Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are very prevalent today — and have been throughout history. Though we have good prevention methods and effective treatments, STDs remain a growing concern among doctors, young adults, parents, and sexually active adults.

What Are STDs?

As the name implies, STDs are viruses, diseases, and other medical conditions that can be spread via sexual contact (although many of them can also be spread via other means).

How Are STDs Spread?

Sexually transmitted diseases are contracted through the following forms of sexual contact:

• Genitals (including the anus) to genitals

• Mouth to genitals

• Genitals to hands to genitals

• Mouth to mouth (only for some STDs)

Treatment of STDs

STDs may be caused by bacteria or viruses. The bacterial forms are generally treated with strong antibiotics. The viral forms cannot be cured, although their symptoms can be treated with antiviral drugs.

Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Except for HIV, the viral infection that causes AIDS, all common STDs have plagued humans for thousands of years. The symptoms are more noticeable in men. Women are more likely to have STDs that go undiagnosed; they can be unwitting carriers of the disease.

Here are descriptions of common sexually transmitted diseases that you should be aware of. Chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea are bacterial infections; the rest are viral.

• Chlamydia. This STD is very common and hard to detect. Three-quarters of women have no symptoms. Symptoms can include discharge, burning, and pain during intercourse.

• Syphilis. This chronic disease is acquired from someone with an active infection. The first signs are painless sores that go away easily; long-term effects include damage to the heart, brain, eyes, bones, nervous system, and joints.

• Gonorrhea. There are often no symptoms associated with gonorrhea. When symptoms do appear, they may be mild but can include discharge from the penis, vagina, or rectum, and burning and itching during urination. There is an alarming increase in gonorrhea of the throat in teens who perform fellatio on their partners.

• Human papilloma virus (HPV). Genital or venereal warts is the most common STD in the United States. It is very contagious and is becoming associated with cancers of the genital regions. The warts are fleshy growths in the genital regions; they do not cause pain.

• Genital herpes. The symptoms of this virus include itching, burning, and blisters in the genital area or buttocks. The open sores are painful and the lymph nodes can become swollen in the groin area.

• Hepatitis B. This virus is acquired by piercing the skin with needles and through exposure to semen, blood, saliva, and urine from an infected person. Most infections clear up, but if they aren't, the liver can be affected. In extreme cases, hepatitis B can be deadly.

• HIV/AIDS. The human immunodeficiency virus develops into AIDS after the virus has destroyed the immune system and left the person vulnerable to infections. To date, there is no cure.

The AIDS Epidemic

With the AIDS epidemic sweeping the world, greater knowledge and preparation is needed. In an age when pleasure can quite literally kill, education, open discussion of sexuality, and easy availability of preventative resources must become the norm. Here are the main ways HIV is transmitted:

• Anal or vaginal intercourse with an infected person

• Oral-genital sexual activity with an infected person

• Contact with semen or vaginal fluids of an infected person

• Organ transplants or blood transfusion from an infected person

• Contact with infected blood through the use of contaminated needles from drug users or tattooing, ear piercing, or steroid injections

• Transfer from mother to child during gestation, birth, or soon after birth (breastfeeding is risky for an HIV-positive mother)

When to Seek Help

People are often embarrassed to seek help if they think they might be infected with an STD. No matter how nervous or embarrassed you may be, it's important to seek treatment. In many cases, your symptoms can be eliminated or reduced through medications or other treatments. Your doctor can also tell you how to avoid spreading the STD to your partner(s).