- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
- Diabetic Foot
- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Disorders
- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
- Chiari Malformation
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Color Blindness
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Genetic Counseling
- Hemophilia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Neural Tube Defects
- Neurofibromatosis
- Newborn Screening
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Pregnancy and Medicines
- Rett Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Tay-Sachs Disease
- Tourette Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Usher Syndrome
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Allergy
- Animal Bites
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Aplastic Anemia
- Asthma
- Asthma in Children
- Childhood Leukemia
- Childhood Vaccines
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Eosinophilic Disorders
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hay Fever
- HIV
- HIV and Infections
- HIV in Women
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Infectious Diseases
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Lymphedema
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Pemphigus
- Pneumocystis Infections
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Tonsillitis
- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
- Arm Injuries and Disorders
- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
- CPR
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
- Neck Injuries and Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Sprains and Strains
- Tick Bites
- Toe Injuries and Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Croup
- E-Cigarettes
- Fistulas
- Flu
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
- Sleep Apnea
- Smoking
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping Cough
- Anatomy
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Birth Control
- Chlamydia Infections
- Circumcision
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Summary
What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The contact is usually vaginal, oral, or anal sex. But sometimes they can spread through other intimate physical contact. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-to-skin contact.
There are more than 20 types of STDs, including:
What causes sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
STDs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Who is affected by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Most STDs affect both men and women, but in many cases the health problems they cause can be more severe for
women. If a pregnant woman has an STD, it can cause serious health problems for the baby.
What are the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
STDs don’t always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms. So it is possible to have an infection and not know it. But you can still pass it on to others.
If there are symptoms, they could include:
- Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
- Sores or warts on the genital area
- Painful or frequent urination
- Itching and redness in the genital area
- Blisters or sores in or around the mouth
- Abnormal vaginal odor
- Anal itching, soreness, or bleeding
- Abdominal painn
- Fever
How are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed?
If you are sexually active, you should talk to your health care provider about your risk for STDs and whether you need to be tested. This is especially important since many STDs do not usually cause symptoms.
Some STDs may be diagnosed during a physical exam or through microscopic examination of a sore or fluid swabbed from the vagina, penis, or anus. Blood tests can diagnose other types of STDs.
What are the treatments for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Antibiotics can treat STDs caused by bacteria or parasites. There is no cure for STDs caused by viruses, but medicines can often help with the symptoms and lower your risk of spreading the infection.
Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
There are vaccines to prevent HPV and hepatitis B.
Can sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) be prevented?
Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
There are vaccines to prevent HPV and hepatitis B.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Find an Expert
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Related Issues
- Cervicitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Hepatitis B American Academy of Family Physicians
Encyclopedia
- Cervicitis Medical Encyclopedia
- Endocervical culture Medical Encyclopedia
- Epididymitis Medical Encyclopedia
- Gram stain of urethral discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Molluscum contagiosum Medical Encyclopedia
- Orchitis Medical Encyclopedia
- Pubic lice Medical Encyclopedia
- Urethral discharge culture Medical Encyclopedia
- Urethritis Medical Encyclopedia
- Urination – painful Medical Encyclopedia
- Vaginal itching and discharge – adult and adolescent Medical Encyclopedia
Patient Handouts
- Chancroid Medical Encyclopedia
- Condom Fact Sheet in Brief Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale) Medical Encyclopedia
- Genital sores – female Medical Encyclopedia
- Genital sores – male Medical Encyclopedia
- Safe sex Medical Encyclopedia
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Sexually Transmitted Diseases National Institutes of Health
Diagnosis and Tests
- Diagnostic Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections American Academy of Pediatrics
- Genital Problems in Men American Academy of Family Physicians
- Genital Problems in Women American Academy of Family Physicians
- STD Testing: What’s Right for You Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- STD Tests National Library of Medicine
Statistics and Research
- FastStats: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) National Center for Health Statistics
- Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Men
- How Can Men Reduce the Risk of Getting a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- What Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Need to Know about Sexually Transmitted Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Prevention and Risk Factors
- How You Can Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Images
- Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) VisualDX
- Molluscum Contagiosum VisualDX
- Pubic Lice (Pediculosis Pubis) VisualDX
Treatments and Therapies
- Medications for Sexually Transmitted Infections American Academy of Pediatrics
- What Are the Treatments for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STDs/STIs)? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Specifics
- Molluscum Contagiosum Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- What are some types of and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Teenagers
- Pubic Lice (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) Nemours Foundation
- Talking to Your Kids About STDs Nemours Foundation
- What Are STDs and STIs? Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
Journal Articles
Older Adults
- Safe Sex for Older Adults AGS Health in Aging Foundation
Symptoms
- Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Symptoms Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Start Here
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Women
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
- Sexually Transmitted Infections, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
- STDs during Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention