StarTribune.com
std031208.box

Home | Lifestyle | Health + Wellness

At a glance: STDS and symptoms

Last update: March 11, 2008 - 8:17 PM

 

HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, can also cause genital warts. It often has no symptoms. A vaccine targeting several HPV strains recently became available.

Chlamydia, which can lead to infertility if left untreated, can cause an abnormal discharge and painful urination but often has no symptoms. It can be treated by antibiotics.

Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection that can cause abnormal discharge and painful urination. Antibiotics can treat it.

Genital herpes can cause blisters but often has no symptoms. It's caused by type 2 herpes simplex virus, which stay in the body for a lifetime. It's not curable, but medicine can help to decrease outbreaks.

HOW COMMON ARE STDS?

About 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year among all age groups in the United States.

CDC RECOMMENDATIONS

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the findings underscored the need to strengthen screening, vaccination and other prevention measures.

What you can do

The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women younger than 25. It recommends that girls and women ages 11 to 26 be fully vaccinated against HPV.

Parents should be sure their teenagers are being properly screened and taught about protection and prevention. Parents need to know the average age of first sexual intercourse for a girl is 15. STDs can be prevented by abstinence and condoms.

Officials recommend treatment for all sex partners of individuals with curable sexually transmitted diseases and that infected women to be retested three months after treatment.

Helpful websites

Learn more at www.cdc.gov and www.aap.org.

NEWS SERVICES

Recent Health + Wellness stories

1 million Maclaren strollers recalled due to risk of fingertip amputation - March 11, 2008
1 million Maclaren strollers recalled due to risk of fingertip amputation - About a million Maclaren strollers sold by Target and Babies "R" Us were recalled Monday, after 12 reports of children having their fingertips amputated by a hinge mechanism. More

Comment on this story   |   Be the first to comment   |  Hide reader comments

Subscribe
Shopping + Classifieds
Dog Classified

New Home Wanted

Hundreds of puppies and dogs seeking new homes. Find one now!

Win tickets to see Brett Dennen at Pantages Theatre.

Vita.mn presents Brett Dennen with Grace Potter and The Nocturnals at Pantages Theatre on Nov. 27.

See all contests