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UNIVERSITY STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES • Fact Sheet
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIs)
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections
that are passed through sexual contact. Bacteria or
viruses can cause infections of the skin, bloodstream,
or any orifice of the body where intimate sexual
contact has occurred (such as the urethra, vagina,
penis, anus, or mouth).
The term “STI” is more accurate than “STD” (sexually
transmitted disease) since many are curable
infections. The term “STI” also avoids the stigma
associated with the word “disease.”
Some STIs can cause serious infections and
permanent damage, while others are not necessarily
harmful but annoying and uncomfortable.
Any person who is sexually active or is thinking about
having sex should be familiar with the symptoms and
prevention of these infections.
By avoiding risky sexual behavior, seeing your health
care provider regularly, and paying attention to signs
and signals from your body, many STIs can be
avoided or diagnosed early and treated.
Facts
In most cases, once you have an STI, you do NOT
develop immunity. This means that you can be reinfected.
There are some STIs that cannot be cured, such as
those caused by viruses. These infections often lay
dormant in the body but can resurface at any time.
You can have more than one infection at a time. In
fact, two diseases, gonorrhea and chlamydia, often
occur together.
Lack of Symptoms
Some STIs show few or no symptoms, so an infected
person does not know that he or she has it.
•
75% of people with chlamydia have no
symptoms.
•
80% of women and 40% of men with gonorrhea
have no symptoms.
•
Up to 80-90% of women and 99% of men with
trichomonas have no symptoms.
This is why it is very important to practice safe sex,
have regular check-ups, and tell your partner(s) if you
have a positive diagnosis.
Prevention
Remember, if you have sex with more than one
partner or if your partner has other partners, then you
run a high risk of catching an STI. Listed below are
actions you can take to lower your risk of getting an
infection:
•
Limit sexual activity to one partner who only has
sex with you.
•
Always use a latex barrier (eg. condom, dental
dam, finger cot) to protect against infection.
•
•
•
•
•
Many brands of condoms contain the spermicide
nonoxynol-9. While very effective against
pregnancy, frequent use of nonoxynol-9
containing products has been associated with an
increased risk of developing genital irritation,
which, in turn, may increase the risk of HIV
transmission. The CDC does not recommend the
use of nonoxynol-9 containing products during
anal penetration.
Know your status, and talk to your partner about
his or her status.
Get regular STI screens.
Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B. This threepart vaccine is available at Student Health.
Also consider vaccination with Gardasil or
Cervarix to prevent against infection by certain
strains of the HPV virus. These vaccines are
also available at Student Health.
Treatment Reminders
If you are diagnosed with an STI, it is extremely
important to:
•
Take your medication exactly as prescribed.
Finish the entire treatment course even if you feel
better.
•
Inform your partner(s) that he or she needs to be
tested and treated.
•
Refrain from sexual activity for at least one week
after both you and your partner(s) have
completed treatment.
Recommended Resources
•
American Social Health Association STI
Resource Center Hotline, 1-919-361-8488,
8am - 8pm EST, Mon. - Fri.
www.ashastd.org
•
CDC National STD Hotline, 1-800-232-4636,
available 24/7.
www.cdc.gov/std
Where to Go For Treatment
•
University Student Health Services (if you are a
student)
o Monroe Park Campus
1300 W. Broad St., Suite 2200
(804) 828-8828
o MCV Campus
rd
1000 E. Marshall St., 3 Floor
(804) 828-9220
•
Fan Free Clinic
1010 N. Thompson St.
(804) 358-8538
•
Planned Parenthood
201 N. Hamilton St.
(804) 355-4358
•
Richmond City Health Department
400 E. Cary St.
(804) 482-5500 or (804) 205-3500
•
Private Physicians
■ CHLAMYDIA
■ HEPATITIS B (continued)
Cause: Chlamydia trachomatis (bacteria).
Statistics: Over 1.3 million cases reported in the US
in 2010, but estimates are higher.
Transmission: Contact with the penis, vagina,
mouth, or anus by bacteria that live in mucous
membrane surfaces.
Incubation Period: 1-3 weeks.
Symptoms:
Male: Discharge from the penis, burning with
urination, and inguinal lymph node swelling. 30%
without symptoms.
