Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
REVIEW our Selected STDs Articles in 2008. Stay informed and updated!
Also review Related Articles: Cervical Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Prostatitis, Fertility - Infertility
Online Alerts
Save Time. Stay updated weekly/monthly.
Stay updated Weekly by viewing our Free InfoMedSearch Weekly Featured Articles section. Sign up for our Monthly Alerts Newsletter and have access to our Weekly Featured Articles also (link available in each Alert notification).
If you have any questions regarding our Search Reports, please contact us at info@infomedsearch.com.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
NIH - Sexually Transmitted Diseases “Also called: Sexually transmitted infections, STDs, Venereal disease Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that you can get from having sex with someone who has the infection. The causes of STDs are bacteria, parasites and viruses. There are more than 20 types of STDs, including • Chlamydia • Gonorrhea • Herpes Simplex • HIV/AIDS • HPV • Syphilis • Trichomoniasis 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. If you have an STD caused by bacteria or parasites, your health care provider can treat it with antibiotics or other medicines. If you have an STD caused by a virus, there is no cure. Sometimes medicines can keep the disease under control. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs.”
NIH - Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) “What are the different types of STDs? Researchers have identified more than 20 different kinds of STDs, which can fall into two main groups: STDs caused by bacteria - These diseases can be treated and often cured with antibiotics. Some bacterial STDs include: chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis. STDs caused by viruses - These diseases can be controlled, but not cured. If you get a viral STD, you will always have it. Some viral STDs include: HIV/AIDS, genital herpes, genital warts, human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B virus, and cytomegalovirus. What are the symptoms of STDs? The symptoms vary among the different types of STDs. Some examples of common symptoms include: Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina Sores or warts on the genital area Burning while urinating Itching and redness in the genital area Anal itching, soreness, or bleeding “
NHS - Sexually transmitted infections “Most conditions vary in their symptoms but the most common are listed below: Chlamydia In women, genital chlamydial infection often does not cause any symptoms. However, there may be non-specific symptoms such as cystitis, a change in the vaginal discharge, or mild lower abdominal pain. Men with chlamydia commonly experience a urethral discharge from the penis, and may have inflammation of the tube leading from the bladder to the tip of the penis (urethritis), or of the tube leading from the testes to the penis (epidymitis). This discomfort may then disappear but the infection can still be passed on to a sexual partner. Genital warts Many people who get the virus that leads to genital warts do not show any recognisable symptoms, and this is why the infection can go undiagnosed for a long time. However, if symptoms are present, they may include small white spots or lumps that are hidden inside the vagina or anus. Genital herpes Like genital warts, genital herpes is a condition that often presents no symptoms and can remain undiagnosed for long periods of time. Symptoms may show in the form of flu-like symptoms, itchiness, burning or tingling around the genitals, small, fluid-filled blisters that burst to leave sores, and pain when passing urine. Gonorrhoea Gonorrhoea is an infection that is found in both sexes and can affect the genitals, anus, rectum and throat. About half of all women infected with gonorrhoea, and over 90% of men experience symptoms, including a thin, watery discharge from the vagina or tip of the penis that can appear yellow or green, and pain when urinating. Syphilis The symptoms of syphilis usually begin with a small sore on the penis or vagina. Up to six months after the initial symptoms occur, you may experience flu-like symptoms, such as aching and shivering. HIV Many people do not develop any symptoms when they first become infected with HIV. Some people, however, get a flu-like illness within three to six weeks after exposure to the virus. The only way to know if you are HIV-positive is to have a test. Over time, infection with HIV weakens the immune system leading to difficulty fighting off certain infections. Non-specific urethritis Non-specific urethritis is an STI that affects men. It causes discomfort of the urethra (the tube that leads from the bladder to the tip of the penis, along which urine is passed), and a urethral discharge is also common. Trichomoniasis Trichomoniasis is an infection of the genitals that is caused by the bacterium trichomonas vaginalis (TV). The condition often has no symptoms, but symptoms may include a yellow or green discharge from the vagina with soreness. Men usually act as carriers and do not show symptoms. Pubic lice Symptoms of pubic lice include itchy skin, and you may notice black powder (lice droppings) in your underwear and white eggs. Scabies Scabies can occur anywhere on the body, but sometimes the signs are hard to see. Symptoms can appear weeks after first contact and include itching (especially at night), a rash, and tiny spots. Thrush Symptoms of thrush include intense itching around your penis or vagina, with a thick, white discharge, and the appearance of tiny white spots around the genitals. “
NHS - Condom negotiation (Video)
NIH - Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Multiple Languages “ Bosnian (Bosanski), Japanese, Somali (af Soomaali), Chinese - Simplified, Korean, Spanish (español), French (français), Portuguese (português), Tagalog (Tagalog), Hindi, Russian, Ukrainian“
Highlighted Articles
Regular chlamydia tests urged for young people “Young sexually active people should get themselves tested annually for the infection chlamydia and again every time they change partner, the Health Protection Agency said on Tuesday. Everyone should use a condom with a new partner until both have been screened, the agency warned as it published figures showing the number of sexual diseases diagnosed in Britain rose 6 percent last year. Young people were disproportionately affected, said Peter Borriello, Director of the HPA's Centre for Infections. "Substantial numbers of young people remain undiagnosed, untreated and unaware of the risk they pose both to their own health and that of their sexual partner," he added. People aged 18-24 form just one in eight of the population but account for around half of all newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK.”
