Chlamydia is a common bacterial STD that is curable with prescription antibiotics. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is the most commonly reported STD generally.

Most people who have chlamydia, do not show any symptoms, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get tested. If chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause irreversible damage to your reproductive system or even infertility.

Symptoms

Many people with chlamydia don’t have noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they typically present themselves 1-3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria.

For women, symptoms can include:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge

• Painful or burning sensation during urination

The infection can migrate up the reproductive tract from the vagina, going all the way up to the cervix. It can then spread to the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus. If the infection spreads, women can experience abdominal and pelvic pain, fever, nausea, bleeding between periods, and pain during intercourse.

For men, symptoms can include:

• Painful or burning sensation during urination

• Unusual discharge from the penis

• Pain and swelling in one or both testicles

A chlamydia infection in men can travel up the urethra and down to the testicles, causing swelling and tenderness. There may be a discharge from the tip of the penis is watery or white-ish.

For both men and women, symptoms can include:

• Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding

• Frequent urination

• Painful bowel movements or urination

• Pain in pelvis

• Itching in the genitals

• Fluid filled blisters, bumps, or sores on genitals, rectum, or mouth

How Do You Get Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is spread through vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse with an infected person. It can also be spread via shared pleasures toys. It is also transmittable even if a male partner does not ejaculate inside a female genital. The chlamydia trachomatis bacteria is found in the fallopian tube, cervix, rectum, throat, urethra in a male genital, and in some cases, the cornea of an eye. Chlamydia cannot live on the surface of the skin. Its main primary point of infection is delicate, soft tissue.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone who is sexually active can get chlamydia, especially if they are having unprotected intercourse. However, certain groups of people are at higher risk because of behavioral and biological factors.

Chlamydia is particularly common in young people ages 15-24, who account for almost two-thirds of all chlamydia cases.

Female anatomy can also put women at an increased risk of STD infection. Compared to the skin of the male genital, the thinner, more delicate lining of the female genital, which is easier for the bacteria to penetrate.

How Often Should You Test for Chlamydia?

It is recommended at least yearly to undergo a chlamydia screenings for:

• Men and Women older than 25 if they have risk factors like new or multiple intimate partners or partners with an STD

What Is Chlamydia Prevention?

You can decrease your risk of contracting chlamydia by:

• Using latex condom or dental dam every time you have oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse

• Being in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone who has tested negative

• Limiting the number of sexual partners

If you or your partner(s) have symptoms or you think you may be infected, get tested before having intercourse again. If you test positive and get treated, you should notify your current and recent partners you were intimate with, for them to get checked and treated too. Wait until all symptoms have cleared. The doctor will advise you to take the antibiotics until they run out. It is recommended, getting tested 3 months after successful treatment with prescribed antibiotics.

If you are initially active with multiple people, then getting tested every 3 to 6 months is better due to the frequency of partners.

Is Chlamydia Curable?

Chlamydia will go away with the right medication, which is the right antibiotics, prescribed by a doctor.

Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) which is very common and easily cured with prescription antibiotics. It is spread through oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse. Many people with gonorrhea are unaware they have it because they often have mild or no symptoms.

Gonorrhea is often called “the drip” or “the clap” and is especially common in young people in their twenties. It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive system including the cervix, fallopian tubes, uterus in women, and the urethra in both men and women. Gonorrhea can infect the male genital, female genital, anus, throat, and (more rarely) eyes. If you don’t treat it, gonorrhea can lead to serious health problems or even infertility, which is why regular STD testing is important even if you feel healthy.

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

Many men and most women with gonorrhea have no symptoms at all. Symptoms in men include:

• Painful urination

• A white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis

• Painful or swollen testicles

Symptoms in women include:

• Pain or burning while urinating

• Increased vaginal discharge

• Vaginal bleeding between periods

In both men and women, rectal infections can cause no symptoms or cause symptoms such as anal discharge, soreness, bleeding, or itching, or painful bowel movements.

How Do You Get Gonorrhea?

The bacteria that cause gonorrhea is carried in semen, pre-cum, and vaginal fluids and can be transmitted during oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse with an infected partner, even if there is no ejaculation.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone who has intercourse can get gonorrhea, especially if they are having it unprotected. Certain people have biological and behavioral factors that put them at higher risk. It is said, young adults, have the highest reported rates of infection.

It is recommends at least to undergo a yearly gonorrhea screening for:

• Men and women in their early 20’s above if they have risk factors like new or multiple intimate partners or partners with an STD

How Do You Prevent Gonorrhea?

If you are sexually active, safe intercourse with consistent use of protection like latex or polyurethane condoms and dental dams helps lower (though not eliminate) the risk of getting an STD.

Being in a mutually monogamous with a long-term relationship with a partner that has tested negative can also help prevent infection.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is easily curable with antibiotics. However, without proper treatment, syphilis can cause serious and permanent problems like brain damage, paralysis, and blindness. The only way to know if you have syphilis is to get tested.

What Are Syphilis Symptoms?

Syphilis develops in stages, and each stage may come with different symptoms. However, syphilis can be confusing and sneaky. Stages may overlap or may not always happen in the same order. Sores caused by syphilis may be hidden, since they can appear in hard-to-see areas. Syphilis can also go through periods when there are no symptoms for years.

Even when signs are apparent, syphilis may still be overlooked. Syphilis has been called “The Great Pretender” because its symptoms in men and women can seem like many other diseases.

At any stage, syphilis can spread and cause damage to the brain and nervous system (neurosyphilis) and the eye (ocular syphilis).

Primary Syphilis

The first sign of syphilis is usually:

• A small painless sore called a chancre

• Appears at the spot bacteria entered your body (often on, around, or inside the genitals or anus/rectum and sometimes on the lips or mouth)

• Usually single, but may be multiple

Chancres usually develop within 3 weeks of infection, although symptoms may appear from 10 to 90 days after infection.

Usually a chancre is painless and may be hidden inside the vagina or rectum, a person may not even know they have primary stage syphilis.

Chancres heal on their own within 3-6 weeks. Even when a chancre disappears, the syphilis bacteria are still in the body unless a person receives treatment.

Secondary Syphilis

While a chancre is healing or several weeks after it has healed, a person with syphilis may progress to the secondary stage.

Secondary syphilis symptoms include:

• Skin rashes which usually aren’t itchy

• Lesions in the mouth, female genital , or anus

• Fever

• Swollen glands in neck, groin, or armpits

• Weight loss

• Hair loss

• Sore throat

• Headache

• Muscle ache

• Fatigue

Symptoms will go away whether you get treatment or not.

They may come back later or not return at all. But without the right treatment, syphilis stays in the body, and the infection can progress to the latent or even tertiary stage of syphilis.

Latent Syphilis

Latent syphilis symptoms include:

• No symptoms– even for years

Although latent syphilis is silent with no visible signs or symptoms of syphilis present, the infection isn’t gone. During the early part of the latent stage, a person is contagious, even when no signs are present.

Tertiary Syphilis

Many people with untreated syphilis don’t develop tertiary syphilis. However, when it happens, it’s very destructive. Tertiary syphilis can impact many different organ systems and cause serious problems.

Tertiary syphilis symptoms may include:

• Large sores called gummata, which appear inside the body or on the skin

• Strokes

• Numbness

• Deep, boring bone pain

• Heart problems

• Vision problems or blindness

While syphilis can be treated at any stage, treatment does not reverse the damage that has already been done.

How Do You Get Syphilis?

Syphilis is most commonly spread through skin-to-skin or mucous membrane contact with someone’s syphilitic sore, also known as a chancre. This contact most commonly happens during female genital, anal, and oral intercourse or intimate contact. Syphilis is contagious during its primary and secondary stages, and it can sometimes be spread during the early latent period (when symptoms stop showing).

Who Is At Risk?

Anybody who is sexually active can get syphilis during female genital, anal, or oral intimacy.

You may have an increased risk of getting syphilis if you:

• Have unprotected intercourse

• Have partner(s) who have tested positive for syphilis

• Have multiple intimate partners

• Partner with HIV

Is It Curable? How to

Yes. Syphilis is easily curable with prescription antibiotics. When caught in the early stages, syphilis is simple to cure with a single injection of penicillin.

