Potential exposure to a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a frightening experience. As embarrassed or uncomfortable as you might feel, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after potential exposure. Many STDs are curable and even those that can't be cured can be managed with proper medical treatment.
What are the 10 most common STDs and what do you need to know about them?
While we mention the key symptoms of STDs below, for a full list of symptoms please refer: 'What STD symptoms should you expect and When?'
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids contaminated by the bacteria, which usually involves sexual contact but can occur during childbirth.
Chlamydia can affect the:
Once the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria enters the body, it attaches to the epithelial cells and replicates. These new cells burst and infect new cells. Over time, the cycle of infection continues, creating more and more inflammation. Other symptoms, if any occur, include painful urination, painful vaginal sex, and discharge from the affected area.
Doctors diagnose chlamydia during health STD testing and routine screenings and can treat the infection with antibiotics. However, it's common for people with chlamydia to experience no symptoms or only mild symptoms, so they don't seek medical treatment.
Unfortunately, advanced chlamydia puts you at risk of serious health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease which can lead to infertility and problems with your respiratory system and vision.
People with the highest risk of exposure to chlamydia include:
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) bacteria. It most often infects the body's mucous membranes, including the throat, eyes, and genitals. Symptoms include:
Gonorrhea is transmitted via direct contact with infected mucous membranes, which most often occurs during the exchange of bodily fluids during vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse. It's also possible for mothers to pass gonorrhea to their babies during childbirth.
Once it enters the body, N. gonorrhoeae sticks to epithelial cells and begins to multiply. The body's natural immunity has a difficult time combatting the bacteria because it changes its surface structure and secretes proteins that inhibit immune responses.
In the early stages of exposure, you're likely to experience inflammation in the affected area but it eventually spreads to the bloodstream and affects other parts of the body, such as the joints and skin.
Antibiotics are used to treat gonorrhea, but early detection is essential if you want to prevent long-term complications. Several STD tests are available to identify gonorrhea.
Left untreated, gonorrhea eventually causes serious health issues such as:
In men, untreated gonorrhea can lead to:
Your risk of contracting gonorrhea and experiencing complications is highest if you are sexually active and between the ages of 15 and 24. Those most affected include:
Men who have sex with men, sex workers, and transgender women are also affected.
Most time you see Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infection go together. So if you or your partner test positive for one of them, it is quite likely that you may have been exposed to the other .
Hepatitis A is caused by a viral infection (HAV) that affects the liver. Symptoms of hepatitis A include:
Hepatitis A is transmitted via the feces of an infected person, which can contaminate food and water. It's also possible to contract hepatitis A through sexual intimacy or other types of close contact such as oral-anal sex with an infected person.
The best treatment for hepatitis A is abstaining from sex with an infected person until they test negative for Hep A. You can also reduce your risk with handwashing and proper hygiene.
In most cases, the infection resolves on its own within a few weeks, but hepatitis A can cause long-term liver damage.
People most at risk of contracting hepatitis A include those who:
There is also a heightened risk of severe complications if you have a pre-existing liver condition or you're older.
Hepatitis B is caused by a viral infection (HBV) that affects the liver. Symptoms include:
The infection triggers inflammation that can eventually cause long-term liver damage, including cancer.
Hepatitis B is transmitted via contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood. This typically occurs through sexual contact, the sharing of needles with an infected person, or during childbirth.
Vaccination offers protection against hepatitis B for high-risk people. Safe handling of blood-related materials also prevents the spread of the infection.
People with the highest risk of contracting hepatitis B include anyone who:
Healthcare workers and others who have frequent contact with infected blood also face a high risk of contracting the infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there were 2,157 new cases of acute hepatitis B and 11,635 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis B during 2020.1
Hepatitis C, like A and B, is caused by a viral infection (HCV) that affects the liver. Long-term damage including cirrhosis and liver cancer is likely if the infection goes untreated. Symptoms of hepatitis C can take years to develop and include:
The infection is transmitted via contact with infected blood accidentally during medical treatment or by sharing needles. It's also possible for an infected mother to pass the infection to her child during childbirth.
All strains of hepatitis can be diagnosed using a variety of medical tests, the most common of which is a blood test.
Doctors treat hepatitis C with antiviral medications, including direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). In most cases, these medications cure the infection within a few months. The once-daily medication is taken by mouth for 8 to 12 weeks.
You face the highest risk of contracting hepatitis C if you use or have used injected drugs, received blood transfusions or organ transplants before screening for hepatitis C was common, or have multiple sexual partners and participate in certain sexual practices that potentially expose you to blood, including:
Healthcare workers who are frequently exposed to blood also face a heightened risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), rates of acute hepatitis C are highest among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people. 2
The risk of contracting herpes is higher during an active outbreak, but infection can occur even when the virus is dormant. Transmission occurs during sexual intimacy of any kind such as oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
Kelly Brown
Oral herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It primarily affects the mouth, but can also infect the eyes or skin. The virus is chronic and triggers periodic flare-ups with recurrent symptoms, including cold sores or blisters near the mouth and lips.
Herpes I is transmitted via direct contact with skin or kissing, but can also spread through the sharing of utensils or drinking glasses. It's possible to spread herpes even if there are no symptoms present. You can be infected, not realize it, and spread it to others through:
The best way to prevent the spread of herpes is by undergoing routine health screenings for the virus or requesting a blood or swab test to determine if you have the infection.
There is no cure for herpes I. Anti-viral medications and over-the-counter medications help you manage symptoms during flare-ups.
