Types of STDs and STIs
There are more than 25 major types of STDs (also known as STIs) that fall into two categories:- Bacterial STDs (can be cured with medication, but may have already caused damage) and
- Viral STDs (can NOT be cured, but symptoms may be treatable.)
Common STDs include:
HIV/AIDS
- About 40,000 people become infected each year.
- Up to 50% of all people who acquire HIV from heterosexual contact do so in their late teen years or early 20's.
- About 20 million people in the U.S. have genital HPV infections.
- May result in cervical cancer in women. There is no evidence that condoms reduce the risk of HPV.
- About 45 million people are infected with HSV-2 which causes genital herpes, painful sores in the genital area.
- More women (1 out of 4) than men (1 out of 5) have genital herpes. There is no cure, although medicine can shorten the duration of flare-ups
- About 2.8 million people contract Chlamydia each year, the most frequently reported bacterial disease in the U.S.
- Subsequent scarring of the fallopian tubes may cause ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
- More than 700,000 people are infected with gonorrhea in the U.S. each year.
- Rates are highest among sexually active teens and young adults.
- Most syphilis cases occur in people 20-39 years old.
- The rate of syphilis was highest in women age 20-24 & men age 35-39 years old.
All STD/STI information provided was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control Fact Sheets available on their website (2006) and the Medical Institute for Sexual Health (2006).