Depending on how long you’ve had syphilis or how the infection has progressed, the amount and type of treatment may vary. Treatment kills the syphilis bacteria, but it does not repair the damage that’s been done.

How To Prevent Syphilis

Using a latex condom or dental dam every time you have intercourse provides a barrier against direct contact with a sore. However, sometimes sores pop up in areas that aren’t covered, and contact with these sores can spread syphilis.

Limiting your intimate partners or having a mutually monogamous relationship with one partner who has tested negative for syphilis can help you prevent infection.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome, and we hope this resource will be a source of information about all aspects of the syndrome for educational purposes only.

What is Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV)?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. It attacks the cells of your immune system, making you more vulnerable to get sick or even die from illnesses your body would normally be able to fight off. HIV is spread through intercourse. Protected intercourse such as condoms, help to protect you.

Many people with HIV don’t show symptoms for years after infection. Getting tested is important for early detection, and can even be lifesaving.

Although there is no cure, medication can help people with HIV have a near-normal life span and a healthy quality of life. HIV treatment can also manage the condition to help the virus become non-transmittable.

What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?

HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. HIV is a virus that makes copies of itself and can eventually lead to the condition AIDS. Not all people with HIV have AIDS. However, anyone diagnosed with AIDS has previously contracted HIV.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the third and final stage of HIV infection when the virus has caused serious damage to the immune system. HIV destroys immune cells called CD4 cells, or T cells. You have AIDS when your CD4 cells reach a dangerously low amount (below 200 cells/mm) or if you develop opportunistic illnesses.

When the body’s defense has deteriorated, it is no longer able to properly protect against infection or detect faulty cells. Therefore, people living with AIDS can develop opportunistic infections that the body would otherwise be able to fight off.

Signs and Symptoms

Many people with HIV or AIDS don’t show HIV symptoms right away. Because they feel fine, they don’t know they have it and might unknowingly spread the virus. Some people with HIV experience a flu-like illness within 2-4 weeks of infection, but this passes after a short time and can be easy to overlook. It can take years for someone with HIV to start feeling really sick.

How Is HIV Transmitted?

You probably have a million questions about how you might catch HIV. Can HIV be transmitted through saliva or through saliva to an open wound? How much saliva is needed to transmit HIV? Is HIV transmitted through kissing? Can HIV be transmitted through oral sex? How quickly can HIV be transmitted?

Is HIV transmitted through mucous membranes? How is HIV trasmitted through intercourse?

HIV can be transmitted only through certain body fluids: blood, semen, female genital fluids, anal fluids/mucus, and breast milk. You can contract HIV if the virus enters your body through mucous membranes like the female genital, the rectum, the opening of the male genital. It can also enter the body through cuts or sores on your skin.

Most commonly, HIV is spread through:

• Unprotected anal and vaginal intercourse

• Shared needles or syringes

The risk of acquiring HIV depends on the type of intimacy activity.

Unprotected receptive anal intercourse (bottoming) is the highest-risk sexual behavior. This is because rectal tissue is thin and fragile and tearing occurs easily.

An insertive partner (or top) can also get HIV through the urethra at the tip of the male genital or through cuts or sores on the male genital.

You can NOT get HIV from:

• Saliva, tears, or sweat

• Closed-mouth kissing

• Using a toilet

• Close contact like hugging or holding hands

• Coughing or sneezing

• Mosquitoes

Who Is At Risk?

Anyone can get HIV, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, or age. That being said, same gender oriented and bi men, are the population most affected by HIV, making up more than half of the people living with HIV.

It is recommends that sexually active men get tested at least once a year for HIV.

You may be at increased risk of getting HIV if you have:

• Risky, unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse without a condom, especially with a partner that has a high viral load

• Shared needles, syringes, or injections

• Intercourse with multiple partners

• Other STDS

How Long Does It Take for HIV to Develop into AIDS?

Without treatment, it usually takes about 8–10 years to develop AIDS after initial HIV infection. It can advance slower or quicker depending on factors like age and general health. HIV treatment makes it possible to slow down the progression, and some people can live with HIV without ever developing AIDS. This is why getting tested for HIV and knowing your status is so crucial.

