Exposure to Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Topic Overview

Aside from colds and the flu, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are some of the most widespread diseases both in the United States and the world. STDs affect both men and women, and two-thirds of all STDs occur in people younger than 25 years old. Exposure to an STD can occur any time you have sexual contact with anyone that involves the genitals, the mouth (oral), or the rectum (anal). Exposure is more likely if you have more than one sex partner or do not use condoms. Some STDs can be passed by nonsexual contact, such as by sharing needles or during the delivery of a baby or during breast-feeding. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are also called sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

STDs are a worldwide public health concern because there is more opportunity for STDs to be spread as more people travel and engage in sexual activities. Some STDs have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Pregnant women can spread STDs to their babies. Many people may not have symptoms of an STD but are still able to spread an infection. STD testing can help find problems early on so that treatment can begin if needed. It is important to practice safe sex with all partners, especially if you or they have high-risk sexual behaviors. See the Prevention section of this topic.

Common sexually transmitted diseases

There are at least 20 different STDs. They can be caused by viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Some of the most common STDs in the U.S. are:

• Chlamydia.
• Genital herpes.
• Genital warts or human papillomavirus (HPV). Certain high-risk types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women.
• Gonorrhea.
• Hepatitis B.
• Syphilis.
• Trichomoniasis.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. Having other STDs, such as genital herpes, can increase your risk of HIV.
• Other infections that may be sexually transmitted. These include hepatitis A, cytomegalovirus, molluscum contagiosum, bacterial vaginosis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and possibly hepatitis C.
• Scabies and pubic lice, which can be spread by sexual contact.

Bacterial STDs can be treated and cured, but STDs caused by viruses usually cannot be cured. You can get a bacterial STD over and over again, even if it is one that you were treated for and cured of in the past.

For more information on the symptoms, treatment, and possible complications of specific STDs, see the specific topic in Related Information.

Sexually active teens and young adults

Sexually active teenagers and young adults are at high risk for STDs because they have biological changes during the teen years that increase their risk for getting an STD and they may be more likely to:

• Have unprotected sex.
• Have multiple partners.
• Engage in high-risk sexual behaviors.

Studies show that:

• Sexually active teenagers contract 25% of all new STDs each year.
• Between 12% and 25% of sexually active teen girls test positive for chlamydia.
• As many as 30% to 50% of sexually active teenagers have been infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Sexually active teenagers between 15 and 19 years old have the highest rates of gonorrhea.
• Genital herpes infection has increased more than 50% in sexually active teenagers.
• About 25% of new HIV infections occur in people under 22 years old.

It is important to seek treatment if you think you may have an STD or have been exposed to an STD. Most health departments, family planning clinics, and STD clinics provide confidential services for the diagnosis and treatment of STDs. Early treatment can cure a bacterial STD and prevent complications.

If you are a parent of a teenager, there are many resources available, such as your health professional or family planning clinics, to help you talk with your teen about safe sex, preventing STDs, and being evaluated and treated for STDs.

Risks specific to women with sexually transmitted diseases

In women, STDs can cause a serious infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes (reproductive organs) called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID may cause scar tissue that blocks the fallopian tubes, leading to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic abscess, or chronic pelvic pain.

STDs in pregnant women may cause problems such as:

• Miscarriage.
• Low birth weight.
• Premature delivery.
• Infections in their newborn baby, such as pneumonia, eye infections, or nervous system problems.

Risks specific to men with sexually transmitted diseases

• Infection and inflammation of the epididymis, urethra, and prostate.

Any child or vulnerable adult with symptoms of an STD needs to be evaluated by a health professional to determine the cause and to assess for possible sexual abuse.

If you have symptoms of an STD or have been exposed to an STD whether by oral, anal, or vaginal sexual activity, use the Check Your Symptoms section of this topic to determine if and when you need to see your health professional.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review conditions and behaviors that may increase your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

If you have the following symptom, evaluate that symptom first.

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding and your risk for an STD is low: Go to the topic Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding.

Yes

Does a child or vulnerable adult have symptoms of an STD?

See significance of a child or vulnerable adult with symptoms of an STD if you need information to help you answer the question below.

Review conditions and behaviors that may increase your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Does a child or vulnerable adult have symptoms of an STD?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Are you a sexually active woman and you have developed symptoms of an STD?

See significance of a woman with STD symptoms if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review conditions and behaviors that may increase your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Note:

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions: Do not have sexual contact or activity while waiting for your appointment. This will reduce the possible spread of infection to your partner. Do not douche. Douching changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Douching may flush an infection up into your uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you suddenly developed severe pelvic pain?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have mild to moderate pelvic pain and you know or think you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have abnormal vaginal bleeding and you know or think you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have vaginal bleeding with sexual intercourse and you know or think you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have vaginal discharge that smells bad and you know or think you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have new itching, tingling, pain, or burning of the genitals?

Yes

Do you have new sores, lumps, blisters, or a rash on the genitals or in the groin area?

Yes

Do you have pain or burning on urination in the past 24 hours?

Yes

After oral sex, have you had a sore throat or sores in your mouth or on your tongue?

Yes

After anal sex, have you had sores, pain, or discharge in your rectal area?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Has new mild pelvic pain continued for 24 hours, but you do not have other symptoms?

Yes

Has new pain with intercourse continued for 24 hours, but you do not have other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Are you pregnant and you have symptoms of an STD?

See significance of a pregnant woman with STD symptoms if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review conditions and behaviors that may increase your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Note:

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions: Do not have sexual contact or activity while waiting for your appointment. This will reduce the possible spread of infection to your partner. Do not douche. Douching changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Douching may flush an infection up into your uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Are you pregnant and you have any symptoms of an STD? Symptoms may include:

• A change in vaginal discharge (thicker, discolored, or bad-smelling) over a period of several days to 2 weeks.
• Pain, burning, or itching while urinating that lasts more than 24 hours.
• Pain during sexual intercourse.
• Pain or a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic or lower abdominal area.
• Itching, tingling, burning, or pain on or around the genitals.
• Sores, lumps, blisters, rashes, or warts on or around the genitals.
• Vaginal spotting or bleeding after sexual intercourse.
• General symptoms of an infection, such as fever and fatigue or lack of energy.

Yes

After oral sex, have you had a sore throat or sores in your mouth or on your tongue?

Yes

After anal sex, have you had sores, pain, or discharge in your rectal area?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Are you a sexually active man and you have developed symptoms of an STD?

See significance of a man with STD symptoms if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review conditions and behaviors that may increase your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Note:

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions, do not have sexual contact or activity while waiting for your appointment. This will reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to your partner.

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have abnormal discharge from the penis?

Yes

Do you have new pain, swelling, or tenderness in the scrotum?

Yes

Do you have new itching, tingling, pain, or burning of the genitals?

Yes

Do you have new sores, lumps, or blisters on the genitals?

Yes

Do you have pain or burning on urination in the past 24 hours?

Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever and you have abnormal discharge from the penis?

Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever and you have any other genital or lower pelvic symptoms?

Yes

After oral sex, have you had a sore throat or sores in your mouth or on your tongue?

Yes

After anal sex, do you have sores, pain, or discharge in the rectal area?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Are you worried that you may have been exposed to an STD, but you do not have any symptoms?

See significance of exposure to an STD if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review conditions and behaviors that may increase your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Note:

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions: You should not have sexual contact or activity while waiting for your appointment. This will prevent the spread of the infection. Women should not douche. Douching changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Douching may flush an infection up into your uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Are you worried that you may have been exposed to an STD, but you don't have any symptoms?

Yes

Has your partner told you that he or she has an STD or symptoms of an STD, but you don't have any symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Are you taking medication for an STD, but your symptoms are not following the expected course?

See significance of medication treatment if you need information to help you answer the question below.

