Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Many people are aware of the most prominent sexually transmitted disease (STD)—HIV. However, many other STDs affect millions of men and women each year. Many of these STDs initially cause no symptoms, especially in women. When symptoms develop, they may be confused with those of other diseases that are not transmitted through sexual contact. STDs can still be transmitted from person to person even if they do not show symptoms. Furthermore, health problems caused by STDs tend to be more severe for women than for men. Some of the health complications include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, tubal or ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, and perinatal or congenital infections in infants born to infected mothers. In addition, infection with certain STDs can increase the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission as well as alter the course of disease progression.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases