Sexual Health
Sexual Health Resources
What is Sexual Health?
The World Health Organization defines sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.
What are STIs?
Sexually transmitted infections or STIs, also knows as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are very common. Millions of new infections occur every year in the United States.
STIs are passed from one person to another through sexual activity, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. They can also be passed from one person to another through intimate physical contact, such as heavy petting, though this is not very common.
STIs don’t always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms, so it is possible to have an infection and not know it. That is why it is important to get tested if you are having sex. If you are diagnosed with an STI, know that all can be treated with medicine, and some can be cured entirely.
STIs are preventable. If you have sex, know how to protect yourself and your sexual partner from STIs.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Medical Advice Disclaimer
All content on this website, including text, graphics, images and information, is for informational or educational purposes only. Nothing on this website is intended to substitute for professional medical advice, consultation, treatment or diagnosis by healthcare professionals. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition and never disregard medical advice or delay seeking a medical opinion based upon something you have read on this site.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment.
If left untreated, HIV advances in stages, and eventually leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Currently, there is no cure for HIV, but treatment with HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) can slow or prevent HIV from advancing. When left untreated HIV typically progresses through three stages: Acute HIV Infection, Chronic HIV Infection, and AIDS. With the advancements in HIV treatment, progression to Stage 3 [AIDS] is less common today than in the early days of HIV and people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives.
Acute HIV Infection
Acute HIV infection is the earliest stage of HIV infection, and it generally develops within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV. During this time, some people have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and rash. In the acute stage of infection, HIV multiplies rapidly and spreads throughout the body. The virus attacks and destroys the infection fighting CD4 cells of the immune system. During the acute HIV infection stage, the level of HIV in the blood is very high, which greatly increases the risk of HIV transmission. A person may experience significant health benefits if they start ART during this stage.
Chronic HIV Infection
The second stage of HIV infection is chronic HIV infection (also called asymptomatic HIV infection or clinical latency). During this stage, HIV continues to multiply in the body but at very low levels. People with chronic HIV infection may not have any HIV-related symptoms. Without ART, chronic HIV infection usually advances to AIDS in 10 years or longer, though in some people it may advance faster. People who are taking ART may be in this stage for several decades. While it is still possible to transmit HIV to others during this stage, people who take ART exactly as prescribed and maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex.
AIDS
AIDS is the final, most severe stage of HIV infection. Because HIV has severely damaged the immune system, the body can’t fight off opportunistic infections. (Opportunistic infections are infections and infection-related cancers that occur more frequently or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems than in people with healthy immune systems.) Symptoms can include rapid weight loss, persistent diarrhea, recurring fever, memory loss, etc.). People with HIV are diagnosed with AIDS if they have a CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3 or if they have certain opportunistic infections. Once a person is diagnosed with AIDS, they can have a high viral load and are able to transmit HIV to others very easily. Without treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about 3 years.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV Transmission
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is transmitted by six body fluids: blood, semen or “cum”, pre-ejaculatory fluid or “pre-cum”, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. For transmission to occur, these fluids must come into contact with damaged tissue, a mucous membrane—found inside the penis, vagina, rectum, and mouth—or have direct entry into the bloodstream.
People with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partners.
How Is HIV Spread from Person to Person?
HIV can only be spread through specific activities. In the United States, the most common ways are:
- Having vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HIV without using a condom or taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV. Anal sex is riskier than vaginal sex.
- Sharing injection drug equipment (“works”), such as needles, with someone who has HIV.
Less common ways are:
- From mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. However, the use of HIV medicines and other strategies have helped lower the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to 1% or less in the United States.
- Getting stuck with an HIV-contaminated needle or other sharp object. This is a risk mainly for health care workers. The risk is very low.
HIV is spread only in extremely rare cases by:
- Having oral sex. But in general, the chance that an HIV-negative person will get HIV from oral sex with an HIV-positive partner is extremely low.
Though there is not a cure for HIV, people with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load (less than 20 copies/ml) cannot sexually transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partners.
For more information on risk associated with sexual activities visit CDC’s Risk Reduction Tool, which gives users the ability to calculate the estimated risk of HIV transmission for a variety of sex activities under varying circumstances.
Is the Risk of HIV Different for Different Groups?
HIV can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, age, or where they live. However, certain groups of people in the United States are more likely to get HIV than others because of particular factors, including the communities in which they live, what subpopulations they belong to, and their risk behaviors.
Communities. When you live in a community where many people have HIV infection, the chance of being exposed to HIV by having sex or sharing needles or other injection equipment with someone who has HIV is higher. You can use CDC’s HIV, STD, hepatitis, and tuberculosis Atlas Plus to see the percentage of people with HIV (“prevalence”) in different U.S. counties and states, as well as other data. Within any community, the prevalence of HIV can vary among different subpopulations.
Subpopulations. In the United States, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are the population most affected by HIV. According to CDC, in 2018, gay and bisexual men accounted for 69% of new HIV diagnoses. By race/ethnicity, Blacks/African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Also, transgender women who have sex with men are among the groups at highest risk for HIV infection, and injection drug users remain at significant risk for getting HIV.
Risk behaviors. In the United States, HIV is spread mainly through having anal or vaginal sex or sharing needles or syringes with an HIV-positive partner. Anal sex is the highest-risk behavior. Fortunately, there are more HIV prevention tools available today than ever before. These include using condoms correctly, every time you have sex; pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a prevention method in which the HIV-negative partner takes daily HIV medicine to prevent HIV; and treatment as prevention, a method in which the HIV-positive partner takes daily HIV medicine to achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load. If a person with HIV takes HIV treatment every day exactly as prescribed and gets and keeps an undetectable viral load, they have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their partners through sex.
Visit HIV.gov U.S. Statistics page for more information on how HIV affects different populations.
HIV Transmission
HIV Testing
How can I get an HIV test?
There are many places you can go to get testing for HIV, including health care providers office, health clinics, community health centers, health departments, and family planning clinics. In the State of Florida, any person can be tested for HIV at any of the county health departments and approved community-based organizations.
For HIV testing locations in Broward you can also visit the GetPrEPBroward.com HIV Testing Directory.
When should I get tested for HIV?
The time between when a person may have been exposed to HIV and when a test can tell for sure whether they have HIV is called the window period. The window period varies from person to person and depends on the type of test used to detect HIV. If you get an HIV test after a potential HIV exposure and the result is negative, the CDC recommends getting tested again after the window period.
No HIV test can detect HIV immediately after infection. If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, talk to your health care provider about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), right away.
Types of HIV Tests
There are three types of tests available: nucleic acid tests (NAT), antigen/antibody tests, and antibody tests. HIV tests are typically performed on blood or oral fluid. They may also be performed on urine.
A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually tell you if you have HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure. It looks for the actual virus in the blood and involves drawing blood from a vein. The test can either tell if a person has HIV or tell how much virus is present in the blood (known as an HIV viral load test). While a NAT can detect HIV sooner than other types of tests, this test is very expensive and not routinely used for screening individuals unless they recently had a high-risk exposure or a possible exposure and have early symptoms of HIV.
An antigen/antibody test performed by a laboratory on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 45 days after exposure. Antigen/antibody tests done with blood from a finger prick can take longer to detect HIV (18 to 90 days after an exposure). You may have also heard of antigen/antibody tests as “fourth-generation tests.” They look for both HIV antibodies and antigens. Antibodies are produced by your immune system when you’re exposed to viruses like HIV. Antigens are foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate. If you have HIV, an antigen called p24 is produced even before antibodies develop. Antigen/antibody tests are recommended for testing done in labs and are now common in the United States. This lab test involves drawing blood from a vein. There is also a rapid antigen/antibody test available that is done with a finger prick.
Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days to detect HIV infection after exposure. Most rapid tests and self-tests are antibody tests with results ready in 30 minutes or less. You may have heard of antibody tests also being called “third-generation tests.” In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner after infection than tests done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid. They only look for antibodies to HIV in your blood or oral fluid. In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner after infection than tests done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid. Most rapid tests and the only currently approved HIV self-test are antibody tests.