Review conditions and behaviors that may increase your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Are you being treated for an STD, but your symptoms are not following the expected course? For example:

• Symptoms become worse after 24 hours of treatment.
• Symptoms have not improved after 3 full days of treatment.
• A rash develops.
• Diarrhea becomes severe.
• Nausea or vomiting develops or persists and prevents intake of fluids or medication.

Note:

If you answered "Yes," call your health professional to discuss a possible change in medication or reevaluation. An appointment may not be necessary.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Home Treatment

Home treatment is never an appropriate treatment for a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Evaluation by a health professional is needed for:

• Any changes or symptoms in the genital area that suggest an STD.
• A known or suspected exposure to an STD.

Symptoms of STDs may not appear for many days, weeks, months or, with HIV, even years after an exposure. Once you have been exposed to an STD, you cannot reduce the risk you now have of getting an infection.

A regular habit of genital self-examination once a month will help you know what is normal for you and when you may have symptoms of an STD.

In addition to your health professional, there are other resources that can help you with information on STD evaluation and treatment. These resources include:

• Local health departments that have STD clinics.
• Family planning clinics, such as Planned Parenthood (1-800-230-PLAN [1-800-230-7526]).
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention STD hotline (1-800-342-2437, or http://www.cdc.gov/std).

Treatment for pregnant women is monitored by their health professional to avoid complications. STDs in pregnant women may cause problems such as:

• Miscarriage.
• Low birth weight.
• Premature delivery.
• Infections in their newborn baby, such as pneumonia, eye infections, or nervous system problems. These infections may threaten the life of your baby or cause serious long-term problems or disabilities.

It is important for you and an infected partner to complete all medical treatment for an STD to prevent the infection from returning. You may need to be rechecked after treatment is complete.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if they persist or become more severe or frequent.

Home test kits for some STDs are available but it is recommended that you consult your health professional about any STD symptoms.

Prevention

You can take measures to reduce your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). You can also reduce the risk of transmitting an STD to your sex partner.

Delay sexual activity until you are prepared both physically and emotionally to have sex. Nearly two-thirds of all STDs occur in people younger than 25 years old. Sexually active teenagers are at high risk for STDs because they frequently have unprotected sex and have multiple partners. Biological changes during the teen years also may increase their risk for getting an STD.

There is now a vaccine that can help prevent genital warts, human papillomavirus (HPV), and cervical cancer. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gardasil (HPV vaccine(What is a PDF document?)). This vaccine protects against four types of HPV, which together cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. Gardasil is recommended for girls 11 to 12 years old. It is also recommended for females 13 to 26 years old who did not receive it when they were younger. Studies show that the vaccine is safe and works well to help prevent cervical cancer and genital warts.¹ For more information, see the topic Immunizations.

STDs are a concern worldwide. It is important to practice safe sex with all partners, especially if you or they may have high-risk sexual behaviors.

It is especially important that pregnant women who are at risk for STDs practice safe sex because an STD can affect their baby (fetus). An STD may threaten the life of your baby or cause serious long-term problems or disabilities for your baby.

Practice safe sex

Preventing a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is easier than treating an infection once it occurs.

• Talk with your partner about STDs before beginning a sexual relationship. Find out whether he or she is at risk for an STD. Remember that it is quite possible to be infected with an STD without knowing it. Some STDs, such as HIV, can take up to 6 months before they can be detected in the blood. Ask your partner the following questions.
  • How many sex partners has he or she had?
  • What high-risk behaviors does he or she have?
  • Has he or she ever had an STD?
  • Was it treated and cured?
  • If the STD is not curable, what is the best way to protect yourself?
• Be responsible.
  • Avoid sexual contact or activity if you have symptoms of an STD or are being treated for an STD.
  • Avoid sexual contact or activity with anyone who has symptoms of an STD or who may have been exposed to an STD.
• Don't have more than one sex partner at a time. Your risk for an STD increases if you have several sex partners at the same time.
• Some STDs can also be spread through oral-to-genital or genital-to-anal sexual contact.
• Abstain from sexual intercourse to prevent any exposure to STDs.

