Most Common STIs
| STI | Symptoms | Damage | Numbers |
|
Chlamydia |
Women - Usually None. May experience pain and/or vaginal discharge.
Men - Usually none. Some experience discharge from the penis and burning with urination. |
Women - Considered to be the most common cause of sterility due to scarring. Advanced stage may require removal of uterus, tubes and ovaries.
Men - Sterility. |
3 million new cases estimated annually.
75% are not aware they are infected. 40% of those sexually active are suspected carriers. |
|
Gonorrhea |
Women – Pelvic Pain. Painful urination and pus-like discharge
Men – Pus from urethra. Burning upon urination.
|
Women – Sterility. Surgery in severe cases.
Men – Sterility. Scarring of the urethra and urinary tract problems. |
650,000 new cases estimated annually.
80% are not aware they are infected in the early stages. |
|
Syphilis |
Women – 1st stage: often unnoticed. 2nd stage: changes of skin, fever, enlarged lymph nodes.
Men 1st stage: swollen non-painful ulcers on external genitalia. 2nd stage: same as women. |
Women – Brain disorders, heart disease, blindness, dementia and death. Can cause birth defects or death in newborns if mother is infected.
Men – Same as women. |
70,000 new cases reported annually.
50% are not aware they have this disease. |
|
HIV/AIDS |
Women - fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands.
Men – Same as women.
|
Women – Immune system breakdown, death.
Men – Same as women. |
6th leading cause of death among persons 15-24 years.
20% infected during teen years. |
|
Genital Herpes |
Women – Lesions appear at the site of infection – periodic eruptions of painful blisters and ulcers anywhere on the body.
Men – Same as women. |
Women – Continuous outbreaks. Eventually may lead to hospitali-zation. Lifetime medication required. Causes infant death.
Men – Same as women. |
45 million infected.
1 million new cases annually. 75% show no symptoms.
25% of women have this disease. |
|
HPV (Human Papilloma- Virus) |
Women – Genital warts that sometimes form cauliflower shape. Often no visible symptoms. Some experience vulvar burning, itching and pain.
Men – Wart-like genital growths. |
Women – Pre-malignant changes to cervix which may develop into cancer if not treated.
Men – Cancer of the penis and anus. |
20 million people are thought to be carriers.
100 different strains exist. 75% of reproductive population is infected with this virus. |
| Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C | Women – Often none. Some experience yellowing of the skin (jaundice), tired-ness, dark urine and gray-colored stool.
Men – Same as women. |
Women – Severe liver damage. Can eventually lead to cancer of the liver and cirrhosis.
Men – Same as women. |
120,000 new cases annually.
40%-50% children born to infected mothers develop liver cancer. |
|
Trichomonas |
Women – Often none. May be changes in vaginal discharge color or odor; vaginal itching or pain during urination or sex.
Men – Abnormal discharge from penis; irritation on tip of penis; a burning when urinating. |
Women – Sterility. May be passed to newborn female at birth. Associated with premature rupture of membranes; increased risk of contracting HIV.
Men – Increased risk of contracting HIV. |
5 million to 8 million new cases each year in U. S.
50% are not aware they have this infection. |