Repeat chlamydia infection common in girls “Because chlamydia often causes no symptoms or only mild ones, experts recommend that all sexually active women age 25 or younger be tested for the infection once a year. Those who test positive should be tested again 3 months later to catch any repeat infection. The current findings underscore the importance of frequently re-testing in adolescents, especially when there is a history of chlamydia, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Charlotte A. Gaydos of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The results also suggest that school-based health clinics are a good place to offer these tests.“
Genital herpes. (Lancet. 2008) “Most genital HSV-2 infections are unrecognised and undiagnosed; infected individuals, even with mild symptoms, shed HSV, and can infect sexual partners. Since clinical diagnosis is neither sensitive nor specific, virological and type-specific serological tests should be used routinely. Oral antiviral drugs for HSV infections are safe and effective and can be used both to treat episodes and to prevent recurrences. Antiviral treatment of the infected partners and condom use reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HSV-2.”
Gonococcemia “Gonococcemia is defined as the presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the bloodstream, which can lead to the development of disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). Gonorrhea is the second most often reported sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States behind chlamydia. About 600,000 people each year in the United States are infected, with only about half being reported.1 Gonococcemia occurs in about 0.5-3% of patients with gonorrhea. The clinical manifestations of this process are biphasic, with an early bacteremic phase consisting of tenosynovitis, arthralgias,2 and dermatitis, followed by a localized phase consisting of localized septic arthritis. Other potentially severe clinical complications include osteomyelitis, meningitis, endocarditis, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),3, 4 and fatal septic shock.5 Polymyositis is also a rare complication of gonococcemia. Patients who are pregnant or menstruating may be particularly prone to gonococcemia. Other populations that are at risk of infection include women and those with complement deficiencies, HIV, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). DGI is an important, potentially life-threatening, and easily treatable clinical entity that remains the most common cause of acute septic arthritis in young sexually active adults.“
Internet SitesCONTINUE YOUR INFOMEDSEARCH RESEARCH with our previous InfoMedLinks. Start with InfoMedLinks 2008.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
General Information
NEWS:
Alarming New Data Shows TB-HIV Co-infection A Bigger Threat “Now, virulent new drug-resistant strains of TB are on the rise across the globe. HIV-positive patients are highly vulnerable to TB, because of their weakened immune systems, and tuberculosis is now the No. 1 killer of people with HIV.”
Bacterial Vaginosis Treatments Vary in Efficacy, Adverse Effects
CDC Issues Annual Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases “The new annual report of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for 2007 shows a high burden of STDs, especially among women and racial minorities. In the United States, reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea exceeded 1.4 million in 2007. These illnesses continued to be the most frequently reported infectious diseases nationwide. These STDs may be complicated by loss or impairment of fertility. For example, pelvic inflammatory disease may result from nearly 40% of all untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, causing infertility in up to 50,000 women annually. Ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and other complications may also result from untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea. These complications may be preventable if the disease is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Diagnosis and treatment are not difficult, but asymptomatic cases often go undetected, and estimates suggest that more than half of all new infections with chlamydia and gonorrhea remain undiagnosed. The CDC therefore recommends that all sexually active women younger than 26 years be screened annually for chlamydia, and the agency supports the recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force for gonorrhea screening in high-risk, sexually active women. “
Chlamydia May Play Role In A Type Of Arthritis
Chlamydia Vaginal Infection Linked to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Circumcision May Reduce Incidence of HIV, HSV-2, HPV Infection
Condoms May Reduce Herpes Risk "Even though the decrease is smaller than you would see with some other STDs, the evidence from previous studies has been unclear whether using a condom to prevent getting herpes was going to be effective, but this shows that it is," she said. Using condoms reduces herpes transmission by only 30 percent because, unlike other STDs, herpes is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, Martin explained. "Transmission has a lot to do with where the virus is being shed at the time," she said. "If someone with herpes is shedding virus for an area that is not covered by a condom, we speculate the virus will spread whether or not they are using a condom." “
Does Abacavir/3TC Still Have a Role in First-Line Therapy for HIV?