How Bad Can HIV Be?

Untreated HIV develops into AIDS, which eventually leads to death. HIV itself does not kill most people, but it compromises the immune system so that people with HIV/AIDS are more likely to die from pneumonia, diarrhoeal illnesses, brain infections, or certain tumors such as cervical lymphoma.

Without treatment, people with AIDS generally survive for about 3 years. But having HIV is not a death sentence, thanks to modern medicine. It is very important you seek treatment if you know you have HIV/AIDS to be able to manage the virus. Proper medication lowers the amount of HIV in the body and slows the virus progression.

Types of HIV

There are two main types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. As with other viruses, HIV has different strains and variants.

While HIV-1 and HIV-2 are different, both can lead to AIDS. HIV-1 is the most common type and accounts for around 95% of infections worldwide.

HIV-2 is not commonly seen outside of West Africa, but it has been seen in other places. HIV-2 is generally less infectious and takes longer to progress to AIDS compared to HIV-1.

Is There a Cure for HIV?

No. Once you have HIV, it is a lifelong infection. People living with HIV can take medicine to reduce the amount of virus in the blood and other bodily fluids. This medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART), and it helps you suppress the virus and stay healthy for many years. In fact, by following treatment, it is possible to achieve an undetectable viral load, meaning that viral levels are so low that tests can’t detect it. People with an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of spreading HIV to partners during intercourse.

How Do You Prevent HIV?

Condoms and Lubricants can lower your risk of getting or spreading HIV by using latex or polyurethane condoms correctly every time you have sex. Water- or silicone-based lubes can help prevent condom breakage and torn tissue during sex. Since condoms are not 100% effective, other prevention methods can further lower your risk.

Lower Risk

Certain behaviors like oral intimacy, have little to no risk of HIV transmission.

However, oral intimacy can spread other STDs like herpes, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, so it’s recommended to use protection like condoms and dental dams.

Being in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone who has tested negative or limiting your amount of intimate partners can lower your chances of getting HIV.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Heavy alcohol use, certain medications, and some medical conditions can all cause hepatitis. In addition to these causes, some forms of hepatitis are caused by viruses. The most common types of hepatitis are hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. All five of these infections are viral, meaning they’re caused by viruses. Hepatitis B and C are the most common causes of liver scarring (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.
If you believe you’ve been infected with hepatitis, we highly suggest getting tested in order for you to begin receiving the treatment you need.

What Is Hepatitis B?

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a contagious viral infection that can cause liver scarring, failure, and cancer. It’s spread through contact with semen, female genital fluids, and blood, which can happen during intercourse.

Hepatitis B can be potentially fatal, but most healthy adults fight off the infection in its acute (mild, early) stage and make a total recovery.

If hepatitis B lasts a long time, it can cause liver disease. 1 in 20 people infected with hepatitis B become carriers of a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B, which can be life-threatening.

Acute Hepatitis B Infection

An acute hepatitis B infection is a short-term illness that runs its course within 6 months after exposure. The intensity of the infection can be mild with few or no symptoms (asymptomatic), or it can be very serious with the potential of requiring hospitalization, although this is rare.

Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

A chronic hepatitis B infection is diagnosed when HBV lasts longer than six months. If hepatitis B remains in the blood this long, it means the immune system was not able to clear the infection, putting the liver at high risk of serious complications.

It is highly recommended that people with a chronic HBV infection seek the care of a doctor to be monitored regularly for signs of liver disease and evaluated for possible treatment. If the chronic infection is not managed, over time it can cause liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and more.

The chances that an acute infection may turn into a long-term chronic infection decrease with age.

How Is It Transmitted?

HBV may be transmitted when blood, semen, or another bodily fluid from an infected person with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. You can also get it by having unprotected intercourse with someone who has hepatitis B.

