5 most common stds

Allissa Kilgore

English 101

Major Research Paper

November 23, 2013

The Five Most Common STD’s

A fact that some people don’t know is that there are up to 50 different types of STDs. It would be in the best interest of individuals that are sexually active, with multiple partners, to know about at least the most common ones. This topic might be considered by some to be vulgar; it will also be extremely detailed. By reading about these common STDs it will give you a better understanding of each one and can give you examples on how to better avoid them. After reading this paper, the reader should have a better understanding of the top five most common STDs. At first some people might not be aware that they have a sexually transmitted disease. If a person knows about STDs and the symptoms of them they can help a person out, for not only them but maybe close family or friends. One in two sexually active young people will get an STD by the age of 25. Most of the STDs that are among the people are treatable and curable. For people that are sexually active, using condoms the right way and every time is the best way to prevent an STD. Condoms are the only way that protects sexually active people from getting an STD, and it doesn’t always help. (The Most Common STDs) Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in the United States. There are over one million cases reported each year. About 50% of sexually active people will get HPV (Genital Human Papillomavirus). There are about six million new cases that are diagnosed each year, and there are at least 20 million cases diagnosed already. There are at least 50 million people infected with Genital Herpes or about one in every six people that are sexually active. There are an estimated one million new infections that occur each year. (The Most Common STDs)

