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| Everything You Need To Know About STDs |
Everything You Need To Know About STDsUnfortunately, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a fact of life for many. Their widespread existence poses a potential threat to every sexually active man and woman out there.
While some are quite painful, and include visible sores and discharge, others can go unnoticed for quite some time, while they are unwittingly passed on to others. As well, some are curable, while others are not. That is why it is important for those on the dating scene to use protection with new partners, and to get regular check-ups and undergo tests if in doubt as to whether or not they have one.
In order to help you increase your sexual awareness and health, I have outlined the most common STDs, how they are transmitted, their symptoms, and treatments, below. Read on and arm yourself with the facts before you decide to get under the sheets with anyone.curable STDs  Gonorrhea
Transmission: Oral, vaginal, and anal contact, or mother to child during birth.
Symptoms: For men, the symptoms include thick, yellowish penile discharge, and burning during urination. For women, the symptoms include increased vaginal discharge, burning during urination, and irregular menstrual bleeding.
Treatment: Antibiotics
Syphilis
Transmission: Oral, vaginal and anal contact, or by touching an infectious chancre.
Symptoms: Within two to four weeks of transmission, a hard, round, painless chancre or sore forms at the site of infection.
Treatment: Penicillin
Chlamydia
Transmission: Oral, vaginal and anal contact, or by touching eyes after touching the genitals of an infected partner.
Symptoms: For men, the symptoms include painful urination, penile discharge, and sore throat from oral contact. For women, the symptoms include painful urination, vaginal discharge, and sore throat from oral contact.
Treatment: Antibioticsnon-curable STDs Oral Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type-1
Transmission: Touching, kissing, and sexual contact with sores or blisters. May be transmitted from mouth to genitals and vice versa.
Symptoms: Cold sores or fever blisters on the lips, mouth or throat, and sores on the genitals.
Treatment: Topical, over-the-counter cold sore medications, and doctor-prescribed medications such as acyclovir or valacyclovir. Keep in mind, however, that these treatments only shorten the time or suppress the disease; they do not cure it.
Other non-curable STDs you never want to catch.Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type-2 Transmission: Oral, vaginal or anal contact. Most contagious during active outbreaks of the disease. May be transmitted from genitals to mouth and vice versa.
Symptoms: Painful reddish bumps around the genitals, thighs or buttocks. In women, these bumps may also occur in the vagina or on the cervix. Symptoms also include painful urination, fever, aches and pains, and swollen glands.
Treatments: Doctor-prescribed drugs such as acyclovir, famciclovir or valacyclovir. Keep in mind, however, that these treatments only shorten the time or suppress the disease; they do not cure genital herpes.
Viral Hepatitis: A, B, C, D & E
Transmission: Sexual contact, and especially anal contact (or contact with fecal matter) for hepatitis A. Transfusion of contaminated blood (especially Hepatitis B & C).
Symptoms: Range from mild flu-like symptoms, to more severe ones, such as fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowish skins and eyes).
Treatments: Bed rest, intake of fluids, and sometimes antibiotics to ward off potential bacterial infections. Also keep in mind that there is a vaccine for Hepatitis B, but vaccines are preventative; they're not cures.
Genital Warts (Human Papilloma Virus or HPV) Transmission: Sexual contact and contact with infected towels or clothing.
Symptoms: Appearance of painless warts, often resembling cauliflower on the penis, foreskin, scrotum, or internal urethra in men, and on the vulva, labia, vaginal wall or cervix in women; these may also occur around the anus and in the rectum in both genders.
Treatments: The warts may be removed by freezing, burning or through laser surgery, but there's always a risk of recurrence.
AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome) & HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Transmission: Sexual contact, infusion with contaminated blood, from mother to fetus during pregnancy, through childbirth or breast feeding.
Symptoms: HIV may initially present mild flu-like symptoms, that may disappear for years before the onset of AIDS. The latter is symptomized by fever, weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, and opportunistic infections such as rare forms of cancer (Kaposi's sarcoma) and pneumonia (PCP)
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byAskMen
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