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Teen Facts | |||
Common STI's (Sexually Transmitted Infections) | |||
FLUID TRANSMISSION DISEASES: transmitted when infected semen, vaginal fluids, or blood contact mucosal surfaces (e.g., the male urethra, the vagina or cervix). | |||
STI | Symptoms | Potential Outcome | Numbers |
Chlamydia[i] | MEN: 50% will have no symptoms. If penile infection: may experience a discharge from the penis or burning with urination. If anal infection: rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Throat infections from oral sex can occur as well. | Complications are rare: infection can spread deeper into the reproductive system, causing pain, fever, and rarely, sterility. | In 2006, 1,030,911 chlamydial infections were reported to the CDC. |
| WOMEN: 75% will have no symptoms. Others may have abnormal vaginal discharge or burning with urination. If infection spreads beyond cervix to fallopian tubes, may have back pain, abdominal pain, pain with intercourse, and/or bleeding between menstrual periods. If anal infection: rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Throat infections from oral sex can occur as well. | Infection can spread and cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, which can cause permanent damage to the reproductive organs. Can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside of the uterus). | Under-reporting is substantial as most people do not know they are infected, and therefore don’t get tested. Estimated 2,291,000 non-institutionalized U.S. civilians age 14-34 are infected. | |
MEN: The only way to know if you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether or not you are infected. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at all for 10 years or more. In fact, one quarter of the HIV-infected persons in the United States do not know that they are infected. WOMEN: (same as men) | HIV attacks a very important cell in the body’s immune system, eventually weakening it to the point that the body has difficulty fighting off infections. | End of 2003 (most recent year for which data is available), estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 people living in the US with HIV/AIDS. | |
Trichomoniasis[iv] | MEN: most men do not have symptoms. May experience irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation. | None recognized. | Most common curable STD in young sexually active young women. |
| WOMEN: May experience frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge with a strong odor. May cause discomfort during intercourse and urination, as well as irritation and itching of the female genital area. Rare cases, lower abdominal pain can occur. | Can increase risk of HIV infection if exposed to it. May increase chances of passing HIV to partner from an HIV-infected woman. | Estimated 7.4 million new cases each year in men and women. | |
Gonorrhea[v] | MEN: some may have no symptoms. Some may have a burning sensation with urination, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. May even have painful or swollen testicles. Anal infection may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Throat infections may cause a sore throat. | Untreated, can cause serious and permanent health problems. Can cause epididymitis, a painful condition of the ducts attached to the testicles that may lead to infertility if not treated. In addition, the gonorrhea can spread to the blood and joints, which can be life threatening. | CDC estimates 70, 000 new infections each year; only half are reported. |
| WOMEN: Most do not have symptoms, or can be mistaken for bladder or vaginal infection: painful or burning urination, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Anal infection may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Throat infections may cause a sore throat. | Untreated, can cause serious and permanent health problems. Gonorrhea is a common cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (for symptoms, see below). In addition, the gonorrhea can spread to the blood and joints, which can be life threatening. | Although infection rates had been decreasing until 1997, the rates have increased the last 2 years (2005 and 2006) | |
Hepatitis B[vi] | MEN: 30% have no symptoms. | Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, joint pain. | Viral infection of the liver.60,000 new infections in 2004. |
| WOMEN: (same as men) | (same as men) | Estimated 1.25 million chronically infected. Americans; about 1/3 acquired it in childhood. | |
CONTACT TRANSMISSION DISEASES: primarily transmitted through contact with infected skin or mucosal surfaces. | |||
Human Papillomavirus | MEN: Usually no symptoms or health problems. Some strains will cause genital warts. | Less common strains can cause cancer of the anus or penis. Symptoms of cancer will not show until it is advanced. | Currently 20 million people infected. As many as half of these infections are in people aged 15-24. |
(HPV)[vii] | WOMEN: Usually no symptoms or health problems. Some strains will cause genital warts. | Less common strains can cause cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, or anal cancer. Symptoms of cancer will not show until it is advanced. | Most common cause of cervical cancer. Every year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 4,000 die from it. |
PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)[viii] | WOMEN: (only affects women) Symptoms vary from none to severe. Because of this, PID goes unrecognized 2/3 of the time by women and their doctors. Symptoms can be lower abdominal pain, fever, unusual vaginal discharge that has a foul odor, painful intercourse, painful urination, irregular menstrual bleeding, and (rarely) pain in the right upper abdomen. | If untreated promptly, PID can cause permanent damage to the female reproductive organs. This damage can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy (which can be life threatening), and/or chronic pelvic pain. | Estimated more than 1 million women experience an acute PID episode each year. More than 100,000 women become infertile each year due to PID. |
Syphilis[ix] | MEN: Many people who are infected do not have symptoms for years, but remain at risk for late complications if untreated; infection will not go away without treatment. | If untreated and progresses to Late Stage, Syphilis may damage internal organs, including brain, heart, bones, and more. The damage can be serious enough to cause death. | In 2006, over 36,000 cases reported. Rates of occurrences have increased in males over the last 6 years for which data is available (2000-2006). Rates for women have increased in the last 2 years (2004-2006). |
| WOMEN: (same as men) | |||
Herpes(HSV-1 and HSV-2)[x] | MEN: Lifelong infection. Transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Typically, one or more blisters around the genitals or rectum, but infection can occur anywhere on the body. When the blisters break, they leave tender ulcers that can take up to four weeks to heal on first occurrence. Outbreaks become less frequent and less intense over time. WOMEN: Same as men. | Recurrent painful sores. Can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and can make HIV-infected people more infectious. Same as men. Plus, genital infection of mother can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies. | Nationwide, 45 million ages 12 and older have had genital herpes infection. HSV-2 is more common in women (approximately 1:4 women) than men (1:8 men). |