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Women's Health Project: Fact Sheets
Women and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases that a person gets by having sex (intercourse, oral or anal) with someone who already has a STD. There are over 20 kinds of STDs that affect more than 13 million women and men in this country each year.
- STDs caused by bacteria include chlamydia ("kla-mi-dee-a"), gonorrhea ("gon-or-ree-a"), trichomoniasis ("trik-o-mo-ni-a-sis"), and syphilis ("si-fi-lis"). These STDs can be treated and cured with antibiotics.
- STDs caused by viruses include HIV/AIDS, genital herpes, genital warts, and cytomegalovirus ("si-to- meg-a-low-vi-rus"). These STDs can be controlled, but not cured. There is no way to get any of these viruses out of a person's body once he or she has become infected.
- Almost two-thirds of STDs occur in people less than 25 years old.
- Women are much more vulnerable biologically, culturally, socioeconomically to STDs than men are.
- 60-70% of STDs do not have symptoms in women.
- Some STDs can be deadly to women and their unborn children, and can lead to certain types of cancers and other health problems.
Prevention Methods:
- Do not have sex.
- If you choose to have sex, use a condom for intercourse and anal sex and a dental dam for oral sex. Precautions should also be used for digital penetration.
- Be open with your partner about the topic of STDs and ask them if they have an STD or symptoms of an STD.
- Get regular check-ups for STDs if you have sex with more than one person. Get a check-up even if you don't have any signs of a STD. A check-up cannot prevent STDs, but it can help to detect them in their early stages so they can be treated.
Sources:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, The National Women's Health Information Center, 1999
Women and Sexually Transmitted Infections, The World Health Organization, 2000
Posted Sept. 10, 2002
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