Can sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) be prevented?

 Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the
risk of catching or spreading STDs. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can
use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal,
vaginal, or oral sex.
 There are vaccines to prevent HPV and hepatitis B.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are typically caused by bacteria or
viruses and are passed from person to person during sexual contact with the penis, vagina, anus,
or mouth. The symptoms of STDs/STIs vary between individuals, depending on the cause, and
many people may not experience symptoms at all.
Many STDs/STIs have significant health consequences. For instance, certain STIs can also
increase the risk of getting and transmitting HIV/AIDS and alter the way the disease progresses.
STIs can also cause long-term health problems, particularly in women and infants. Some of the
health problems that arise from STIs include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, tubal or
ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, and perinatal or congenital infections in infants.

General Information
About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
STDs/STIs are a group of illnesses that are passed from person to person during sexual intercourse, oral
sex, or certain types of sex play. These diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites and are
spread through intimate sexual contact involving the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus or contact with any of
the membranes that line the urinary and/or genital tracts. STDs/STIs are also called venereal diseases.

What are the symptoms of STDs/STIs?

In some cases, people with STIs have no symptoms. Over time, any symptoms that are present may
improve on their own. It is also possible for a person to have an STI with no symptoms and then pass it on
to others without knowing it.

If you are concerned that you or your sexual partner may have an STI, talk to your health care provider.
Even if you do not have symptoms, it is possible you may have an STI that needs treatment to ensure your
and your partners’ sexual health.

People with STDs/STIs may feel ill and notice some of the following signs and symptoms:
 Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
 Sores or warts on the genital area
 Painful or frequent urination
 Itching and redness in the genital area
 Blisters or sores in or around the mouth
 Abnormal vaginal odor
 Anal itching, soreness, or bleeding
 Abdominal pain
 Fever
What causes STDs/STIs?

There are three major causes of STDs/STIs:

1. Bacteria, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis

2. Viruses, including HIV/AIDS, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus,
cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Zika
3. Parasites, such as trichomonas vaginalis, or insects such as crab lice or scabies mites

Any STI can be spread through sexual activity including sexual intercourse, and some STIs also are
spread through oral sex and other sexual activity. Ejaculation does not have to occur for an STI to pass
from person to person.

In addition, sharing contaminated needles, such as those used to inject drugs, or using contaminated body
piercing or tattooing equipment also can transmit some infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis
C. A few infections can be sexually transmitted but are also spread through nonsexual, close contact.
Some of these infections, like CMV, are not considered STIs even though they can be transmitted through
sexual contact.

Regardless of how a person is exposed, once a person is infected by an STI, he or she can spread the
infection to other people through oral, vaginal, or anal sex, even if he or she has no symptoms.

Why are these infections of concern for pregnant women?

Some infections—such as Zika, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis—can pass to the fetus during
pregnancy or to the infant during delivery, causing short- and long-term health problems. However, the
risk of transmission can be lowered or even eliminated with appropriate treatments.

For this reason, it is important for a pregnant woman to be tested for STDs/STIs as a part of her prenatal
care. Prenatal STI testing can determine whether a pregnant woman has an infection that can be cured or
controlled with drug treatment, which decreases the chances that the infant will contract the disease.

Some examples of ways to reduce or eliminate risk of transmission include the following:

 HIV can be passed from mother to infant during pregnancy before birth, at the time of delivery, or
after birth during breastfeeding.2 Treatment during pregnancy near delivery prevents this
transmission.
 Recent research also shows that, for HIV-infected mothers whose immune system is in good health,
treatment during breastfeeding virtually eliminates transmission of HIV through breastmilk.3 Women
who have HIV but whose immune systems are not in good health should not breastfeed their infants
if safe alternatives, such as infant formula, are available.1
 If a woman has active herpes lesions, untreated HIV, or an HIV viral load that is not suppressed, the
infant can be delivered by cesarean section (also referred to as C section) to prevent transmission of
the infection.
 For infections, such as gonorrhea, a pregnant woman and her sexual partner can be treated before the
birth, and the infant can be treated at birth to prevent infection.1
In most hospitals, infants' eyes are routinely treated with an antibiotic ointment shortly after birth. The
ointment can prevent blindness from exposure to gonorrhea or chlamydia bacteria during delivery, in case
the pregnant woman had an undetected infection.
 Women who are pregnant or are thinking about getting pregnant are advised not to travel to areas
where Zika infection has been reported. Preventing mosquito bites can also reduce the risk for
infection and transmission.

