Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases that can be passed between people during sexual contact have plagued humankind throughout history. The two main venereal diseases in the United States have traditionally been gonorrhea and syphilis. Scientists now know that many other diseases can be passed during sex. More than thirty sexually transmitted diseases have been identified. The names of such sexually transmitted diseases as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and gonorrhea are known to most people; however, other sexually transmitted diseases such as trichomoniasis and genital candidiasis may not be as familiar. Some sexually transmitted diseases affect only a few people or do not cause life-threatening problems. Other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydial infections, affect many people or cause severe health damage. Sexually transmitted diseases are a major health problem throughout the world. In the United States sexually transmitted diseases strike an estimated 20 million people each year, or an average of one person every 1.5 seconds. About one half of sexually transmitted diseased patients are under the age of 25. Nearly 2.5 million teenagers are infected with a sexually transmitted disease each year.

The health problems caused by sexually transmitted diseases seem endless. The diseases can cause arthritis, sterility, nervous system damage, heart disease, and death. Women and infants suffer the most damage from sexually transmitted diseases. For example, each year more than 1 million women suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease resulting from gonorrheal or chlamydial infections. About 200,000 of these women become sterile each year. More than 300,000 babies are injured or die each year from sexually transmitted diseases.

Sexually transmitted diseases are caused by a variety of organisms that include bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and very small insects such as Phthirus pubis, or pubic lice. These organisms usually live in the warm and moist parts of the body called mucous membranes. The penis, vagina, rectum, mouth, and eyes have mucous membranes. These organisms usually invade a person through the mucous membranes during sexual contact. Deep kissing or skin-to-skin contact passes some sexually transmitted diseases, though these transmission methods are not common.

Anyone can get a sexually transmitted disease regardless of age, sex, race, social class, or whether the person is heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Exposure to sexually transmitted disease organisms results from participating in certain sexual or drug-use behaviors.

People with many sexual partners have the greatest risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. The risk increases with each new partner. The risk is even greater if any of the partners have several sex partners. It is virtually impossible to get a sexually transmitted disease from such things as doorknobs, toilet seats, drinking glasses, or whirlpool baths. Light and air destroy sexually transmitted disease organisms very quickly. Some sexually transmitted diseases --such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and genital herpes--are practically always spread by sexual contact. Such diseases as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, hepatitis, and pediculosis pubis, however, can sometimes be acquired through nonsexual means. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and some forms of hepatitis can be acquired from infected blood in intravenous drug needles and syringes. Pubic lice can be picked up from contaminated clothing or bedding that is infected with the lice or their eggs.

Most sexually transmitted diseases can also be passed during pregnancy or birth from an infected woman to her baby. Women can develop some infections in the vagina without having sex. It is possible--but not common--for those infections to be passed to others during sex. Other vaginal infections are sexually transmitted, but the woman's sex partners may not have symptoms.

Most people have heard some information about sexually transmitted diseases. In recent years public awareness has increased. The media have developed greater coverage of sexually transmitted diseases, and more schools teach about them. There are news items on television and in newspapers and magazines about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome almost daily. This increased discussion has alerted people to how widespread sexually transmitted diseases are, to sexually transmitted disease health dangers, and to methods of preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Hence, many people have become more cautious.

Medical personnel and public health officials believe that education is the key to controlling the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases are dangerous. Further medical advances may bring improved modes of treatment, but avoiding infection in the first place is vital. The actions of individual persons are the most important factors in halting the spread of these diseases. Many health educators emphasize the idea that the wisest teaching approach is to motivate people to practice responsible sexually transmitted disease-preventive behavior, such as sexual abstinence and sexual fidelity.

Among people who are mature enough to have a sexual relationship, one of the most important things to do is communicate. A person should feel free to discuss concerns about getting a sexually transmitted disease. One partner stating that he or she cares about the health and well-being of both persons can start the conversation. Persons deciding to have sex with a new partner should discuss ways of protecting each other. Naturally, the most certain way to avoid a sexually transmitted disease is to avoid sexual contact with infected persons. One sure way to do that is by sexual abstinence, meaning not having sex with anyone. Sexual abstinence in young adults is a normal and healthy choice.

The next most certain way of avoiding a sexually transmitted disease is by practicing sexual fidelity. It is nearly impossible for two people having a long-term, faithful relationship to get a sexually transmitted disease. This is true unless one partner is infected at the start of the relationship or uses intravenous drugs and shares needles or syringes. Moreover, it is not always possible to know whether one's partner is sexually faithful.

Persons having sex outside a long-term, sexually faithful relationship should avoid exposure to certain body fluids. This suggestion also applies to those who are not sure whether their partner is infected with a sexually transmitted disease. The person should not allow blood, semen, or vaginal secretions to touch the genitals, mouth, or anus. The proper use of latex condoms is one good way to prevent body fluids from entering one's body. Although condoms made of animal membranes may protect against some sexually