Gay men concern over HIV figures
Gay men sexually abused in childhood more likely to have risky sex and get HIV
Genital Warts Decline After Australia Introduces Free HPV Vaccine Program
Half of teen girls have STIs by 2 years of first sex “Within 2 years of having sex for the first time, half of teenage girls may be at least one of three common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to results of a study published today. Often, those girls are infected by the age of 15. Researchers followed 386 urban adolescent girls aged 14 to 17 for up to 8 years. Within 2 years of becoming sexually active, half of the girls were infected with at least one of three common sexually transmitted organisms: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or Trichomonas vaginalis -- the organisms that cause chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, respectively. The researchers found that a quarter of the women had acquired their first STI by age 15, most often Chlamydia. "Repeated infections were very common," study investigator Dr. Wanzhu Tu, of Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis told Reuters Health by email. "Within 4 to 6 months (depending on the organism) after treatment of the previous infection, a quarter of the women were re-infected with the same organism." “
HIV Positive..So Why Don't They Get AIDS?
HIV/AIDS Rate in D.C. Hits 3% “At least 3 percent of District residents have HIV or AIDS, a total that far surpasses the 1 percent threshold that constitutes a "generalized and severe" epidemic, according to a report scheduled to be released by health officials tomorrow. … "Our rates are higher than West Africa," said Shannon L. Hader, director of the District's HIV/AIDS Administration, who once led the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's work in Zimbabwe. "They're on par with Uganda and some parts of Kenya." "We have every mode of transmission" -- men having sex with men, heterosexual and injected drug use -- "going up, all on the rise, and we have to deal with them," Hader said.”
HPV Subtypes 16 or 18 Implicated in Most Anogenital Neoplasia “An analysis of data from four continents implicates human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes I6 and 18 in a high proportion of vulvar, vaginal and anal neoplasia and carcinoma, although HPV 6 and 11 may also be involved. Approximately 40% of vulvar cancers, 60% of vaginal cancers, and 80% of anal cancers "could be avoided by prophylactic vaccines against HPV16/18," the investigators report in the April 1 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.”
L.A. County, Calif., Offers Home Delivery Of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea Test Kits
Male Circumcision Reduces Risk of Genital Herpes and HPV Infection, but Not Syphilis
New Chlamydia Test Offers Rapid, Pain-free Test For Men
One in Four Teen Girls Have STDs “For the study, Gottlieb's team collected data on 838 teen girls aged 14 to 19. Using samples provided by the teens, the researchers looked for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes simplex virus type 2 and human papillomavirus (HPV). The study authors found that 24.1 percent of the girls had one of these STDs and among girls who were sexually experienced, 37.7 percent had an STD. HPV was the most common infection (18.3 percent), followed by chlamydia (3.9 percent).”
Oral Sex Cause of Throat Cancer Rise “Increasing rates of HPV infection, spread through oral sex, is largely driving the rapid rise in oropharyngeal cancers, which include tumors of the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue, said Scott Lippman, MD, who chairs the thoracic department at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Studies of oropharyngeal tumor tissue stored 20 years ago show that only around 20% are HPV positive, Lippman said. Today it is estimated that 60% of patients are infected with the virus. … The experts agreed that it is critical for the public to understand that oral sex doesn't equal safe sex. The message was unofficially promoted in the early days of the HIV epidemic and it is still widely believed by many, especially teens. Studies suggest that teens are often unaware of the risks associated with unprotected oral sex, including the transmission of HPV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.”
