This document discusses sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It defines STDs as diseases transmitted through sexual contact and notes the epidemic rates in the US. Risk factors include asymptomatic carriers, lack of treatment seeking due to embarrassment, multiple partners, unprotected sex, drug use, and young age. Consequences can include serious lifelong issues, some incurable, increased cancer and infertility risks, and transmission from mother to child. Common STDs and their symptoms are outlined such as HPV, genital warts, chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, and AIDS.

1. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

2. What is an STD?
• STD’s can also be referred to as STI’s (Sexually
Transmitted Infections)
• These are diseases or infections that are
transmitted from person to person via sexual
contact
• Spread of STD’s are now considered an epidemic
in the U.S.
– An epidemic is occurences of diseases in which many
people in the same place at the same time are
affected

3. Behavior that Leads to STD’s
• Some people may spread STD’s without even
knowing that they have one themselves 
asymptomatic
• Often these people do not seek treatment
because they either don’t know or are too
embarrassed to ask if they do have one
• If a person is diagnosed with an STD it is
supposed to be reported to the health
department so that sexual partners can be
contacted to help prevent the spread of the
disease

4. High Risk Behavior and STDs
• Teens make up 25% of the estimated 15
million cases of STDs in the U.S. every
year
– 10,000 per day

5. High Risk Behavior and STDs
• Being sexually active: any sort of sexual
activity puts you at risk of getting an STD
– Most people don’t know or won’t ask the past
behaviors of their partners
– Being sexually active with more than one person
at a time majorly increases your risk

6. High Risk Behaviors and STDs
• Abstinence is the only guaranteed way not to
get something!
• Unprotected sex increases the risk of
contracting an STD
– Some STDs can even be transmitted while
protected

7. High Risk Behaviors and STDs
• High risk partners: those who you know have
had multiple sexual partners in the past or do
illegal drugs

8. High Risk Behaviors and STDs
• Using Drugs
– Use of illegal drugs, especially those that are
injected via needles or syringes
– Alcohol: lowers inhibitions
• 25% of teens engaging in sexual activity are under the
influence of alcohol

9. Consequences of STDs
• Can cause serious issues that can affect a
person for the rest
of their lives

10. Consequences of STDs
• Some are incurable
• Certain STDs are unable to be removed from
the body through treatments and can remain
in the body for life
– AIDS or any other viruses
– Genital Herpes

11. Consequences of STDs
• Some STDs can cause other problems such as
Cancer
– Hepatitis B: cancer of the liver
– Human Papillomavirus (HPV): cancer of the cervix

12. Consequences of STDs
• Can prevent a person from being able to
reproduce
– Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

13. Consequences of STDs
• Some can be transferred from an infected
mother to her child
– Can happen before, during, or after the birth of
the child
– Can cause such things as premature
births, blindness, infection of the blood
stream, and chronic liver disease
– AIDS can be spread through breastfeeding

14. Common STDs
• Human Papillomavirus: virus that can cause
genital warts or asymptomatic infection
• There are about 30 different types of this virus
and most show no symptoms
• Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused
by HPV
• Most common STD in the U.S.
– 50-75% of sexually active male and females will
acquire HPV

15. Genital Warts
• Pink or reddish warts with cauliflower tops
that appear on or around the genitals
• May take up to 3 months for warts to appear
after infection occurs; often they disappear on
their own
• Treatments can get rid of warts but not virus
that accompanies them
• Over 20 million people are infected

16. Genital Warts

17. Chlamydia
• Bacterial infection that affects the
reproductive organs of both males and
females
• Often is not noticed until very serious
complications arise
• Some symptoms that may appear include:
discharge and pain upon urination
• Lab tests are needed to diagnose

18. Genital Herpes
• Two Types: Type 1- causes cold sores; Type 2-
causes genital sores
• However, both can affect both the genitals
and the mouth
• Most people do not show symptoms and the
virus can be spread both when there are sores
and when there are not

19. Genital Herpes
• Lab tests are needed to diagnose
• Medications can relieve symptoms, but not
cure the virus
• 45 million people infected
• May increase the spread of HIV

20. Genital Hepres

21. Gonorrhea
• Bacterial STD that usually affects mucous
membranes
• Highest rate of infection is: Girls 15-19 and
Boys 20-24
• Symptoms are discharge and painful urination
• Can be without symptoms
• Left untreated can cause serious joint damage
and infertility

22. Trichomoniasis
• Caused by a microscopic protozoan that
results in infections of the vagina, urethra, and
bladder
• Usually no symptoms; maybe discharge
• Difficult to diagnose in males

23. Trichomoniasis

24. Syphilis
• An STD that attacks many parts of the body
and is caused by small bacterium
• Signs include reddish sores
• Spreads through the blood and can cause
major damage to heart, liver, nervous system,
and kidneys

25. HIV and AIDS
• HIV: Human Immunodeficiency virus- a virus
that attacks the immune system and is the
cause of AIDS
• AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome-
a disease in which the immune system is
weakened

26. HIV and AIDS
• How does it spread?
– Sexual intercourse
– Sharing Needles
– Mother to Baby

27. HIV and AIDS
• Not everyone infected with HIV has AIDS
• AIDS is an advanced stage of HIV
• Virus is progressive and continues to multiply
in the body
• Weakens immune system
• Many who die do so from minor sicknesses
that their body can’t fight
• No cure for the virus