Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Get the Facts !

Every year 3 million teens--about 1 in 4 sexually active teens-get a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).

Chlamydia is more common among teens than among older men and women.

Teens have higher rates of gonorrhea than do sexually active men and women aged 20-44.

Some studies show that up to 15% of sexually active teenage women are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), many with the type of HPV that is linked to cervical cancer.

What Are Sexually Transmitted Diseases?

STDs are infections that can be spread by having sex with another person who is infected. Most STDs are curable. Some are not. If you have sex with someone who has an STD, you can get it too. Many people who have an STD do not know it. They may look healthy, but they still could have a STD. Some people won't tell you, even if they know. Look through the list below to find more information about a particular STD.

What Are the Symptoms?

Most people who have an STD have no symptoms. A test from your health care provider or local health clinic may be the only way to tell for sure if you're infected.

If you do become infected, symptoms may appear right away. Or, they may not show up for weeks or months or even years. They may come and go. Even if the signs and symptoms go away, you can still infect other people if you have sex with them. Or, they can still infect you!

STDs: Who, What, Where, When and Why

When you have unprotected sex with a partner, you risk a variety of sexually transmitted diseases, bugs and infections.

STD Symptoms for Women

It's hard to describe STD symptoms. They can have similar symptoms as other diseases that have nothing to do with sex. But if you think you may have been at risk for an STD, some symptoms you may have are:

• Sores, bumps or blisters near your genitals, anus (butt hole) or mouth
• Burning or pain when you urinate (pee)
• Itching, bad smell or unusual discharge from your vagina or anus (butt hole)
• Bellyache (pain in your lower abdomen)
• Bleeding from your vagina between your menstrual periods

Remember: Sometimes symptoms don't show up for weeks or months or years.

STD Symptoms for Men

It's hard to describe STD symptoms. They can have similar symptoms as other diseases that have nothing to do with sex. But if you think you may have been at risk for an STD, some symptoms you may have are:

• Sores, bumps or blisters near your genitals, anus (butt hole) or mouth
• Burning or pain when you urinate (pee)
• Drip or discharge from your penis
• Itching, pain or discharge from your anus (butt hole)

Remember: Sometimes symptoms don't show up for weeks or months.

Prevention

• Abstinence, or not having oral, vaginal or anal sex, is the best way to protect yourself. It is possible to get an STD even without having intercourse (penis in the vagina, mouth or anus) through skin-to-skin contact.
• There are many alternatives to intercourse, like mutual or self-masturbation.
• If you have sex, choose only one partner who you know well and trust. Someone who only has sex with you. This is called "mutual monogamy." Limiting your number of sex partners helps reduce your risk of getting an STD.
• Use latex condoms correctly for any type of sex (vaginal, oral or anal) from start to finish.
• Limiting your number of sex partners helps reduce your risk of getting an STD. But remember, just because you and your partner may be monogamous with each other, the risk of getting an STD is increased by the number of previous sexual partners either partner has had.
• Use water-based spermicide for vaginal sex. It is not safe or effective for oral or anal sex.
• Always use water-based lubricants (like K-Y jelly, Astroglide or glycerin) with latex condoms. Oil lubricants, like petroleum jelly, baby oil or cooking oil, can cause latex condoms to break.
• Latex condoms may protect the penis, vagina, mouth or anus (butt hole) from some STDs, but they will not protect against genital warts (HPV) or other lesions such as herpes, when they are present on the base of the penis or the scrotum (on the male), or on the woman's vulva.
• Sometimes infection can spread to or from areas like the scrotum or anal area. STDs like herpes and genital warts are spread through skin-to-skin contact.
• A female polyurethane condom is available and may protect these areas better, but it is NOT to be used with a male condom.

Know the Facts. Know for Sure.

• If you have had unprotected sex, you may have an STD and not know it.
• If your partner has had unprotected sex, your partner may have an STD and not know it.
• If you think you have an STD, there is something you can do about it. The only way to know for sure is to be tested.
• STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable. While not curable, diseases like HIV, HPV, herpes and hepatitis B are treatable.
• If left untreated, STDs can lead to long-term consequences, like infertility, long-term pain or cancer.

If You Think You Have an STD:

• Talk to your mom or dad, or another adult you trust
• Ask the school nurse about getting help
• Call your family doctor
• Call your local public health department or Planned Parenthood clinic

Remember: If you call your local public health department or Planned Parenthood clinic and ask about testing, they cannot diagnose you over the phone. You will need to go to the clinic and get tested to know for sure if you have an STD.

