The microbes that cause sexually transmitted diseases are equal opportunity bugs. They don’t care if you are white or black, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, happy or sad. If you’re a warm body, you’ll do. STD germs settle in an estimated 15 million Americans each year. Worldwide, they find 250 million new hosts a year.

These numbers reflect men and women, young and old. STD germs love everybody who loves, because they are spread by intimate body contact. The word “venereal,” as in venereal disease, comes from the name of the Romans goddess of love, Venus.

Germs can, however, be biologically sexist in the damage they do. Women suffer more adverse consequences from STDs than do men because, generally, it is easier for an STD to be transferred from a man to a woman. More harm can be done to a woman’s reproductive organs if an infection is left untreated - and, women’s infections do, in fact, go untreated more often, since women are less likely to show symptoms of an STD. The absence of symptoms in the presence of an infection is known medically as being “asymptomatic.”

Two-thirds of all STDs occur in people under the age of 25. This isn’t necessarily because this age group is more vulnerable to STDs. It’s simply that these people are more likely to expose themselves to the number one risk factor for STDs: having sex with multiple partners without adequate protection from germs.

Bacteria, Viruses, and Bugs

Over a lifetime, the body can host many different kinds of germs including those that cause sexually transmitted diseases. There are three types of STDs - bacterial, viral, and bugs.

Bacterial STDs are transient which means they will respond to medication and can be kicked out of your system. However, if they remain untreated they can cause very serious damage.

Bacterial STDs include gonorrhea, a bacteria which can cause infertility, heart disease, blindness, damage to the urinary tract, arthritis, and damage to an unborn child; chlamydia, which has been implicated as a risk factor for cervical cancer and is a major cause of infertility; syphilis, which can affect the nervous system, cause blindness, deafness, heart disease, insanity, and result in the birth of a stillborn or crippled child; and chancroid, which causes genital sores and enlarged lymph nodes.

Viral STDs are permanent. Once you acquire one, it stays in your system forever. You will not be troubled by a viral STD as long as it remains dormant, but they do act up now and then. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) generally hides in the genital tract, and causes genital warts from time to time over the years. Some strains can lead to cervical cancer. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) lives in nerves at the base of the spine and causes painful blisters to form, mostly on the vulva and in the mouth. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can also remain in the system but once it manifests itself, it becomes a deadly disease with no cure and limited treatment options. HIV is discussed in detail in “The Persistent Threat of AIDS.”

Sexually transmitted skin infestations are caused by tiny bugs called arthropods. Using pesticides will easily rid you of them. The two most common are pubic lice, a.k.a. “crabs” and scabies. Pubic lice attach themselves to the base of pubic hairs where they bite the skin and lay their eggs. Scabies burrow into the skin to lay eggs. They are much tinier than pubic lice and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Best Ways to Prevent Infection

The only way to avoid these germs, is to abstain completely from vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse. Since this is not a desirable option for most women, you can reduce the chance of getting an STD by:

 

Having sex with only one uninfected partner who only has sex with you
 

Limiting the number of your sexual partners if you do have more than one
 

Using latex condoms during any kind of intercourse
 

Using spermicides like nonoxynol-9 which can kill some of the germs
 

Having regular checkups to make sure you aren’t infected with an STD that may be asymptomatic

Taking Action

Different types of sexual activity carry different kinds of risks. Knowing your risk level can help you determine how often you should be checked for STDs. You can decide whether you are at high, moderate, or low risk (and thus how often you should be checked) based primarily on the number of partners you have had and the number of partners your partner has had. For additional pointers, see the box on checkups.
Where to Go For Help

If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted disease, or you’ve recently been told by a sex partner that he has been diagnosed with one, you’ll want to seek medical attention as soon as possible. There are a number of different options.

 

Schools and universities generally provide care to enrolled students at the school or campus clinic for free, or, at reasonable rates. The clinic may or may not offer comprehensive care, including testing, counseling, and education.
 

Hospital clinics sometimes offer STD screening and treatment. Costs and services will vary by hospital.
 

Community clinics offer free or low-cost health services. They may be non-profit organizations, such as Planned Parenthood affiliates, or be related to the state or county health department. Rates are sometimes on a sliding scale depending on income. Some community clinics may not offer comprehensive care.
 

State clinics treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. The state health department’s STD clinic is most likely to offer comprehensive services because it is mandated by the federal government to control STDs in the state. The state public health department can be a wealth of information about services in your area if you are too far away to attend the state clinic.
 

Private doctors vary in their interest and knowledge of STDs and might not offer comprehensive care. However, if you have an ongoing relationship with an ob-gyn who knows your history, or you can get a referral, this can be a good option, although it is also probably the most expensive.

The level of privacy and confidentiality can vary by state due to different reporting laws, and even by clinic and doctor. Your best bet is to ask your doctor or nurse about their accommodations for keeping information private. Ask these questions: (1) What precautions do you take to ensure that no one can find out why I was here? (2) What will be done with my records? and (3) Do I have a right to keep my records from being sent to others, such as future health care providers or insurance companies?

Checkups: How Often is Right for You?

You are at high risk and should be checked every one to three months if…

 

You currently have many sexual partners
 

You currently have casual sex with partners you know nothing about
 

Your sexual partner currently has many partners
 

You or your nonmonogamous sexual partner live in a city with high STD rates

You are at moderate risk and should be checked every three to six months if…

 

You exchange body secretions or make contact with the oral or anal mucous membranes of others during sexual intercourse
 

You or your partner sustain slight damage to the tissues of the vagina or anus during sex

You are at low risk and should be screened every 12 months for two years if…

 

You and your partner have been monogamous for a long time