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What is Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
A sexually
transmitted disease (STD) is a disease caused by a pathogen
(e.g., virus, bacterium, parasite, fungus) that is spread from
person to person primarily through sexual contact. STDs can
be painful, irritating, debilitating, and life threatening.
More than twenty sexually transmitted diseases have been identified.
Incidence
and Prevalence
STDs occur most commonly in sexually active teenagers and
young adults, especially those with multiple sex partners.
An estimated 200 to 400 million people worldwide are infected—representing
men and women of all economic classes.
Characteristics
Most STDs cause relatively harmless disease, producing few
or no symptoms. However, some produce persistent asymptomatic
or minimally symptomatic disease (e.g., chlamydia). Some people
carry the disease for days or weeks, while others carry the
disease for longer periods, even for life. During this time,
an infected individual, or carrier, can spread disease.
A person infected with an STD is more likely to become infected
with HIV, and a person infected with HIV and another STD is
more likely to transmit HIV.
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