Condom use

Male condom use

Using condoms reduces the risk of becoming infected with most STDs, especially if they are used correctly and consistently. Condoms must be put on before beginning any sexual contact or activity. Use condoms with a new partner until you are certain he or she does not have an STD. See male condom use.

• Use a water-based lubricant such as K-Y Jelly to help prevent tearing of the skin if there is a lack of lubrication with condom use during sexual intercourse. Small tears in the vagina during vaginal sex or in the rectum during anal sex allow STDs to get into your blood.
• Do not use petroleum jelly as a lubricant with condoms because it dissolves the latex in condoms.
• Use a male condom for vaginal or anal sex.

Female condom use

Even if you are using another birth control method to prevent pregnancy, you may wish to use condoms to reduce your risk of getting an STD. Female condoms are available for women whose partners do not have or will not use a male condom. See female condom use.

Condoms do not prevent skin-to-sore contact in the genital area so it is possible to spread an STD with genital contact. It is important to have any symptoms in the genital area evaluated

Mouth barriers, such as a dental dam, can be used to reduce the spread of disease through oral sexual activity. You can discuss this with your dentist or health professional.

Avoid douching if you are a woman, because it can change the normal balance of organisms in the vagina and increases the risk of getting an STD.

Spermicide, such as nonoxynol-9, does not prevent STDs.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared for your appointment.

Before your appointment

• Do not have sexual contact or activity while waiting for your appointment. This will reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to your partner. If you do have an STD, your sex partner or partners must also be treated as soon as possible.
• Women should not douche. Douching changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Douching may flush an STD up into your uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is usually caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia. Symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen and fever. PID may cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, a pelvic abscess, or chronic pelvic pain.

Questions to prepare for your health professional

• If you have new STD symptoms:
  • What was the date of your suspected exposure to an STD?
  • Which STD do you think you were exposed to?
  • How do you know?
  • Did your partner tell you?
  • What were your partner's symptoms?
  • Was your partner treated? If so, when? Was your partner checked after completing treatment?
• If you are a woman, what was the date of your last menstrual period?
• What are your symptoms? If you have discharge from the vagina or penis, it is important to note any smell or color.
• What method of birth control do you use?
• Which high-risk sexual behaviors do you or your partner engage in?
• If this is a repeat visit for exposure to STDs:
  • Which STD have you had in the past?
  • How was it treated?
  • Did you complete the treatment?
  • Did you get rechecked?
  • Was your partner treated and rechecked?
  • What has changed since your last visit?
• Have you had sexual contact with a sex worker? If so, when? Was a condom used?
• Have you had sexual contact or activity with an immigrant or while traveling in another country with a native person there?
• Do you have any health risks?

What you need to know by the end of the visit

• Is a test, such as a culture, being performed? How and when will you get the results of the test?
• Is there a diagnosis or do you need to wait for a test result? What does your health professional suspect?
• What treatment is your health professional prescribing? Be sure to get a written copy of treatment instructions and follow those instructions. Take all medications exactly as instructed and for the full course of treatment. Do not stop taking your medication even if your symptoms improve or go away.
• If you have an STD, who needs to be notified—your partner or partners, the health department?
• Does your partner or partners need to be treated at the same time?
• Do you need to stop having sexual contact or activity (abstain) during treatment, or are condoms appropriate to use during treatment?
• Will you need to be seen or treated again?
• Discuss STD prevention options.
• For women who are breast-feeding, discuss the risk of medication treatment being transmitted in breast milk.

Other Places To Get Help

Organizations

Related Information

• Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older
• Abnormal Pap Test
• Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
• Bacterial Vaginosis
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• Chlamydia
• Chronic Female Pelvic Pain
• Early Disease Detection
• Fertility Problems
• Genital Herpes
• Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
• Lice
• Male Genital Problems and Injuries
• Rash, Age 12 and Older
• Scabies
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis
• Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older
• Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults
• Vaginal Problems
• Vaginal Yeast Infections