Ask your health care provider about the window period for the test you’re taking. If you’re using a home test, you can get that information from the materials included in the test’s package. If you get an HIV test after a potential HIV exposure and the result is negative, the CDC recommends to tested again after the window period for the test you’re taking to be sure.
Self-Testing
There are currently two kinds of HIV self-test.
- 1. A Rapid Self-Test is done entirely at home or in a private location and can produce results within 20 minutes. The only rapid self-test currently available in the US is an oral fluid test. Rapid HIV self-tests are offered for free at many health departments and available for purchase at pharmacies. Broward residents can order free rapid HIV self-test at GetPrEPBroward.com.
- A Mail-In Self-Test includes a specimen collection kit that contains supplies to collect dried blood from a fingerstick at home. The sample is then sent to a lab for testing and the results are provided by a health care provider. Mail-in self-tests can be ordered through various online merchant sites. Your health care provider can also order a mail-in self-test for you.
HIV Testing
HIV Prevention
HIV Risk Reduction
Anyone can get HIV, but you can take steps to protect yourself from HIV:
- Get tested for HIV. Talk to your partner(s) about HIV testing and get tested before you have sex. Call the 211 Broward Hotline for a testing location near you.
- Choose less vulnerable sexual behaviors. Choose sexual activities with little to no risk. You can’t get HIV from sexual activities that don’t involve contact with body fluids. HIV is mainly spread by having anal or vaginal sex without a condom or without taking medicines to prevent or treat HIV.
- Use condoms every time you have sex. Condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV and other STDs. You can use condoms with water-based or silicone-based lubricants to help prevent condoms from breaking. Read this fact sheet from the CDC on how to use condoms correctly.
- Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to have a partner with poorly controlled HIV or to have a partner with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Both of these factors can increase the risk of HIV transmission.
- Get tested and treated for STDs. Insist that your partners get tested and treated for STDs. Having an STD can increase your risk of getting HIV or spreading it to others.
- Talk to your health care provider about PrEP and PEP. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is an HIV prevention option for people who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of getting HIV. When used as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV through sex by 99% and among those who inject drugs by 74%.
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is an HIV prevention option for someone who had a verified or possible exposure to HIV within the past 72 hours. PEP is highly effective in preventing HIV if taken within the 72-hour timeframe. - Don’t inject drugs. But if you do, use only sterile drug injection equipment, and never share your equipment with others. The risk for getting or transmitting HIV is very high if an HIV-negative person uses injection equipment that someone with HIV has used. This is because injection drug equipment may have blood in them, and HIV can survive equipment for up to 42 days. A disinfected syringe is not as good as a new, sterile syringe, but it can greatly reduce your risk for HIV. Read more from the CDC on how to clean your syringes.
HIV Prevention
HIV Prevention Medication
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
PrEP is a medicine that you can take that can lower your chances of getting HIV. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. PrEP is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at a high risk of getting HIV. Instead, a pill is taken each day. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed. Although there is less information about how effective PrEP is among people who inject drugs, we do know that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken as prescribed.
It may be helpful to speak to your health care provider about PrEP if you:
- Don’t regularly use condoms.
- Have a sexual partner who has HIV (sometimes called serodiscordant couples).
- Have a sexual partner who is at high risk for getting HIV (like if they have anal or vaginal sex with other people without condoms, or they’re an injection drug user).
- Have anal or vaginal sex with many partners, especially if you don’t use condoms regularly.
- Recently had another STD.
- Do sex work that includes vaginal or anal sex.
- Have injected drugs, shared needles, or been in treatment for drug use in the past 6 months.
For locations to obtain PrEP, check out GetPrEPBroward.com PrEP Directory, the nation-wide PrEP Locator, or Florida Department of Health’s HIV PrEP and nPEP Providers List for a referral.
Post-Exposure Anaphylaxis (PEP)
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a medicine to prevent HIV after a possible exposure. PEP should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours after recent possible exposure to HIV. You take PEP 1-2 times a day for 28 days. The medicines used for PEP are called antiretroviral medications (ART). These medicines work by stopping HIV from spreading through your body.
PEP is for emergencies. It can’t take the place of proven, ongoing ways to prevent HIV – like using condoms, taking PrEP, and not sharing needles or works. If your nurse or doctor gives you PEP, you’ll need to take medicine 1-2 times a day for at least 28 days (4 weeks). It’s important that you take every pill as directed and don’t skip doses, otherwise, PEP may not work as well.
If you need PEP, you can head to your nearest emergency room. You can also check out the Florida Department of Health’s HIV PrEP and nPEP Providers List for a referral.
Florida Department of Health’s HIV PrEP and nPEP Providers List or call 211 Broward for a referral.
HIV Prevention Medication
Newly Diagnosed With HIV
Take Time to Process the News
HIV diagnoses may trigger an array of difficult feelings – this is perfectly normal. Receiving an HIV diagnosis can be life changing. You may feel many emotions, such as sadness, hopelessness, or anger. Allied health care providers and social service providers can help you work through the early stages of your diagnosis. They are often available at your health care provider’s office. You can also call the 211 Broward Hotline for referrals to local support services, such as support groups.
Find HIV Care
If you have a primary health care provider, that person may know how to treat HIV. A primary healthcare provider is someone who manages your regular medical care and annual tests. If your primary health care provider does not know to treat HIV, they can refer you to an HIV health care provider. Call the 211 Broward Hotline if you need assistance with finding a local HIV health care provider. With the right treatment and care, you can live a long and healthy life with HIV.
It may also be beneficial to consider applying to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. This is a federally funded program, which provides a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, essential support services, and medications for low-income people with HIV. The HIV care system can be confusing, so the Ryan White Program also has case managers to help you with navigating HIV care.
They can help link you with health care, psychosocial, and other services provided by trained professionals. The 211 Broward Hotline can provide you with referrals to Ryan White Providers.
Start HIV Treatment As Soon As Possible After Diagnosis
Get in care and take medicine to treat HIV (called antiretroviral therapy or ART). Taking HIV medicine can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (called viral load). HIV medicine can make the viral load very low (called viral suppression). Viral suppression is defined as having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood. HIV medicine can make the viral load so low that a test can’t detect it (called an undetectable viral load).
Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load (or staying virally suppressed) is the best thing you can do to stay healthy. Having an undetectable viral load also helps prevent transmission to others. If you have an undetectable viral load, you cannot transmit HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. Most people can get the virus under control within six months. Read more about U=U here.
Newly Diagnosed With HIV
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
and Other Conditions
Medical Advice Disclaimer
All content on this website, including text, graphics, images and information, is for informational or educational purposes only. Nothing on this website is intended to substitute for professional medical advice, consultation, treatment or diagnosis by healthcare professionals. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition and never disregard medical advice or delay seeking a medical opinion based upon something you have read on this site.
Common STIs
Click through the tabs to learn more about the most common STDs:
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Chlamydia
- Genital Herpes
- Gonorrhea
- HPV
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis (Trich)
STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections or STIs, come in a variety of types. There are fungi, bacteria, parasites and viruses.
STDs and HIV
People who have an STD may be at an increased risk of getting HIV. One reason is the behaviors that put someone at risk for one infection (not using condoms, multiple partners, anonymous partners) often put them at risk for other infections. Also, because STDs and HIV tend to be linked, when someone gets an STD it suggests they got it from someone who may be at risk for other STDs and HIV. Finally, a sore or inflammation from an STD may allow infection with HIV that would have been stopped by intact skin.
Common STIs
Bacterial Vaginosis
What causes it
Trichomonas Vaginalis (parasite)
Symptoms
Many women with BV do not have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may notice:
- A thin white or gray vaginal discharge;
- Pain, itching, or burning in the vagina;
- A strong fish-like odor, especially after sex;
- Burning when urinating;
- Itching around the outside of the vagina.
Treatment
Antibiotics for infected person and sexual partners, even those without symptoms.
Complications
BV may cause a woman to deliver a low-birth-weight or premature infant.
Prevention
Doctors and scientists do not completely understand how BV spreads. There are no known best ways to prevent it.