Risk Factors

All individuals who are not immune to HBV are at risk of acquiring hepatitis B. However, your chances increase if you:

• Have unprotected intercourse with multiple partners or with someone who is infected with HBV

• Engage in anal intercourse or oral-anal contact

• Live with someone who has a chronic HBV infection

• Have a job that exposes you to human blood

• Travel to regions with high infection rates of HBV

• Share items such as toothbrushes, razors, or medical equipment such as a glucose monitor with an infected person

• Have direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person

• Share needles or experience accidental needle sticks

Can Hepatitis B Spread Through Intercourse?

Hepatitis B is most commonly spread through intercourse. In fact, this form of transmissions accounts for nearly two-thirds of acute hepatitis B cases! Also, hepatitis B is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV and can be passed through the exchange of body fluids, such as semen, female genital fluids, and blood.

Prevention

The number one way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated for the virus prior to being exposed to it. To lower your risk, practice safe intercourse by consistently using condoms or dental dams and don’t share needles. Being in a monogamous relationship with someone who is not infected with hepatitis B will also prevent infection.

Other precautions you can take to avoid acquiring HBV are:

• Be selective about who/where you go to do body piercing and tattooing

• Ask about the hepatitis B vaccine before you travel

What Is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV. Hepatitis C infection can be mild lasting a few weeks, or it can become a chronic, long-term illness causing a multitude of health problems.

How Do You Get Hepatitis C?

The virus is mostly transmitted through exposure to infected blood. This can happen through blood infusions, receiving tattoos or piercings from unreliable sources, certain invasive beauty trends, and through the exchange of bodily fluids during intercourse.

Please note that the intercourse transmission of HCV is a lot less common than it is for other types of hepatitis. HCV has rarely been found in semen and female genital fluids. However, when someone carries the virus, their chances of spreading it are higher if they also have an additional STD.

Stages of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C starts out as a mild, acute infection. It can clear up in that stage or it can progress to its chronic stage which can lead to difficult complications.

Acute Stage

During the acute stage of the virus, the infection may cause mild illness symptoms, such as fatigue and vomiting. The acute stage can last up to six months. During this time, a

healthy body may be able to cure itself of the infection. If not, it will progress to chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic Stage

If the body is unable to get rid of the virus within the first six months, HCV will enter into its chronic stage, which can be a long-term and serious infection. 75 – 80% of people who acquire acute hepatitis C will develop a chronic hepatitis C infection. At this stage, patients may be eligible for treatment with antiviral medications.

Hepatitis C Symptoms

HCV symptoms tend to appear 2 to 12 weeks after initial exposure to the virus. Most people who are infected with hepatitis C do not develop any symptoms. Even without symptoms it is still possible to transmit hepatitis C.

Acute Hepatitis C Symptoms

Symptoms can be mild or severe. Typically, acute hepatitis C symptoms include:

• Nausea or vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Loss of appetite

• Bleeding easily

• Bruising easily

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

• Dark-colored urine

• Weight loss

• Swelling in the legs

• Confusion, drowsiness, and/or slurred speech

Chronic Hepatitis C Symptoms

Chronic hepatitis C symptoms resemble acute symptoms, but if there is no intervention, HCV can progress and cause serious complications.

Complications

Chronic forms of hepatitis C can lead to a multitude of devastating complications. These complications include:

• Severe liver damage

• Liver cancer

• Cirrhosis

• Liver transplant

• Liver disease

• Liver failure

Risk Factors

Some behaviors or activities greatly increase the likelihood of contracting HCV. These risk factors include:

• Receiving a blood transfusion before 1992

• Sharing needles

• Body piercing

• Tattoos

• Engaging in unprotected intercourse

• Engaging in intercourse with multiple partners

• Healthcare workers

Prevention

Unlike hepatitis A and hepatitis B, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Therefore, the only way to prevent hep C is by taking precautions to avoid transmission.

Here are a few ways to reduce your risk of contracting hepatitis C:

• Avoid handling other people’s blood

• Use protective gear when handling other’s bodily fluids

• Use protection

• Wash pleasures toys before sharing them

• Before receiving a tattoo or body piercing, ensure the needles and materials are sterilized

Is It Curable?

Hepatitis C is curable. During the acute stage, the body is able to cure itself of the virus. Once hepatitis C enters the chronic stage, there is medication available to help manage and/or treat the virus