Prevention

1. What's the best type of protection for sex?
   
   
   If you choose to have sex, latex condoms give you good protection because they are barriers - something that keeps you away from your boyfriend's or girlfriend's sex fluids. Other birth control methods only protect you from unwanted pregnancy. Using a condom isn't 100% safe against pregancy or STDs--only abstinence is--but it offers the best protection from STDs and pretty good protection from pregnancy if you do have sex. The best protection is to use birth control pills or depo provera to prevent pregnancy AND latex condoms to protect against STDs.


2. What is a dental dam?
   
   
   A dental dam is a flat piece of latex that is made for use during dental procedures. They can be purchased in some medical supply stores or in some adult bookstores. They can be used as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus during oral sex. Household plastic wrap or a split and flattened, unlubricated condom can also be used if you don't have dental dam.


3. If I take birth control pills, do we still need to use condoms?
   
   
   Yes! Birth control pills are prescribed only to prevent pregnancy. They do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).


4. How do you use condoms?
   
   
   The penis should be erect (hard) and the condom should be put on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth or anus.
   
   
   Carefully open the condom packet-don't use your teeth, fingernails or anything sharp so you don't nick the condom-and remove the rolled up condom.
   
   
   Most condoms have a nipple-shaped end on it. Pinch that together to squeeze out the air before placing the condom on the head of the erect penis. This is the tip where the semen will go when the male partner ejaculates (comes) after his orgasm.
   
   
   Carefully roll the condom down the erect (hard) penis. If the condom will not roll, then it's not turned the right way. Throw it away and start over. Do not unroll and then re-roll a condom.
   
   
   The unrolled condom should cover the majority of the penis shaft. Check for air bubbles and squeeze them out before the covered penis is inserted.
   
   
   When intercourse is complete, hold the condom securely at the base of the penis and withdraw before the penis goes soft. Holding the condom prevents it from slipping or spilling.
   
   
   Throw the condom away after it's been used. Never reuse a condom.
   
   
   Always use a new condom for each sexual act.
   
   
   Human error causes more condom failure than manufacturing errors.

Getting a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)

1. I'm a teenager, I'm not at risk for an STD, right?
   
   
   Wrong. One out of every four teenagers will get an STD, even though lots of teenagers think they know how to protect themselves. There are other STDs out there besides HIV, and they are on the rise among teens. They include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes genital warts and abnormal Pap smears.


2. Can you get an STD from a public restroom?
   
   
   This is not very likely. Most STDs are only transmitted during sexual contact, either by skin to skin contact or through body fluid exchange. Crabs, or pubic lice, may be transmitted through sexual contact, sleeping in infected bedding, sharing infected clothing and possibly through sitting on an infested toilet seat. However, lice cannot survive away from the human body for longer than 24 hours. So contracting pubic lice from a toilet seat is possible, but it's unlikely.


3. Can I get HIV or another STD from getting a tattoo or through body piercing?
   
   
   There can be a risk for HIV or another blood-borne infection (like Hepatitis B or C) if the instruments used for piercing or tattooing either are not sterilized or disinfected between clients. Any instrument used to pierce or cut the skin should be used once and thrown away, or thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before using them again. Ask the staff at the parlor about their equipment. They will show you what precautions they use.


4. Can I get an STD from kissing?
   
   
   This is possible but not very common. If your partner's mouth is infected with an STD, then he or she may be able to pass that infection to your mouth during a kiss. Fever blisters and cold sores can be passed through a kiss if your partner is infected, and blood-borne infections like HIV or Hepatitis B or C can only be passed through kissing if there is the exchange of infected blood. If your partner has an infection in his or her genital area, then kissing on the mouth will not transmit the infection.


5. Can I get an STD from oral sex?
   
   
   Yes. During oral sex, there is skin to skin contact and there can be body fluid exchange, so it is important to use barrier protection like unlubricated condoms or latex dental dams to protect you during oral sex.


6. Why don't teenagers protect themselves if they are having sex?
   
   
   It's not always because people don't know. Sometimes they. . .
   • are embarrassed about buying or getting condoms
   • feel peer/date pressure
   • use alcohol and drugs
   • have a lack of knowledge
   • believe using birth control pills is enough protection
   • are embarrassed about asking questions
   • don't think ahead of time

Some Other Reading Sources

• World Health Authority
• Public Health Fact Sheets