The following basic prevention steps may help lower your risk of developing BV:
- Not having sex;
- Limiting your number of sex partners;
- Not douching; and
- Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
Source
Bacterial Vaginosis
Chlamydia
What causes it
Chlamydia trachomatis (bacteria)
Symptoms
May be asymptomatic, but usually painful and frequent urination, and abnormal discharge from the vagina and penis.
Treatment
Antibiotics such as azithromycin and doxycycline
Complications
In women: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility. In men: swollen or painful prostate or testicles, infertility.
Prevention
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting chlamydia: Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results; Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
Chlamydia
Genital Herpes
What causes it
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2
Symptoms
Very often, there are none. The most common symptom is a cluster of blistery sores – usually on the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, or anus. The first episode of symptoms of a first infection of genital herpes is called “primary outbreak”. Symptoms may include: Blisters, open sores, pain, itching, burning feelings, inability to urinate
Treatment
Oral antiviral medications such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir are used to effectively treat herpes infections. These medications can be used to treat an outbreak or can be used for suppressing herpes recurrences. Lower doses may be helpful in reducing the number of herpes attacks in people with frequent outbreaks.
Complications
Reoccurrence, spread of the virus to other organs of the body in immunosuppressed people
Prevention
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting genital herpes: Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who is not infected with an STD (e.g., a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results); Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex. Be aware that not all herpes sores occur in areas that are covered by a latex condom. Also, herpes virus can be released (shed) from areas of the skin that do not have a visible herpes sore. For these reasons, condoms may not fully protect you from getting herpes. If you are in a relationship with a person known to have genital herpes, you can lower your risk of getting genital herpes if: Your partner takes an anti-herpes medication every day. This is something your partner should discuss with his or her doctor. You avoid having vaginal, anal, or oral sex when your partner has herpes symptoms (i.e., when your partner is having an outbreak).
Genital Herpes
Gonorrhea
What causes it
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (bacteria)
Symptoms
Women may have abnormal vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, painful urination. Men have frequent and painful urination, and urethral discharge.
Treatment
Antibiotics such as Cefixime, Ceftriaxone, or Ciprofloxacin.
Complications
In women: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility. In men: swelling of the testicles or penis, infertility. Both sexes may suffer from arthritis, skin problems, and other organ infections caused by the spread of gonorrhea within the body
Prevention
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea: Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results; Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
Gonorrhea
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
What causes it
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Symptoms
Most people with HPV do not know they are infected and never develop symptoms or health problems from it. Some people find out they have HPV when they get genital warts. Women may find out they have HPV when they get an abnormal Pap test result (during cervical cancer screening). Others may only find out once they’ve developed more serious problems from HPV, such as cancers.
Treatment
There is no treatment for the virus itself. However, there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause.
Complications
In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. HPV can cause cervical and other cancers including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (called oropharyngeal cancer).
Prevention
You can do several things to lower your chances of getting HPV.
Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can protect against diseases (including cancers) caused by HPV when given in the recommended age groups. (See “Who should get vaccinated?” below) CDC recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12 years (or can start at age 9 years) and for everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already.
Get screened for cervical cancer. Routine screening for women aged 21 to 65 years old can prevent cervical cancer.
If you are sexually active :
- Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex. This can lower your chances of getting HPV. But HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom – so condoms may not fully protect against getting HPV;
- Be in a mutually monogamous relationship – or have sex only with someone who only has sex with you.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Syphilis
What causes it
Treponema pallidum (bacteria)
Symptoms
Classic blister (chancre) at site of exposure is painless and hard. It usually is found on the part of the body exposed to the infected partner’s ulcer, such as the penis, vulva, or vagina, A chancre also can develop on the cervix, tongue, lips, or other parts of the body. 3 to 6 weeks after the chancre appears, may have a highly variable skin rash, or swollen lymph nodes.
Treatment
Penicillin G Benzathine; alternative is doxycycline.
Complications
Syphilis bacteria frequently invade the nervous system during the early stages of infection. Approximately 3 to 7 percent of persons with untreated syphilis develop neurosyphilis, a sometimes serious disorder of the nervous system. In some instances, the time from infection to developing neurosyphilis may be up to 20 years. Some people with neurosyphilis never develop any symptoms Others may have headache, stiff neck, and fever that result from an inflammation of the lining of the brain. Some people develop seizures. People whose blood vessels are affected may develop symptoms of stroke with numbness, weakness, or visual problems.