Oral Sex, "French" Kissing Increases Risk of Oral HPV Infections “Among adult outpatients, the odds of oral HPV infection were significantly elevated among current tobacco smokers and among individuals who reported having either more than 10 oral or more than 25 vaginal sex partners during their lifetime. Similar risk factors applied to the college-aged men. For them, having at least 6 recent oral sex or open-mouthed kissing partners and being older were independently associated with increased odds of developing oral HPV infection.”
Prostate cancer linked to sexually transmitted disease “Men with prostate cancer who were previously infected with the sexually transmitted germ Trichomonas vaginalis are more likely to have an aggressive form of the cancer, compared with men who never had the STD, a new study says.”
Reports Of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis Increase Among Tennessee Women, Study Finds
Researchers Confirm Link Between HPV And Head And Neck Cancer But Europe-wide Survey Shows Woeful Public Ignorance On Role Of Oral Sex “Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative agent in squamous cell cancers of head and neck (HNSCC) a new meta-analysis presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) confirms; but a separate European survey at the same meeting reveals the public is woefully ignorant about it and possible ways to avoid it. Lack of public awareness about the possible link between HPV-related head and neck cancer and oral sex with multiple partners presents a case for making vaccinations against HPV more widely available to boys as well as girls before they become sexually active, commented leading expert Professor Jean-Louis Lefebvre of Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France.”
Over-45s ignore sex disease risks “Sexually transmitted infections have doubled in under a decade in people over 45 and have been rising at a faster rate than in the young, recent figures from the Health Protection Agency show.”
Some Sexually Transmitted Infections Increasing In South Dakota; Lack Of Education, Health Services On American Indian Reservations Partly To Blame “The number of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases in South Dakota peaked at record levels last year, and HIV/AIDS cases also are on the rise, according to the state Department of Health's 2008 infectious disease report, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. The number of chlamydia infections reached an all-time high of 2,948 in 2008, up by 328 since 2007, according to provisional data in the report. Gonorrhea infections increased by 29.4% to 370. There were 34 HIV/AIDS infections reported in 2008, compared with 25 in 2007.”
STD testing: What to know before your appointment
Study Examines Adverse Events Associated With Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
Teenage Boys Take Less Responsibility For Preventing The Spread Of Chlamydia “The last decade has seen new cases of chlamydia in Sweden almost triple: in 2007 more than 47,000 people were diagnosed with chlamydia, compared with fewer than 14,000 in 1997. The infection is increasing primarily in females aged between 15 and 25. The increase is due to several factors, including more sexual partners, more casual sexual liaisons and reduced use of condoms.”
U.S. Chlamydia Infections Hit All-Time High “"The bad news from last year has continued," said Dr. John M. Douglas Jr., director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention. "These infections remain at very high levels, and frankly, unacceptably high." Chlamydia and gonorrhea, the two most commonly reported infectious diseases in the United States, together accounted for almost 1.5 million reported cases of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in 2007. "Chlamydia is at a new all-time record 1.1 million cases -- it went up about 7 percent since 2006," Douglas said. "Gonorrhea is about at 355,000 cases." STDs, although easily diagnosed and treated, frequently occur without symptoms and may go untreated. Left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can result in pelvic inflammatory disease -- a condition that causes as many as 50,000 U.S. women to become infertile each year, according to the report, Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2007.”
U.S. Rates Of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis Continue To Rise, CDC Study Says “Syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia can all be treated with antibiotics. However, if left untreated, the infections can cause infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy or infection in newborns, Reuters reports. John Douglas, director of the sexually transmitted disease division at CDC, said, "Chlamydia and gonorrhea are stable at unacceptably high levels and syphilis is resurgent after almost being eliminated," adding, "We have among the highest rates of [STIs] of any developed country in the world." Black women ages 15 through 19 had the highest rates for chlamydia and gonnorhea. Blacks, who represent 12% of the U.S. population, accounted for about 71% of reported gonorrhea cases and nearly half of chlamydia and syphilis cases in 2008. The greatest number of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases by age group was among female adolescents ages 15 through 19, with 409,531 cases.”
What Are Genital Warts? What Causes Genital Warts?
What Is Gonorrhea? What Causes Gonorrhea?
