STD's - Sexually Transmitted Diseases

 

STD stands for sexually transmitted disease. It's an infection (from bacteria or a virus) you can get by having sex with someone who has the disease. (You never can tell who has an STD, appearance means nothing)

The only way you can avoid getting an STD, including HIV/AIDS, is by not having sex. If you do have sex, make sure you practice safer sex. That means using a new latex condom every time you have sex, from the moment you begin to the moment you end. It doesn't matter how well you know your partner, he/she might have an STD and not even know it.

If you think you're infected with an STD, see your doctor or go to a health clinic (see the health clinic/youth clinic section of our resources) to get tested right away. It's normal to be afraid, embarassed or awkward but you must get treatment as soon as you can. Test results are confidential.

If you have an STD, make sure you find out all the information about your particular disease. You must also stop having sex until the STD has cleared up (if it can be treated). Make sure you tell your partner, and if you might have had it before, and your past partners about your STD so that they can get tested as well. Take all your medication and follow your doctor's instructions.

 

 

How do you use a condom?

Before Sex

1. As soon as the penis is hard, put the condom on with the rolled-up ring on the outside. Leave space at the tip to hold semen. (this means that you should pinch the tip of the condom when you put it on so that extra space is available at the end)
2. Gently unroll the condom all the way down to the hair. Use a water based lubricant on the outside of the condom to lower the risk of it breaking. If you have sex for a long period of time (I'd call that 45 minutes or more) you might want to consider using a second condom. There is nothing more unromantic than having to worry about STD's, HIV and pregnancy because your condom broke.

After sex

1. Hold the condom firmly at the base of the penis. Pull out slowly right after ejaculation, while the penis is still hard. You don't want to let any of those spermies out.
2. Turn and move completely away before you let go of the condom. Carefully remove the condom and throw it in the garbage.

Always

Use a new condom every time you have sex. Read all the package instructions. Put the condom on before you enter your partner or before you let your partner enter you.

 

The facts about STD's

 

Chlamydia

Symptoms show up 7-21 days after sex. Girls: burning and itching when urinating, pain in the abdomen, sometimes fever and nausea, yellowish or white discharge, pain during sex, bleeding between periods. Guys: burning and itching when urinating, pain inside penis, watery white discharge. Some people will have no symptoms.

 

If it's left untreated:

Girls: can spread into uterus, cause PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), cause infertility, be passed on to an unborn baby. Guys: can infect testicles and prostrate gland, cause infertility.

 

What is the treatment?

Antibiotics (a pill worth about $35.00 in Canada if you don't have medical). Both you and your partner must be tested and treated for Chlamydia. Guys must tell their partners because some girls don't show any symptoms.

 

Crabs, Pubic Lice, Scabies

Tiny insects you might not see in gential area or in body hair. Very itchy; bite skin and fill with blood. Can live up to 48 hours away from your body. They lay eggs on hair or clothing.

 

What if it's left untreated?

They won't go away, will cause severe itching. Very contagious; can spread by sex or by sharing clothes, sheets, toilets and towels.

 

What is the treatment?

Special creams, shampoos or powders. You must disinfect clothing, bedding and furniture.

 

Genital Herpes

Symptoms show up 2-30 day after sex. Flu-like feelings. Small painful blisters on the sex organs or mouth that come and go for life. Itching or burning before blisters appear. Blisters last 1-3 weeks. Even after they heal, you still carry the virus. Some people have no symptoms.

 

What if it's left untreated?

Virus never leaves your body. Even if you don't have sores, you can still pass it to your partner. Some girls don't know they have sores in their vagina.

 

What is the treatment?

Pills and creams make the sores less painful. There is no cure, the herpes virus lives in your body forever.

 

Gonorrhea (Clap, Drip, GC)

Symptoms show up 2-21 days after sex. Girls: thick yellow or white discharge. Burning or pain when urinating or having bowel movement. Guys: thick yellow or white discharge from penis. Burning or pain when urinating. May also have fever, swollen glands, rectal pain and itching. Some people have no symptoms.

 

What if it's left untreated?

Same as for Chlamydia. Can also cause blindness if eyes are infected.

 

What is the treatment?

Antibiotics. Both you and your partner must be tested and treated.

 

Hepatitis B

Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, weakness, yellowing of the skin or white part of the eye, dark uring and light stool. May go undiagnosed because symptoms are like flu.

 

What if it's left untreated?

Will affect the liver and all body functions. Can be passed on to an unborn baby. Can lead to deadly disease. Can remain a carrier.

 

What is the treatment?

There is a vaccine for prevention recommended for sexually active teens. (many clinics offer this vaccine for free, see the Youth Clinics or Planned Parenthood section of our resources for more information)

 

Syphilis

Stage 1 (3-4 weeks after sex): painless sores on genital, rectal and mouth area; Stage 2 (6 weeks - 6 months after sex): sores go away, skin rash develops, flu-like symptoms; Stage 3: severe illness. Some people have no symptoms.

 

What ifif it's left untreated?

Can cause heart disease, damage to the nervouse system, brain damage, blindness, and death. Can be passed on to an unborn baby.

 

What is the treatment?

A series of antibiotics administered by a doctor.

 

Trichomoniasis

Symptoms may not show up for years. Itchingburning or pain in vagina, yellow or unusual or smelly discharge. Some people have no symptoms.

 

What if it's left untreated?

Symtoms don't get better or go away. Guys could have damage to prostrate gland and urethra.

 

What is the treatment?

Pills or creams. Both you and your partner must be tested and treated.

 

 

Venereal Warts (Genital Warts)

Symptoms show up 1-8 months after sex. Painless warts in the genital and rectal areas. After oral sex they may appear around or in the mouth. Itching or burning around sex organs.

 

What if it's left untreated?

Continue to grown and become harder to get rid of. May lead to pre-cancerous conditions. Children bron may develop warts in the throat.

 

What is the treatment?

Medication, may need surgery for internal warts. Similar to a wart you might have on your hand, they burn them off. A complete cure may not be possible.