A sexually transmitted disease. Can be contracted through breast milk, blood, body tissue, using dirty needles, but mainly sex. Using a condom dramatically lowers your chances of contracting an std. Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis are some of the most common in the united states (
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008), but by far the most common is HPV; 1 in 4 people have it. Some stds are curable, and some, like
HIV/AIDS and Herpes are not. It is estimated that every year, 1 in 4 teens contracts an std (American
Social Health Association, 2006), so watch who you sleep with! Also, stds can cause serious harm to your body in the long-run, so get yourself tested/treated.
Example:
Most common stds, their symptoms, and if curable in the United States (Elizabeth Bolskey, PhD, 2009).
1. Chlamydia- Pain during sex, discharge. Curable.
2. Gonorrhea- Painful urination, often no symptoms. Treatable
3. Syphilis- Lesions (holes
in skin)
on penis/vagina/rectum. Curable.
4. Mycoplasma Genetalium- no symptoms, can cause
infertility. Treatable.
5. Trichomoniasis- Frothy vaginal discharge, itching, odor. Treatable.
6. Crabs/Pubic Lice- little bugs/eggs visible on genetalia, intense itching. Curable.
7. Scabies- Incredibly itchy rash. Spread by skin-on-skin contact. Curable.
8. Human Papiloma Virus - No symptoms/cervical cancer/genital warts. Treatable.
9.
HIV/AIDS - supresses immune system so basically any disease/virus can get in. Intense treatment.
10. Herpes - sores. treatable.