies.

Syphilis

Syphilis can be fatal if it is not treated. It was one of the first known STDs. Some of the effects of untreated syphilis include an infection of the brain, eyes and ears as well as ulcers on the mouth, anus and genitals.

Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics and is easily curable.

Syphilis can be difficult to recognize in the early stages. Symptoms typically take months to appear. The disease has three stages, each getting progressively worse.

Genital Herpes

The overwhelming majority of people with genital herpes are unaware of the fact that they are carrying the disease. A lot of people will never become aware of the fact that they have genital herpes.

It is possible to spread the disease without experiencing any symptoms, and a lot of people do just that. There is no cure for genital herpes.

Condom use is especially important for stopping this disease from spreading.

For the people that do experience symptoms, these include dull pain around the infected areas and sharp pain associated with blisters. A lot of people will experience itchiness in the hours leading up to an outbreak of blisters.

Herpes outbreaks tend to last two to three weeks. As years go by, these outbreaks lessen in severity.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It can be spread through needle sharing and sexual contact. It is possible to develop severe liver issues if this disease is untreated.

The majority of people that come down with hepatitis B will be able to fight off the infection without medication. However, somewhere in the neighborhood of 5% of people will suffer serious effects of the disease.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is different from the other STDs. It attacks your immune system. It can be spread via blood transfusion, sharing needles or through sexual activity. It is also possible for a pregnant mother to spread it to her baby during childbirth.

There is no cure for HIV and it cannot be vaccinated against. There are treatments available for HIV that can make it less contagious and can extend the life of the infected person.

An early sign of HIV is a flu-like illness that can last up to a month. After that, it is possible to seem healthy for up to ten years (or even longer) before really terrible symptoms start to manifest themselves.