Prevention
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea: Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results; using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis (Trich)
What causes it
Trichomonas Vaginalis (parasite)
Symptoms
In women, a large amount of foul-smelling greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge, itchy, swollen genital area, painful intercourse. In men, there are often no symptoms. Men with symptoms may have penile itching or discharge, as well as burning with urination/ejaculation.
Treatment
Antibiotics for infected person and sexual partners, even those without symptoms.
Complications
Trichomoniasis is associated with increased risk of transmission of HIV and may cause a woman to deliver a low-birth-weight or premature infant.
Prevention
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting trichomoniasis: Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results; Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex. Stop having sex and see a doctor right away if: You notice any unusual discharge. You feel burning when you pass urine
Trichomoniasis (Trich)
Hepatitis A
What causes it
Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)
Symptoms
Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain in the liver area, dark urine or light colored stools and fever. Liver function tests are elevated, with many adults developing jaundice. Children under two rarely have symptoms. Most people recover within six months.
Treatment
No specific treatment. People otherwise in good health usually recover in several months
Prevention
Practicing good hand hygiene — including thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food — plays an important role in preventing the spread of hepatitis A. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A vaccine. To get the full benefit of the hepatitis A vaccine, more than one shot is needed. The number and timing of these shots depends on the type of vaccine you are given.
Hepatitis B
What causes it
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Symptoms
Fever, nausea, dark urine or jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), not everyone will have symptoms
Treatment
Rest, antibiotics, bland diet. A vaccine is available for those who are not infected
Complications
Serious cases may require hospitalization.
Prevention
You can protect yourself and lessen the chances of contracting Hepatitis B by using latex condoms properly every time you have sex, using clean needles and not sharing drug paraphernalia with others, and avoiding direct contact with blood and bodily fluids.
Hepatitis C
What causes it
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Symptoms
Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, vomiting
Treatment
Drug therapy
Complications
Liver damage
Prevention
HCV is transmitted primarily through parenteral exposures to infectious blood or body fluids that contain blood. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The best way to prevent hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injecting drugs. You can protect yourself and lessen the chances of contracting Hepatitis C by using latex condoms properly every time you have sex, using clean needles and not sharing drug paraphernalia with others, using universal precautions and avoiding direct contact with blood and bodily fluids.
Hepatitis A, B + C
Tuberculosis (TB)
What causes it
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (bacterium)
Symptoms
Symptoms of TB disease (active TB) depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs (pulmonary TB). TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as:
- a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
- pain in the chest
- coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
Other symptoms of TB disease are :
- weakness or fatigue
- weight loss
- no appetite
- chills
- fever
- sweating at night
Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected. People who have latent TB infection (inactive TB) do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others.
Treatment
If you have latent TB infection but not TB disease, your doctor may want you to take a drug to kill the TB germs and prevent you from developing TB disease. The decision about taking treatment for latent infection will be based on your chances of developing TB disease. Some people are more likely than others to develop TB disease once they have TB infection. This includes people with HIV infection, people who were recently exposed to someone with TB disease, and people with certain medical conditions.
TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat.
Prevention
If you have latent TB infection and are at high risk for developing TB disease (e.g. People living with HIV, elderly, babies, and young children, etc.) you can take medicine to keep from developing TB disease. In many countries, TB is much more common than in the United States. Those traveling to countries where TB is more common should avoid close contact or prolonged time with known TB patients in crowded, enclosed environments (for example, clinics, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters).
Tuberculosis (TB)
Where can I get more information about STDs?
If you live in Florida and you have questions or concerns about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), you can call the 211 Broward Hotline, call 1-800-FLA-AIDS, text FLHIV or flhiv to 898211, or start a Web Chat. If you live outside of Florida, visit the HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to find an HIV and/or AIDS hotline near you. Disclaimer: This information is not meant to self-diagnose or replace the advice of a medical professional.
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Sources
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