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• Safer Sex

Making Sex Safer

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Who is at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease, or an STD?

Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for contracting an STD. Any STD can be transmitted through vaginal or anal intercourse as well as oral-anal and oral-genital contact. Herpes, Hepatitis B, and genital warts can be transmitted by kissing or by genital-genital touching even without penetration.

There are two STD Categories: bacterial and viral. Bacterial infections. Relatively easy to cure if detected early and treated properly (examples include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis). Viral infections: Treatments to alleviate symptoms exist but once infected, one remains infected for life (examples include HPV - a virus causing genital warts; hepatitis B; herpes and HIV).

STD testing at Yale

Anyone who suspects that he or she might have the symptoms of an STD, or anyone who engages in any form of sexual activity should consider seeing a clinician for STD and HIV testing. STDs are detected by blood, urine or culture tests. STD tests are free to all Yale students, even those who have waived the Yale Health Plan Hospitalization-Specialty Coverage. To schedule an appointment, call Student Medicine (432-0312) or Ob/Gyn (432-0222). Women should also have a yearly gynecologic exam.

The symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases

• Malodorous or discolored discharge from the vagina, penis, and/or rectum.
• Pain or burning during urination and/or intercourse.
• Itching on or around the genital area or rectum.
• Pain in the abdomen (women), testicles (men).
• Blisters, open sores, warts, rash and/or swelling in the genital area, sex organs, and/or mouth.
• Flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, aching muscles, and/or swollen glands.
• Bleeding from the urethra or unexplained bleeding from the vagina.

	THE SIGNS	TREATMENT AND POSSIBLE PROBLEMS
Chlamydia (Bacterial)	About 75% of infected people have no symptoms. Others will have discharge, pain or itchiness in the genital area or rectum.	Chlamydia may cause painful infections of the reproductive organs that may lead to infertility. Infected persons and their sexual partners are treated with antibiotics.
HPV (Genital Warts) (Viral)	Warts are painless growths that can appear on the shaft or head of the penis, on the vagina, vulva or cervix, or on the rectal area.	For warts: cryotherapy, laser, or chemical treatment. For cervical changes: observation, cryotherapy, or laser. Women must have regular follow-up pap smears to check for recurrences. Some cell changes can be pre-cancerous.
Herpes (Viral)	Blisters around mouth, genitals or anus. Some people have no symptoms, but are still infected and contagious.	Infected persons should avoid intimate sexual contact while sores persist. Can be transmitted to infants at birth. Drug treatment may be helpful but will not cure herpes.
Gonorrhea (Bacterial)	Often asymptomatic, but may have discharge, pain or itchiness in the genitals, rectum or mouth; rashes, joint pain and swelling, fevers.  Can be transmitted even without symptoms.	Untreated gonorrhea can cause arthritis, dermatitis, heart problems, and reproductive problems. Can be transmitted to infants at birth. Infected persons and their partners are treated with antibiotics.
Syphilis (Bacterial)	Primary: painless sore or “chancre” usually appears on the vagina, cervix, vulva, mouth, or penis up to 12 weeks after infection. Secondary: swollen lymph nodes, skin rash, hair loss, and flu-like symptoms.	If untreated, can cause blindness, insanity, permanent disability, or death. Can also lead to birth defects if contracted while pregnant. Easily treated with antibiotics.
Hepatitis A (Viral)	Causes yellowing of skin (jaundice), nausea, malaise, abdominal pain.  Can be contracted from contaminated food or water as well as from oral sex.	Most people recover without harm, but Hep A is fatal in a small percentage of cases.No specific treatment, but easily prevented by vaccine. Vaccine is free to all students at the Immunology Department at YUHS.
Hepatitis B (Viral)	Most cases are asymptomatic. Early symptoms include nausea, general malaise, fever and loss of appetite. Can be contracted from sex or from sharing injection needles.	Diagnosis confirmed with a blood test. There is no definitive treatment. Can be transmitted during childbirth to infants. Can cause chronic, persistent, active hepatitis, cirrhosis, or death. Vaccine is free to all students at the Immunology Department at YUHS.
Hepatitis C (Viral)	Most people are asymptomatic and do not know how they contracted it.  Can cause weight loss, appetite loss and fatigue.	Can lead to liver failure and death. Most commonly transmitted by sharing injection needles and syringes, but can also be spread by sexual contact.  No vaccine is available and it is difficult to treat.