Signs of STD

Although the risk is low, you can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI)—often used instead of a sexually transmitted disease (STD)—from kissing. Herpes, cytomegalovirus (CMV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and syphilis may spread through active lesions (i.e., cold sores) or saliva. In contrast, you cannot get STIs like chlamydia, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or trichomoniasis from kissing. Read on to learn about STIs that may pass through kissing and their symptoms and treatments.  Pexels / @cottonbro It's possible to spread certain STIs—including herpes, HMV, HPV, and syphilis—through kissing. "There are STIs that can be spread through non-sexual contact [like kissing] that are also spread through sexual contact," Martha Rac, MD, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Baylor College of Medicine, told Health. Still, kissing is generally a low-risk activity compared to anal, o...

Cases of syphilis increased by over 113 percent and of gonorrhea by over 120 percent between 2020 and 2022, data from the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY) has shown. In 2022, there were 862 syphilis diagnoses compared with 404 in 2020. Gonorrhea diagnoses went up from 164 to 362 in the same period. The vast majority (93 percent) of syphilis cases were detected in men, who were mostly aged mainly between 25 and 64. In most of the male cases (72 percent), the mode of transmission involved same-sex sexual contact. Men were also mostly (96 percent) affected in the gonorrhea detections, with most falling in the 25-44-year age bracket. The mode of transmission was divided between men sexual contact between men (47 percent) and between men and women (46 percent). EODY said that the increase in syphilis and gonorrhea detections are reliable indicators of the trend for other sexually transmitted diseases and for sexual attitudes among...

The cases of syphilis among women in Houston, Texas, have seen a significant increase. From 2019 to 2022, there has been a 128% jump, with the number rising from 295 to 674 cases. This rise, along with other similar syphilis statistics, has led the Houston Health Department to declare an outbreak of this sexually transmitted infection (STI). Additionally, there has been a 57% increase in newly diagnosed infections during the same time period, going from 1,845 to 2,905 cases. An outbreak refers to a sudden surge in the number of disease cases within a specific region. Various factors can contribute to outbreaks, such as the emergence of new diseases, environmental changes, or shifts in human behaviour. What is Syphilis and how does it spread? Syphilis is an STI caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum . It can be transmitted through intimate contact, blood, or tissues. The infection progresses through four stages. In the primary stage, a painless sore called a chancre appears at the in...

Drugs currently used to keep the HIV virus in check also cause immune-system changes that might make humans better able to resist viral infections – but might also cause harmful inflammation, according to a study published today in Cell Reports Medicine.  The UW Medicine-led study by Dr. Florian Hladik and Sean Hughes examined the effects of a commonly prescribed drug cocktail of drugs on the body. Sold under the brand name Truvada, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) are prescribed in tandem for most HIV/AIDS patients to suppress viral loads to undetectable levels. First allowed for use in the United States 20 years ago, the drugs have enabled people to live for decades beyond their initial diagnosis. However, Hladik said, "the virus itself never goes away." In this research, the investigators...

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Recently, we've seen an increase in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States, including chlamydia and gonorrhea. Chlamydia is one of the most widespread STDs in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating 3 million cases occur annually. Over the past five years, rates of gonorrhea have increased sharply, with certain strains becoming antibiotic-resistant. Testing for STDs is an important way to keep yourself and your partners healthy. In this post, we'll learn more about these two common STDs, how to prevent them, and how and when to get tested.   How do you get chlamydia and gonorrhea? Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most common bacterial STD infection in the U.S. It can occur in both men and women of all ages but is most common in people 25 years old and younger. Gonorrhea is also caused by bacteria called Neisseria gon...

Antibiotic resistance is once again making headlines—this time not involving an STD, but a brutal GI illness that can also spread sexually.  In January, U.S. public health officials warned of a so-called "super strain" of gonorrhea resistant to many types of antibiotics usually used to treat it. A little over a month later, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is raising red flags regarding a strain of a diarrhea-causing bacteria with similar antibiotic-evading properties. Cases of XDR, or "extensively drug resistant," Shigella, are on the rise in the U.S., the CDC said in a Feb. 24 alert to clinicians. In the U.S., all cases of Shigella must be reported to public health authorities. In 2015, no reported cases were drug resistant. Last year, 5% were. Colorado has seen one of the largest rises in cases of XDR Shigella in the nation, likely due, at least in part, to the state's ability to do high-volume testing, Rach...

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here's our process. Price and access to a doctor's office shouldn't keep you from getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Here are resources that can help you stay on top of your health. Share on Pinterest Illustrations by Maya Chastain Cost and access to testing facilities shouldn't be obstacles to managing your health. There are plenty of no- and lower cost and convenient ways to get tested for STIs — some of which you don't even have to leave home for. This makes getting tested regularly easier. Below, we break down your options for at-home and in-person testing, including some of the best free and lower cost testing locations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., so you have access to testing no matter where you are. Why is testing important? The short answer: Most STIs are completely asymptomatic...

Antiretroviral drugs are used to treat HIV infection. They work by blocking a stage of the virus's life cycle and, by doing so, prevent the virus from replicating. The drugs are organized into six different classes based largely on the stage of the life cycle they inhibit. As of 2022, the Food and Drug Administration has approved 26 individual drug agents and 22 fixed-dosed combination (FDC) drugs comprised of two or more antiretrovirals. This includes the first antiretroviral drug regimen, Cabenuva, which requires a once-a-month or once-every-two-month injection rather than an oral dose daily. Antiretroviral therapy is quickly changing, with newer drug agents offering fewer side effects, greater durability, and a decreased risk of drug resistance. In the past, antiretroviral therapy was described as a three-drug "cocktail." Today, with improved pharmacokinetics and a longer drug half-life, antiretroviral therapy may involve as few as two co-formulated...