Since the 'sexual revolution' of the 60's, the number of known sexually transmitted diseases has gone from 2 to 25. Many are a-symptomatic - there are no visible signs. Some diseases cause temporary symptoms (such as sores and warts) but are still transmittable when they are not present. Many teens still believe you can tell when somebody has 'got' something. This line of thinking is wrong and dangerous. The only 100% effective way of preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted disease is by remaining abstinent until marriage to an uninfected partner and then being mutually faithful within your marital commitment. Anything less is like playing Russian roulette.

HERE ARE A FEW OF THE MOST COMMON DISEASES.

1) HPV: The Human Papilloma Virus

Facts:

THE #1 MOST COMMON VIRAL STD.

THERE IS NO CURE: Once you've got it, you'll always have it.

MAY CAUSE WARTS ON THE ANUS, GENITALS, MOUTH, THROAT

WARTS MUST BE SCRAPED, BURNED, OR CUT OFF

SPREAD BY SKIN CONTACT: Condoms are virtually useless.

CAUSES CERVICAL, VULVAR, AND PENILE CANCER: Kills more women each year than AIDS

AS MANY AS 80% OF SEXUALLY ACTIVE ADULTS ARE INFECTED.

CONDOMS ARE NOT DEMONSTRATED TO BE EFFECTIVE

2) Chlamydia

Facts:

THE #1 MOST COMMON NON-VIRAL STD IN THE U.S.

CARRIERS OFTEN HAVE NO SYMPTOMS

FOUR MILLION NEW INFECTIONS A YEAR

CAUSES PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID), ECTOPIC PREGNANCY AND INFERTILITY AMONG WOMEN

TEENAGE FEMALES ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFECTION THAN ADULTS

CONDOMS ARE NOT DEMONSTRATED TO BE EFFECTIVE

3) AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Facts:

CAUSED BY HIV INFECTION

THERE IS NO CURE: Medications simply postpone death.

SPREAD THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OF BODY FLUIDS: Condoms decrease but do NOT eliminate risk.

NO INITIAL SYMPTOMS: MilLIons are infected and don't know it.

TEENS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE THAN ADULTS

DEVELOPS INTO HEALTH COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS CANCER, HEART PROBLEMS AND NERVOUS DISORDERS

4) Genital Herpes

Facts:

NO KNOWN CURE: Once you've got it, you'll always have it.

CAUSES OPEN SORES ON THE ANUS, GENITALS, MOUTH

CONTAGIOUS EVEN WHEN NO SORES ARE PRESENT

SPREAD BY SKIN CONTACT: Condoms are virtually useless

INCREASES CHANCES OF GETTING OTHER STD'S, INCLUDING HIV/AIDS

1/3 OF SEXUALLY ACTIVE PEOPLE ARE INFECTED

5) Syphilis

Facts:

BACTERIAL INFECTION: Can be treated with early diagnosis

CHANCRE SORES APPEAR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER EXPOSURE: Could be internal and therefore unnoticed.

IF LEFT UNTREATED WILL BECOME LIFE THREATENING

CAN CAUSE BLINDNESS, HEART DISEASE, NERVOUS DISORDERS, INSANITY, TUMORS AND DEATH

ABOUT 100,000 NEW INFECTIONS ANNUALLY

CONDOMS ARE NOT DEMONSTRATED TO BE EFFECTIVE

6) Gonorrhea

Facts:

AS DRUG-RESISTANT STRAINS OF GONORRHEA CONTINUE TO EMERGE, SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF THIS SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD) IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT.

IN THE 1980s, GONORRHEA BECAME RESISTANT TO PENICILLIN AND TETRACYCLINE, RENDERING THESE DRUGS INEFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR GONORRHEA.

IF NOT TREATED SUCCESSFULLY, GONORRHEA CAN CAUSE PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID), INFERTILITY, ECTOPIC PREGNANCY, AND CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN. PREVIOUS STUDIES ALSO HAVE SHOWN THAT GONORRHEA CAN FACILITATE HIV TRANSMISSION.

THE ESTIMATED DIRECT MEDICAL COST OF TREATING GONORRHEA IN THE UNITED STATES IS $56 MILLION EACH YEAR.

GONORRHEA IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON DISEASE REPORTED TO CDC, WITH MORE THAN 360,000 CASES REPORTED IN 1999.

Source: Centers for Disease Control, National Center for HIV, STD, & TB Prevention, September 22, 2000, NIH Report

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