Sexually transmitted diseases is a general term that refers to as many as twenty different illnesses. These are transmitted by sex - usually through the exchange of bodily fluids such as ~semen~, vaginal fluid, and ~blood~. STD's such as |herpes|, can be acquired by kissing or close contact with infected areas - not just intercourse. If left untreated, STD's can cause permanent damage that leaves you blind, |brain|-damaged, or sterile. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) disease, often leads to |AIDS| (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), which can cause death.
The most common STD's are |chlamydia|, |herpes|, |gonorrhea|, genital warts, |syphilis|, |hepatitis B|, |crabs|, and |trichomoniasis|.
STD's can be prevented, most can be cured. They infect men, women, and children. Mothers can also be give STD's to their babies. Anyone at any age can be a victim. It is not true that having had an STD once and having been cured, you will not get it again. This section will describe STD's and some simple steps for protection of both partners.
Who Gets STD's:
Anyone who has sex can get a sexually transmitted disease and millions do. More than 4 million people get |chlamydia| each year. Genital |herpes| affects an estimated 30 million Americans, with as many as 500,000 new cases reported each year. There are over 1 million cases of |gonorrhea| each year. And |syphilis|, once thought to be on the decline, has made a rising comeback in the last four years.
