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Five Facts About STDs, HIV & AIDS

For anyone planning on becoming sexually active, there are many issues to take into consideration beforehand. Education on sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, is crucial to any healthy sexual relationship.

  1. Common STDs

    • HIV aside, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis are the most common STDs transmitted between sexually active persons in the United States. There are at least 16 other STDs that one can become infected with via sexual contact with another person. According to Dr. M.T. Williams on Epigee.org, around 19 million new STD infections are reported every year, the majority in persons between the ages of 15 and 24.

    STDs to HIV

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control, "Individuals who are infected with STDs are at least two to five times more likely than uninfected individuals to acquire HIV infection if they are exposed to the virus through sexual contact." STD infections also increase the chances for HIV acquisition and transmission. Genital ulcers caused by syphilis, herpes or chancroid, for example, result in breaks in the lining of the genital tract where HIV can enter.

    STD Treatment = Less HIV Infection

    • If STDs are treated properly soon after infection, the ability to transmit or become infected with HIV is significantly reduced. STD treatment will decrease the amount of HIV in genital secretions and heal any skin breaks in the genital region that could allow HIV to enter.

    Gonorrhea and HIV

    • Studies completed by the Centers of Disease Control have shown that HIV-positive men additionally infected with gonorrhea are at least twice as likely to produce HIV in their genital secretions that those without gonorrhea. The concentration in their semen can be 10 times higher as well.

    STD Consequences

    • Several STDs can lead to harsh consequences if gone untreated. HPV, for instance, can cause cervical cancer among other cancers in the female reproductive system. A vaccine is currently available to prevent this from occurring. Pelvic inflammatory disease, caused by gonorrhea and chlamydia, can cause infertility in women. Hepatitis B (as well as A and C) can cause suffering of chronic infections for years. While there is treatment and a cure available, without treatment syphilis has been known to affect the nervous system and brain, resulting in dementia and death in certain people. STDs in general can cause genital discharge, painful urination, blisters, rash, swelling, flu-like symptoms, tubal pregnancies and death or damage to babies born to infected women.

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