Common Types of STDs
Genital Herpes
Genital Herpes is an STD caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most people have few or no signs or symptoms of the infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first. Although the infection may never leave the body, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common STD caused by bacteria (Chlamydia trachomatis). It can damage a woman’s reproductive organs, even causing her to be unable to have a child. Because symptoms of chlamydia are mild or absent, it can cause permanent damage that cannot be undone before a person even knows about it.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have the disease. HCV is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be sexually transmitted.
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Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common STD caused by neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.
Syphilis
Syphilis is an STD caused by a type of bacteria (treponema pallidum). It has often been called “the great imitator” because so many of the signs and symptoms are exactly like the symptoms of other diseases.
HPV
HPV is an STD that is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Human papillomavirus is the name of a group of viruses that include more than 100 different types. More than 40 of these viruses are sexually transmitted and they can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina) or anus and the linings of the vagina, cervix or rectum. Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own. However, some of the viruses are called “high-risk” types and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis, throat or mouth. Others are called “low-risk” types and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts. Genital warts are single or multiple grows or bumps that appear in the genital area of men and women.