Sexually Transmitted Diseases Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Antibodies Chlamydia Definition Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Causes, incidence, and risk factors Chlamydia infection is caused by the organism Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Sexually active individuals and individuals with multiple partners are at highest risk. Chlamydia may be acquired jointly with gonorrhea and/or syphilis, so individuals with one sexually transmitted disease must be screened for other sexually transmitted diseases as well. Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic infection and infertility. In men, chlamydia may produce symptoms similar to those of gonorrhea (discharge from penis or rectum, burning on urination or defecation), and can also cause epididymitis and orchitis. However, up to 25% of infected men may have no symptoms. Chlamydia (female): only approximately 30% of women will have symptoms due to chlamydia -- hence screening sexually active women for chlamydia is necessary to diagnose and treat asymptomatic women in order to decrease the risk of developing complications. Women who do have symptoms may note vaginal discharge, burning on urination, or abdominal pain. Untreated infection may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and result in infertility. Tubal scarring also increases the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy). If a women is infected with chlamydia while pregnant, the infection can cause premature labor and delivery. In addition, the infant may develop chlamydial conjunctivitis (eye infection) and chlamydial pneumonia. Symptoms MALE burning sensation during urination discharge from the penis testicular tenderness or pain rectal discharge or pain FEMALE vaginal discharge burning sensation during urination painful sexual intercourse symptoms of PID, salpingitis, perihepatitis (liver inflammation similar to hepatitis) -- see the individual diseases for symptoms rectal pain or discharge Signs and tests The diagnosis of chlamydia infection involves sampling of the urethral discharge in males or cervical secretions in females. Continue reading this article

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HIV infection (19 Videos, 5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
HIV infection is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV. The condition gradually destroys the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight off infections. This article provides a general overview. For more detailed information, see: AIDS; Acute HIV infection; Asymptomatic HIV infection; Early symptomatic HIV infection. Reviewer: Kenneth M. Wener, M.D., Department of Infectious Diseases, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/01/2007
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Safe sex (4 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Safe sex means taking precautions during sex that can keep you from getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or from giving an STD to your partner. These diseases include genital herpes, genital warts, HIV, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and others. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/06/2006
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Genital herpes (1 Video, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted viral infection affecting the skin of the genitals. Reviewer: Kenneth M. Wener, M.D., Department of Infectious Diseases, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/01/2007
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Syphilis (5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Syphilis is an easily spread infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Reviewer: Arnold L. Lentnek, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/20/2007
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Chlamydia infections in women (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease. This article discusses clamydia infections in women. See also: Chlamydia; Chlamydial urethritis. Reviewer: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB)Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/22/2007
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Early symptomatic HIV infection (10 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Early symptomatic HIV infection is a stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus when symptoms are present but AIDS has not yet developed. See also: Acute HIV infection; Asymptomatic HIV infection; HIV infection. Reviewer: Kenneth M. Wender, M.D., Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/01/2007
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AIDS (13 Videos, 19 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the final and most serious stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AIDS begins when a person with HIV infection has a CD4 cell count below 200. CD4 cells are also called "T-cells" or "helper cells; they are a type of immune cell. AIDS is also defined by numerous opportunistic infections and cancers that occur in the presence of HIV infection. Reviewer: Monica Gandhi MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/26/2006
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Chlamydial urethritis - male (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chlamydial urethritis is a sexually transmitted disease involving infection of the urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder. Reviewer: Monica Gandhi MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/26/2006
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Syphilis - tertiary (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Tertiary syphilis is a late phase of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/08/2006
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Congenital syphilis (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling, and often life-threatening infection seen in infants. A pregnant mother who has syphilis can spread the disease through the placenta to the unborn infant. Reviewer: Deirdre OReilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Childrens Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/08/2007
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Trichomoniasis (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/09/2006
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Genital warts (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Genital warts are soft wart-like growths on the genitals caused by a viral skin disease. Genital warts are a type of sexually transmitted disease (STD. Reviewer: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/08/2007
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FDA Warning About Products That May be Harmful to Teens Health. in Teen Health 411 - 108 days ago

If you are sexually active, there is no better way to avoid sexually transmitted infections than to use. If you think you have been exposed to a sexually t... Email  |  Save

1-in-4 Sexually Active Teen Girls May Have An STI. in Teen Health 411 - 110 days ago

How is it that teenage girls are getting infected with sexually transmitted infections? I hope everyone has heard about the announcement from the Centers f... Email  |  Save

Misunderstanding Group B Streptococcus (GBS). in Fruit of the Womb - 199 days ago

It did no good to explain to her that even though GBS might be passed back and forth by sexual contact, it is not a sexually transmitted disease. It's just... Email  |  Save