This is not an actual vaginal infection but rather a clinical syndrome resulting from replacement of the normal H2O2-producing Lactobacillus species with high concentrations of anaerobic bacteria (e.g., Prevotella and Mobiluncus species), Gardnerella vaginalis, and…

Haemophilus ducreyi can cause painful, nonindurated genital ulcers, termed soft chancres, at times accompanied by painful inguinal lymphadenopathy. Although common in some developing countries, it had become rare in the United States. In 1987, however, its…

Genital human papillomavirus infection (HPV), either symptomatic or asymptomatic, is common. Of 2597 high-risk pregnant women enrolled in the New Orleans Center of the Vaginal Infections and Prematurity Study, 28 percent were seropositive for…

There are many more infections and infestations that can be acquired as the consequence of sexual intercourse. These include hepatitis B and C, Candida vulvovaginitis, scabies, and pediculosis pubis. These infections are discussed…

This protozoal infection was previously considered a common but minor sexually transmitted disease. Lately, however, its importance has been reassessed in light of its associations with other STDs, particularly HIV, and with possible preterm birth (Soper,…

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first described in 1981 when a cluster of patients was found to have defective cellular immunity and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (Gallo and Montagnier, 2003). Worldwide, it was estimated…

Management of pregnancy complicated by maternal herpesvirus genital infection remains problematic. There are currently no available rapid diagnostic tests that reliably document contemporary infection. Moreover, there are few data to estimate risks for…

Several serovars of C trachomatis cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). The primary genital infection is transient and seldom recognized. Inguinal adenitis may develop, and at times lead to suppuration. It may be confused with chancroid. Ultimately,…

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that has several serotypes, including those that cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). The most commonly encountered strains are those that attach only to columnar or transitional cell epithelium and…

The incidence of gonorrhea in the United States for 2002 was 125 cases per 100,000 persons (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003b). The highest rates in women of any ethnicity were in the 15- to…

The incidence of syphilis increased in the United States through the 1980s peaked in 1990, and then subsequently declined (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003a). The rate of syphilis in the United States in 2002…