About 55,400 people in the United States are infected with syphilis. In 2011 there were 46,042 new cases reported. Also in 2011, 72% of the infected people with syphilis occurred between men who had sex with other men. There were also 360 reports of children with congenital syphilis in 2011. Secondary Syphilis is the earliest stage of syphilis and is the most infectious. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) Sometimes syphilis can be very active and other times a person doesn’t know they have it. (Syphilis – Topic Overview) Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. If not treated right syphilis can cause long-term complications and even death. Syphilis is passed from one person that is in direct contact with a syphilis sore, which is known as a chancre, to another. Chancres usually are around the vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Chancres can also occur on the lips and in the mouth. The spreading of syphilis occurs when having vaginal, anal or oral sex. If a mother has syphilis during pregnancy the infection can be transferred to the unborn child. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)) Symptoms of having syphilis are sometimes confused with other diseases because the symptoms are similar. The primary stage of having syphilis is having multiple sores. The sores known as chancres are firm, round and painless. The sores appear where syphilis entered the body. Some people aren’t aware they have the sores because they are in places that are difficult to see, like the vagina and anus. The chancre lasts three to six weeks, even if the person is treated or not. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases STDs)) The secondary stage of syphilis is when the skin gets a rash or mucous membrane lesions. It usually starts with multiple rashes. Sometimes rashes appear when the chancres are healing. Different symptoms of the secondary stage of syphilis symptoms are having a fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches and fatigue. Late stages of syphilis happen when the symptoms of the first two stages are gone. If not treated after the first two stages the symptoms go away but the infection is still in the body. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases STDs)) Syphilis can affect the nervous system by causing headache, altered behavior, or make a person think they have Parkinson’s because it makes them have movement problems. The invasion of the nervous system by syphilis is called “neurosyphilis.” Some ways syphilis can be prevented is by using latex condoms every time while having sexual intercourse. Sometimes if the sores are outside of where the condom is syphilis can still be spread. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases STDs)) If someone doesn’t get treatment for syphilis, it can cause severe damage to that persons heart, brain and other organs, and can be life threatening. (Syphilis) HPV has over 40 different types of a viral infection that infect the genitals, anus, or throat. There are some types of HPV that can cause warts and cancer. More than 50 percent of sexually active people will get HPV sometime in their life. There is an estimated amount of six million new cases that occur each year, and at least 20 million people are already infected. (The Most Common STDs) HPV causes about 26,200 different cancers. (Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers) Some types of HPV can cause genital warts, which are small bumps that are in and around the genitals. If warts occur they will appear within a couple weeks or months from the time of having sex with someone who is infected. Main ways of getting HPV are through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Another way it can be passed is through skin-to-skin sexual contact. In some rare cases HPV has been spread to the baby during child birth if the mother is infected. (The Most Common STDs) There is no cure for HPV, but there are some ways that you can treat HPV-related problems. The warts can be frozen off, or treated with medicines. After treatment the virus can still remain and the warts can still come back. Even if the genital warts aren’t treated they won’t turn into cancer. If a baby is born to a mother that has genital warts, the baby can develop the warts in its throat. (The Most Common STDs) When having HPV it causes a skin formation called condyloma. Condylomas are on the genitals and can spread to the skin that is around the genitals. The infection that is on the skin is very contagious and can give a person muscle aches, headaches, and swollen glands in the person’s genital area. (The Most Common STDs) There are some types of HPV that can cause cancer, and it is usually cervical cancer, but usually only if the infection is left untreated for several years. Usually women over 21 years of age get Pap tests regularly, so it is rare for women to get cervical cancer. There is a HPV test for women, but it isn’t commonly used because of the Pap test. As of right now there are no HPV tests recommended for men. Doctors have HPV vaccines for both males and females, and it is the best way to protect against the most common types of HPV. (The Most Common STDs) Trichomoniasis, is also known as trich, there are four million people in the United States of which 30 percent develop any symptoms. Trich is more common is women than in men, and older women are more likely to get trich than younger women. This STD is caused by an infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)) Trich is a parasitic infection found in the genitals. Trich usually doesn’t show any symptoms, but for the women that have symptoms the vagina has a bad odor, discolored discharge, or genital discomfort. Men who have symptoms may have a discharge from the penis and a slight burning sensation after urination or ejaculation. Trich is spread through vaginal sex. If a person has trich and they leave it untreated they are putting themselves at risk for other STDs, and trich can also cause complications during pregnancy. (The Most Common STDs) Different antibiotics can cure trich, but if both sexual partners have it both of them have to use the antibiotic, because if not the partners are going to pass the infection back and forth. Also both partners shouldn’t have sex till the infection is gone. (The Most Common STDs) Some things people should watch out for are using other people’s towels, swimsuits, and washcloths because it can be spread through those things. The parasite can live outside of the body for hours and be spread to anyone. (10 Most Serious Sexually Transmitted Diseases) Herpes is a viral infection that infects the genital areas. It can also infect the mouth and lips. There are 50 million people that are infected with herpes, that about every one in six people. There are about one million new infections that occur each year. Most people have no symptoms while having herpes. (The Most Common STDs) Herpes is contagious even when the sores aren’t visible. A person usually has up to seven flare ups each year. Someone’s partner could have it and you wouldn’t know because they don’t have any visible sores. (10 Most Serious Sexually Transmitted Diseases) Herpes one is usually just cold sores and fever blisters in or around the mouth; Herpes 2 is genital sores or blisters. Both viruses can cause sores in either areas. Most herpes outbreaks start as red bumps and turn into painful blisters or sores. When a person becomes infected they can have flu-like symptoms like a fever, headache, or swollen glands. People get herpes through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Herpes can also be spread by touching of the skin through sexual contact, kissing and rarely from a mother to her child during childbirth. (The Most Common STDs) Unfortunately there is no cure for herpes. The herpes virus stays in the body and can come back with random outbreaks. There are some medications that can help some of the symptoms and reduce the outbreaks, and also reduce the chances of spreading it to different sexual partners. There is no vaccine for herpes. Using condoms every time a couple has sex it lessens the risk of getting herpes. (The Most Common STDs) Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of the genital, anus, and throat. In 2011, 1,412,719 cases of chlamydia were reported in the United States. About 2.86 million infections occur worldwide. There is a large number of cases that aren’t reported because the people are asymptomatic and don’t want to be tested. Chlamydia is most among younger ages. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)) Symptoms of a women having chlamydia are having a vaginal discharge that is discolored, bleeding, and burning and pain during urination. Men who experience symptoms usually have a discharge or a pain while urinating, or a burning or itching around the opening of the penis. Spreading of chlamydia is through having vaginal, oral or anal sex. The symptoms for men and women are alike, so if you and your one sexual partner have the same type of symptoms, being tested for chlamydia is probably a good idea. Chlamydia can also be passed from the mother to the child during child birth. (The Most Common STDs) Doctors have oral antibiotics which are able to cure the infection. If a person has only one sexual partner and they both are infected with chlamydia, both partners have to be treated for the infection to go away. Another good idea is for both partners not to have sex until the infections is gone. People that have chlamydia should also be tested for other STDs. (The Most Common STDs) If chlamydia is left untreated it puts the person at risk of other STDs. In women, chlamydia can also cause pelvis inflammatory disease (PID). If a woman gets PID it can cause infertility and tubal pregnancy. Men can develop pain and swelling in the testicles. If a mother gives birth while having chlamydia it can cause the baby to develop eye or lung infections. (The Most Common STDs) Chlamydia can cause pneumonia or serious eye infections if it is passed from a mother to its baby during child birth. (Chlamydia1) To test for chlamydia doctors uses a swab to take samples from the penis, cervix, urethra or anus. They can also test a person’s urine to see if they are infected. (Chlamydia2) If chlamydia isn’t treated it can cause abdominal pain, fever, pain during intercourse, lower back pain, nausea and also infertility. (10 Most Serious Sexually Transmitted Diseases) STDs are becoming more and more common with younger people. 15 to 24 are the ages that make up over a quarter of the sexually active population. The population that usually gets syphilis and HIV are people that are gay, bisexual, and other men that have sex with men. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)) Some people don’t take any of these consequences into consideration because the person doesn’t think something this tragic could happen to them. Getting these different STDs isn’t just from having sex; it can be from sharing a towel to just doing sexual things with a partner that has one of the infections. If someone has these infections they should tell every sexual partner they have before having sex with them or before being in a relationship with them because some of the other partners may change their mind in having sex or being in a relationship with that person. Reading this summary would probably be good for most people, just to get some basic knowledge on this subject, but this was written more towards people who have multiple sexual partners. Knowing things about STDs should keep a person aware of them and make them be more cautious. It will also help the identify STD symptoms so that they can seek medical attention if needed. This paper only touched on STDs given that there are 50 different types and it only discussed the most common five, so if a person thinks they have different symptoms as a result of sexual activity, that are not discussed in this paper, it would wise for them to do further research on this topic, if they are concerned that the symptoms they are having could be a type of STD.