Female: Vaginal discharge, irregular bleeding,
bleeding after intercourse, abdominal pain, fever,
and low back pain. Up to 75% without
symptoms.
Diagnosis: Urethral/cervical swab or urine sample.
Treatment: Antibiotics cure the infection.
Complications: May increase risk of HIV infection.
Male: Epididymitis.
Female: PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) which
can lead to sterility and ectopic pregnancies.
Babies: Eye infection or pneumonia if mother is
infected during vaginal delivery. Untreated
infections in the mother may lead to premature
delivery.
Symptoms: Typically undetectable. May mimic the
flu (decreased appetite, fatigue) and include nausea,
vomiting, dark urine, rash, arthritis, and yellow skin
(jaundice).
Diagnosis: Blood tests.
Treatment: Evaluation by a liver specialist for
medication options and/or liver transplant.
Complications: Liver failure, death.
■ GONORRHEA
Cause: Neisseria gonorrhea (bacteria).
Statistics: 309,341 cases reported in the US in 2010,
though estimates are much higher.
Transmission: Contact with the penis, vagina,
mouth, or anus.
Incubation Period: 2-10 days (may vary).
Symptoms:
Male: Discharge from the penis and/or burning
with urination. 40-60% without symptoms.
Female: Vaginal discharge, pain with urination,
irregular bleeding, and abdominal pain. 80%
without symptoms.
Diagnosis: Urethral/cervical swab or urine sample.
Treatment: Antibiotics cure the infection.
Complications: Increased risk of HIV infection.
Male: Epididymitis, blood infection, and joint
infections.
Female: PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) which
can lead to sterility and ectopic pregnancies.
Blood and joint infections.
Babies: Eye infection, blindness, joint infection,
or life-threatening blood infection if mother is
infected during vaginal delivery.
■ HEPATITIS B
(Three-part vaccine available for prevention)
100% more infectious than HIV
Cause: Hepatitis B virus.
Statistics: 38,000 new cases estimated in the US in
2009.
Transmission: Contact with blood and sexual fluids.
2/3 of cases transmitted sexually. Also transmitted
through blood transfusions, needle-sharing, organ
transplantation, tattoos, piercing, and childbirth. No
recorded transmission through tears, urine, feces,
breast milk, or cerebral spinal fluid.
Incubation Period: 2-5 months (average of 90 days).
■ GENITAL HERPES (HSV)
Cause: Herpes Simplex virus (HSV), types 1 and 2.
Statistics: 16.2% or about one out of six people ages
14-49 have genital HSV-2 infection.
Transmission: Genital-to-genital contact or oral-togenital contact (even if there are no visible sores).
Incubation Period: 2-20 days or up to years later.
Symptoms: Bumps that develop into painful blisters,
followed by ulcers and crusting. May be preceded by
burning or itching. 80% of infected people are
unaware of infection. Recurrent episodes tend to be
milder and shorter in length.
Diagnosis: Viral culture of lesion.
Treatment: Antiviral medications can lessen
symptoms, reduce number of future outbreaks, and
reduce viral shedding. There is no cure.
Complications: Increased risk of HIV infection and
transmission.
Babies: Can be transmitted to infants if lesions
are present during vaginal birth. Infection can
cause serious problems that affect the eyes, skin,
and brain of the newborn.
■ HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)
Cause: Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Statistics: Estimated 1.2 million people living with
HIV in the US, with approximately 50,000 new cases
each year.
Transmission: Contact with blood and sexual fluids.
Also through needle-sharing, childbirth, and
breastfeeding.
Incubation Period: 25-90 days (rarely up to 6
months).
Symptoms: Typically not present but can mimic viral
illnesses (fatigue, fever, etc.).
Diagnosis:
Standard Blood Test: Results take up to 1
week.
Rapid Test: Results available in less than 30
minutes.
Home Test: FDA-approved and anonymous.
Treatment: Antiviral medications.
Complications: If treated, many patients will live
long, healthy lives. If untreated, half of those infected
with HIV will develop AIDS in 10 years.
■ GENITAL HPV
(Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines available for
prevention)
Cause: Human papillomavirus (HPV). Over 40 types
affect the genital area. “Low-risk” types cause genital
warts. “High-risk” types can cause cervical cancer.