When STDs lead to infertility “He and other doctors worry about sexually active teenagers and young adults who may be unaware that some STDs may doom their chances of having a baby later in life. He said it is a growing reality for nearly 2 million women in the United States who are infertile. "We don't know how many are affected by STDs, but they can cause PID. A woman [with PID] has a 10 to 20 percent chance of being left infertile," Douglas said. Dr. Yolanda Wimberly, an adolescent medicine specialist with Grady Health Systems in Atlanta, Georgia, explained that PID can damage the reproductive organs by creating scarring and inflammation in the fallopian tubes. … Wimberly cautions couples to always protect themselves during sex by using a condom every time. She also tells young men and women to get checked by a doctor for STDs every six months or every time they change sexual partners.”
Young Women With STDs at Triple Risk for HIV Infection
ARTICLES:
Can yeast infections in a woman affect a male partner?
Chlamydia Screening: A Routine Test
Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) and Genital Warts
Is Gardasil® Recommended for Young Women Already Exposed to HPV?
Q: If you get cold sores, can you give your sexual partner genital herpes?
What Are Crabs (pubic Lice)? What Causes Crabs?
What Is Chlamydia? What Causes Chlamydia?
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
A Systematic Review of Epidemiologic Studies Assessing Condom Use and Risk of Syphilis. (Sex Transm Dis. 2009)
Anogenital Hairs Are an Important Reservoir of Alpha-Papillomaviruses in Patients with Genital Warts (The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2009)
Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infection in women with infertility. (Adv Med Sci. 2009) “Conclusions: 1. C.tr. infection is very important etiological factor of female infertility. 2. The detection of specific antichlamydial antibodies is a valuable, noninvasive diagnostic procedure. 3. Infertile women should be routinely tested for C.tr. infection.”
[Diagnosis of urethritis in men. A 3 years review.] (Rev Esp Quimioter. 2009)
Diseases caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV). (J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2009)
Epidemiologic risk profile of infection with different groups of human papillomaviruses. (J Med Virol. 2009)
Factors Associated with Acquisition and Clearance of Human Papillomavirus Infection in a Cohort of US Men: A Prospective Study (The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2009) “Conclusion. The key factor associated with acquisition of HPV was lifetime number of sex partners, whereas circumcision was the most significant determinant for clearance of any HPV infection and oncogenic HPV infection.”
Heterosexual risk of HIV-1 infection per sexual act: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. (Lancet Infect Dis. 2009)
High frequency of multiple HPV types in cervical specimens from Danish women. (APMIS. 2009) “Using microarray technology, we found that 49% of the HPV-positive patients were infected with multiple HPV types. Among the CIN2+ diagnosed women, this frequency was 41%. The most frequently found high-risk HPV type was HPV-16, which was found in 25% of the HPV-positive cervical specimens. Among the HPV positive CIN2+ diagnosed women, 48% were HPV-16 positive. Women younger than 30 years of age had a higher frequency of multiple infections (61%) than women older than 30 years (39%). We conclude that cervical infection with multiple HPV types is common among women in all age groups and among women with or without the diagnosis of CIN2+.”
HPV infection among women in a representative rural and suburban population of the USA. (Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009)
Human Papillomavirus and Head and Neck Cancer. (Am J Clin Oncol. 2009)
Human Papilloma Virus Type and Recurrence Rate After Surgical Clearance of Anal Condylomata Acuminata. (Sex Transm Dis. 2009)
Male Circumcision and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia Trachomatis and Trichomonas Vaginalis: Observations After a Randomised Controlled Trial for HIV Prevention (Sexually Transmitted Infections 2009)
Human papillomavirus types by age in cervical cancer precursors: predominance of human papillomavirus 16 in young women. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009)
Importance of specimen type in detecting human papillomavirus DNA from the female genital tract. (J Med Virol. 2009)
Natural history of persistent high-risk human papillomavirus infections in Korean women. (Gynecol Oncol. 2009)
Oral Sexual Behaviors Associated with Prevalent Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection (The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2009) “Oral sex and open-mouthed kissing are associated with the development of oral HPV infection.”
Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Female Adolescents Aged 14 to 19 in the United States. (Pediatrics. 2009)
Repeated Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infections in Adolescent Women. (J Infect Dis. 2009)
Seroprevalence of Human Papillomavirus Types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. (J Infect Dis. 2009)
Sexually Transmitted Infections and Prostate Cancer among Men in the U.S. Military (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2009)
Trichomoniasis and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections: Results From the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. (Sex Transm Dis. 2009)
Trichomoniasis in teens: an update. (Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2009)
What Is Herpes? What Is Genital Herpes?
Go to the top