Work Cited
“10 Most Serious Sexually Transmitted Diseases.” 2013. All Women Stalk. 23 Nov. 2013. http://allwomenstalk.com/10-most-serious-sexually-transmitted-diseases

“Chlamydia1.” 2013. Emedicinehealth. 29. Nov. 2013. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/chlamydia/article_em.htm#chlamydia_overview

“Chlamydia2.” 2013. Planned Parenthood. 29. Nov. 2013. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/chlamydia-4266.htm

“Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers.” 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 29 Nov. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/statistics/cases.htm

“The Most Common STDs.” 2013. IYSL It’s Your (Sex) Life. 29 Nov. 2013. http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/the-most-common-stds/

“Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 23 Nov. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm

“Syphilis.” 2013. Mayo Clinic. 29. Nov. 2013 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/syphilis/DS00374

“Syphilis – Topic Overview.” 2013. WebMD. 29. Nov. 2013. http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/tc/syphilis-topic-overview

Cited: “10 Most Serious Sexually Transmitted Diseases.” 2013. All Women Stalk. 23 Nov. 2013. http://allwomenstalk.com/10-most-serious-sexually-transmitted-diseases “Chlamydia1.” 2013. Emedicinehealth. 29. Nov. 2013. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/chlamydia/article_em.htm#chlamydia_overview “Chlamydia2.” 2013. Planned Parenthood. 29. Nov. 2013. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/chlamydia-4266.htm “Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers.” 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 29 Nov. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/statistics/cases.htm “The Most Common STDs.” 2013. IYSL It’s Your (Sex) Life. 29 Nov. 2013. http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/the-most-common-stds/ “Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 23 Nov. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm “Syphilis.” 2013. Mayo Clinic. 29. Nov. 2013 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/syphilis/DS00374 “Syphilis – Topic Overview.” 2013. WebMD. 29. Nov. 2013. http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/tc/syphilis-topic-overview