You can reduce the risk of spreading the virus by not having close contact, including kissing, oral sex, or any type of sexual contact during an outbreak.
It's also possible to reduce your risk of flare-ups by wearing sunscreen on your lips and by taking anti-viral medications that reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of outbreaks.
You face a higher risk of contracting oral herpes if you engage in oral-to-oral contact with someone who has an active cold sore, have close contact including kissing with individuals carrying the virus, or are exposed to contaminated surfaces.
You face greater health complications from herpes if you have a weakened immune system.
Genital herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). It affects the skin and mucous membranes, most often around the genital area. The virus is chronic and triggers periodic flare-ups of sores and blisters.
Herpes II is transmitted via direct contact with infected bodily fluids or skin. This occurs during physical or sexual intimacy, which causes you to come in direct contact with an infected body or fluids, or skin contact.
You can also contract herpes II via sharing utensils or towels with someone who has an active herpes virus flare or shedding episode.
The risk of contracting herpes is higher during an active outbreak, but infection can occur even when the virus is dormant. Transmission occurs during sexual intimacy of any kind such as oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
There is no cure for herpes II, but antiviral medications make it easier to manage symptoms by reducing the frequency, severity, and duration of outbreaks.
You have an increased risk of contracting herpes II if you have unprotected sex with an infected person, have multiple sexual partners, or have a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Like herpes I, your risk of complications linked to herpes II is greater if you have weakened immunity due to other health conditions.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately half a billion people worldwide are living with genital herpes, and several billion have an oral herpes infection. 5
HIV is a virus caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. It targets your body's immune system. Left unmanaged, HIV weakens your immunity and makes it difficult for your body to fight off diseases and infections.
HIV is transmitted only via:
This means that transmission typically occurs via sexual contact or sharing needles, but it's also possible for a mother to pass HIV to her baby during childbirth or breastfeeding.
Blood transfusions also put people at risk of contracting HIV, despite blood screening. You cannot catch HIV through casual contact, such as hugging or sharing utensils.
You can reduce your risk of spreading or contracting HIV by using protection such as a condom, undergoing STD testing for the virus and/or requesting that sexual partners do so.
HIV isn't curable. However, it can be managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which involves a combination of medications that suppress the virus and prevent its progression to AIDS.
Your risk of contracting HIV is greatest if you:
Your risk of complications, especially for developing AIDs, if you do not seek treatment and use antiviral medications to manage an HIV infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), estimated HIV infections have decreased in recent years among most at-risk categories, but approximately 1.2 million people have HIV in 2022. 3
HIV 1 and 2 are very similar. The primary difference is that HIV 2 is not as common or severe as HIV 1. However, both 1 and 2 impair your body's ability to defend itself against illness and infection, and both are transmitted via blood and bodily fluids.
Neither HIV 1 nor 2 are curable, but in both cases symptoms are manageable. Despite HIV 2 not being as severe as 1, left untreated, it will lead to similar health outcomes.
HIV 2 primarily affects individuals in West Africa.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum. Symptoms are rarely noticeable in the earliest stages of the infection but eventually develop into painless ulcers at the site of the infection. As syphilis progresses, you'll develop:
Left untreated, syphilis leads to serious health complications, such as damage to the:
Untreated, syphilis is fatal.
Syphilis is transmitted via direct contact with the infected sores or lesions which typically occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact.
Syphilis can also be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or by having an open cut, abrasion, or wound exposed to syphilis-infected sores.
You cannot catch syphilis through casual contact.
A blood test can determine if you have syphilis. It's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you believe you've been exposed to syphilis.
The infection is easily treated with antibiotics, typically penicillin, but treatment is most effective during the earliest stages of the infection before symptoms are noticeable.
You have the highest risk of contracting syphilis if you:
Engage in unprotected sexual contact, particularly with multiple or high-risk partners. Some population groups are disproportionately affected by syphilis, including men who have sex with men.
Your risk of contraction and complications from syphilis is increased if you have a weakened immune system.
CDC reported more than 200,000 cases of syphilis in the United States in 2022.4
Trichomoniasis is an infection caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Symptoms include irritation and inflammation in the cervix or urethra. The infection is transmitted via direct contact with infected bodily fluids.
Trichomoniasis is treated with antibiotics.
Those most affected by trichomoniasis include anyone who engages in unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners. Women are particularly vulnerable, as the infection is more common in women.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium. It causes symptoms like irritation and discomfort in the genital and urinary tracts.
It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids from an infected person. Mycoplasma genitalium is treated with antibiotics, typically a combination of medications depending on antibiotic resistance.
Those most affected by Mycoplasma genitalium include sexually active individuals, especially women and men who have multiple sexual partners. Those with a history of other STDs or who engage in unprotected sex are also at increased risk. Women are most at risk of complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility if the infection is not treated.
HPV is a viral infection caused by the human papillomavirus. It is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact or contact with surfaces that have been in contact with an infected person.
HPV causes warts or other lesions on the genitals, and in some cases, it can be associated with more serious health conditions, including an elevated risk of cervical and other types of cancer.
HPV is a risk for anyone sexually active, but women face a higher risk of complications from exposure. CDC estimates there are nearly 48,000 new cases of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers each year in the United States based on data collected between 2017 and 2021.5
Many sexually transmitted infections are curable. Others are manageable even if there is no cure. It's important to get periodic STD testing and seek treatment for infections as needed.