Statistics: About 20 million (15%) infected in the US,
with 6 million new cases each year.
■ GENITAL HPV (continued)
■ SYPHILIS
Transmission: Penile-to-vaginal, penile-to-anal, oral-togenital, and genital-to-genital contact. Hands can serve
as a vector, but the virus is site specific.
Incubation Period: 1-8 months (up to years).
Symptoms:
Genital warts: Visible painless bumps on the penis,
vulva, and/or anus (often undetectable).
Cervical cancer: No symptoms until the cancer is
advanced. Regular Pap smears are recommended
for cancer screening.
Diagnosis:
Genital warts: Visual inspection.
Cervical cancer: Early pre-cancerous changes and
cancer can be detected by Pap smears. DNA typing
of HPV is available with Thin Prep Pap.
Treatment:
Genital warts: Self-applied treatment with podofilox
and office-applied cryotherapy (application of
chemical treatment).
Cervical cancer: Referral to specialist for further
evaluation and treatment.
Complications: from “high-risk” HPV types
Female: Cervical cancer. Vulvar and anal cancers
are much less common.
Male: Penile, anal, and other male genital cancers
are uncommon.
Cause: Treponema pallidum (bacteria).
Statistics: 13,774 cases of primary and secondary
syphilis reported in 2010 (1.6% decrease from 2009).
Transmission: Contact with a syphilis sore (known
as a chancre) during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Incubation Period: 10-90 days (average 17-21
days).
Symptoms:
Primary: A painless sore (chancre) on the
external genitalia, anus, rectum, vagina, mouth,
or lips.
Secondary: Rash, mucous membrane lesions,
hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, and flu-like
symptoms.
Latent: No symptoms.
Tertiary: Organ destruction (including the brain,
nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones,
and joints).
Diagnosis: Microscopic evaluation from chancre
material. Blood tests.
Treatment: Antibiotics kill the syphilis bacteria but will
not repair any damage already done in later stages of
disease.
Complications: Increased risk of HIV infection and
transmission.
Tertiary: Difficulty coordinating muscle
movements, paralysis, numbness, blindness,
dementia, and death.
Babies: Developmental delay, seizures, and
death.
■ PUBIC LICE (CRABS)
Cause: Pubic lice (small wingless insect).
Transmission: Skin-to-skin contact (rarely from exposure
to surfaces, such as toilet seats).
Incubation Period: Up to 1 month.
Symptoms: Itching or rash in the pubic area.
Diagnosis: Visible lice and nits (small whitish-grey eggs)
attached to hair shafts.
Treatment: Lice-killing shampoos. Washing clothes and
linens in hot water.
Complications: None.
■ MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM
Cause: Pox virus which affects the skin.
Transmission: Skin-to-skin contact, contact with
inanimate objects (eg, towels, clothing, or razors), and
autoinoculation (touching lesions on yourself and then
another part of your body).
Incubation Period: 1 week - 6 months (usually 2-6
weeks).
Symptoms: Small, painless bumps typically with an
umbilicated center. Sometimes itchy and tender.
Diagnosis: Visual inspection.
Treatment: Office-applied cryotherapy (application of
chemical treatment). Usually clears on its own within
several months but can persist a few years in a minority of
untreated cases.
Complications: Extensive disease in some HIV positive
patients.
■ TRICHOMONAS
Cause: Trichomonas vaginalis (protozoa).
Statistics: Estimated 3.7 million people infected in
the US.
Transmission: Penis-to-vagina or vulva-to-vulva
contact. Rarely through wet bathing suits and towels.
Incubation Period: 5-28 days.
Symptoms:
Female: Vaginal burning/itching, discharge, and
pain with intercourse. 80-90% without symptoms.
Male: 99% without symptoms.
Diagnosis: Microscopic evaluation of discharge.
Treatment: Antibiotics cure the infection.
Complications: Increased risk of HIV infection and
transmission.
Babies: Premature delivery, low birth weight.
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Published by VCU Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
University Student Health Services
(804) 828-8828 - Monroe Park Campus clinic
(804) 828-9220 - MCV Campus clinic
Wellness Resource Center
(804) 828-9355 - 815 S. Cathedral Place
Revised 7/12