STIs during pregnancy can also cause:

Miscarriage (fetal loss before 20 weeks)

Ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo implants outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube)
Preterm labor and delivery (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy)
Low birth weight
Birth defects, including blindness, microcephaly, deafness, bone deformities, and intellectual disability
Stillbirth (fetal loss at or after 20 weeks)
Illness in the newborn period (first month of life)
Newborn death
Health complications in the mother

What are some types of STDs/STIs?

Approximately 20 different infections are known to be transmitted through sexual contact. Although
NICHD does study STIs, their prevention, and their effects on pregnancy and long-term health, the
Institute is not the lead agency aiming to understand STIs.

How are STDs/STIs diagnosed?

Any person who is sexually active should discuss his or her risk factors for STDs/STIs with a health care
provider and ask about getting tested. If you are sexually active, it is important to remember that you may
have an STD/STI and not know it because many STDs/STIs do not cause symptoms. You should get
tested and have regular checkups with a health care provider who can help assess and manage your risk,
answer your questions, and diagnose and treat an STD/STI if needed.

Is there a cure for these infections?

Viruses such as HIV, genital herpes, human papillomavirus, hepatitis, and cytomegalovirus cause
STDs/STIs that cannot be cured. People with an STI caused by a virus will be infected for life and will
always be at risk of infecting their sexual partners. However, treatments for these viruses can significantly
reduce the risk of passing on the infection and can reduce or eliminate symptoms. STIs caused by
bacteria, yeast, or parasites can be cured using appropriate medication.

What are the treatments for these infections?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by bacteria or parasites can typically be treated with
antibiotics, which are commonly administered orally, although injections or direct application to the
affected area may be necessary in some cases.

On the other hand, viral STIs, such as HIV, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis, or
cytomegalovirus, have treatments that vary depending on the specific virus. Medications can help manage
symptoms and slow the progression of these infections. For instance, antiretroviral drugs are essential for
individuals with HIV, particularly through Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). HAART helps
control the amount of the virus, enabling people to lead longer, healthier lives while reducing the risk of
transmitting HIV to others. In the case of pregnant women with HIV, these medications also lower the
likelihood of transmitting the infection to the fetus or infant. Additionally, medications are available to
limit the frequency and severity of genital herpes outbreaks, reducing the risk of transmission to others.
Overall, appropriate treatment can enhance the well-being of individuals with viral STIs and prevent the
spread of these infections to others.

NICHD Research Information

STDs/STIs have enormous effects on the health of individuals and society. Consequently, STIs are an
active focus of NICHD’s research. While many effective, commonly available interventions can reduce
the incidence of STIs, these interventions are not always implemented, in part because of complicating
social factors. As a result, STIs are often difficult to prevent, diagnose, and treat, and this situation has a
serious impact on public health. NICHD’s portfolio covers a variety of topics in STI research with a focus
on understanding epidemiology and improving screening, education, and preventative health
interventions.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections transmitted from person to person through sexual
contact. STIs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Examples include gonorrhea, genital herpes,
human papillomavirus infection, HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, and syphilis.

Why Is the Study of Sexually Transmitted Infections a Priority for NIAID?

STIs are an important global health priority because of their devastating impact on women and infants
and their inter-relationships with HIV/AIDS. STIs and HIV are linked by biological interactions and
because both infections occur in the same populations. Infection with certain STIs can increase the risk of
getting and transmitting HIV as well as alter the way the HIV infection progresses. In addition, STIs can
cause long-term health problems, particularly in women and infants. Some of the health complications
that arise from STIs include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, tubal or ectopic pregnancy, cervical
cancer, and perinatal or congenital infections in infants born to infected mothers.

How Is NIAID Addressing This Critical Topic?

The ultimate objective of NIAID-supported research is to develop effective prevention and treatment
approaches to control STIs. To develop these strategies, basic research is necessary toward understanding
the structure, function, growth, pathogenesis, and evolution of STI bacterial, viral, parasitic, protozoan,
and fungal agents. Another important aspect of basic research is to examine the impact of STIs in various
populations.