Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

If you think saying “NO” to sex is tough, just wait ‘til you say “yes.”

About 1 out of 4 teens in Columbus, GA get an STD and a lot of them don’t know it because they don’t itch or burn or have ANYTHING at all wrong with them. So if you say “yes” to sex you might also be saying “yes” to STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, “trich”, and HIV.

Chlamydia (klah mid’ee ah)

• FACT Some people have NO symptoms
• FACT If you do have symptoms:

These symptoms will usually start 1 to 5 weeks after you get chlamydia.

The GOOD News

     Chlamydia is curable with prescription antibiotics

The BAD News

     Repeat infections or infections that are not treated can cause permanent damage to your sex organs. You may have difficulty or not be able to get pregnant later on when you want to.

Gonorrhea (gone oh ree’ ah)

• FACT Some people have no symptoms.
• FACT If you do have symptoms:

The GOOD News

      Gonorrhea is curable with prescription antibiotics.

The BAD News

     Repeat infections and infections that are not treated can cause permanent damage to your sex organs. You may have difficulty getting pregnant or not be able to get pregnant later on when you want to.

Syphilis (siff’ ah liss)

FACT Syphilis has 3 stages and the symptoms are different in each stage

• 1st Stage
  • Usually starts 3-4 weeks after you get syphilis
  • painless sore in genital area that goes away in about 1 to 2 months
  • you still have syphilis even if the sore goes away
• 2nd Stage
  • Usually starts 6 weeks to 6 months after you get syphilis
  • rash anywhere on the body
  • flu-like feelings (like fever, body aches,etc.)
  • hair loss
  • you still have syphilis even if the symptoms go away
• 3rd Stage
• usually starts about 2 to 10 years after you get syphilis
• no symptoms, but you still have syphilis

The GOOD News

     Syphilis is curable with prescriptions antibiotics

The BAD News

     If syphilis is not cured, you can have a heart attack, become blind, deaf, disabled, or you can die.

Herpes (hur’ peez)

• FACT Herpes is cause by a virus that cannot be cured.
• FACT You can have painful herpes blisters or sores on your mouth and on your sex organs
  • (Cold sores on your mouth are herpes)
• FACT Some people have the herpes virus in their body and don’t know it. They can still give it to other people.

The GOOD News

• There are medicines that can make the blisters or sores go away faster.

The BAD News

• Even if the blisters or sores go away, you still have the virus
• AND there is no cure.
• AND you can give it to other people.

Genital Warts or HPV

• FACT Genital Warts are cause by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and it cannot be cured
• FACT You can get small, bumpy warts on the sex organs, anus, and in the mouth
• FACT Some people have HPV and they don’t know it. They can still give it to other people.
• FACT In females, HPV can lead to cancer of CERVIX, and even death if it is not treated.

The GOOD News

• There are medicines that can cause the warts to fall off

The BAD News

• Even if the warts go away, you still have the virus
• AND there is no cure
• AND you can still give it to other people.

Trichomoniasis (trik o ma neye’ a sis) or “Trich”

• FACT Some people have no symptoms
• FACT If you do have symptoms:
  • Males might have itching, burning or pain on the penis
  • Females might have vaginal itching, burning, or pain
  • Females might have yellow vaginal discharge that smells

The GOOD News

• Trich is curable with prescription antibiotics

The BAD News

• If it is not cured, Trich can cause more serious infections in the male sex organs

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• FACT There is no cure for HIV
• FACT You can have HIV for years and not have symptoms
• FACT If you do have symptoms:
  • male and females have
    • flu-like feelings
    • white spots in the mouth
    • diarrhea
    • purple bumps in the mouth, nose, anus, or on skin
    • weight loss for no reason

The GOOD News

• There are medicines that can slow HIV down so your body is not damaged as fast

The BAD News

• There is no cure for HIV
• AND you can eventually die from it

If you have any of the above symptoms or have any reason to believe you have contacted an STD, please come in immediately for testing. All visits are confidential.

For more information on these subjects you can visit the following web sites or call:

www.itsyoursexlife.com/
www.coolnurse.com/
www.iwannaknow.org/

The Centers for Disease Control National STD Hotlines
1 (800) 227-8922 (English)
1 (800) 334-7432 (Spanish)
1 (800) 243-7889 (TTY)

The National Herpes Hotline 1 (919) 361-8488
HIV/AIDS Information 1 (800) 342-AIDS (2437)

ABSTINENCE, OR NOT HAVING SEX, IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT STD’S!