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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.