Natalia Larrañaga Sara María Becerra

What are they? Sexually transmitted diseases (also known as STD´s) are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate contact. Sexually transmitted diseases can affect guys and girls of all ages, social class, background who are having sex. STDs are a serious health problem. If they are left untreated, some STDs can cause permanent damage, such as infertility and even lead to worst consequences such as death (in the case of HIV/AIDS).

How can they spread? There are myths around how STDs spread; this disease doesn’t only spread through having sexual intercourse, also it can be passed through skin to skin contact with an infected area (Herpes or genital warts) Another myth about STDs is that you won’t be able get them if you have oral or anal sex. That's wrong because the bacteria that cause STDs can enter the body through tiny cuts in the mouth, anus, as well as the genitals.

STDs are easily spread because you can't tell whether someone has an infection or not. Many people with STDs don't even know they have them. People who aren’t aware they have the disease are in danger of passing an infection on to their sex partners without even realizing it. Some of the things that increase a person's chances of getting an STD are: - Sexual activity at a young age: Greater chances of becoming infected - Lots of sex partners: More risk than the ones who stay with the same partner - Unprotected sex: Latex condoms reduce the risk of getting STD’s

Preventing and Treating STD’s As with many other diseases, prevention is the key. It's much easier to prevent STDs than to treat them. The only way to completely prevent STDs is to abstain from all types of sexual contact. If there’s going to be an intimate contact, using a condom every time reduces the risk. People who are considering having sex should get regular gynecological or male genital examinations. First, because these exams give doctors a chance to teach people about STDs and protecting themselves. Second, regular exams give doctors more opportunities to check for STDs while they're still in their earliest and most treatable stage.

Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is an STD caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It can also be passed from a mother to her baby during birth.

Girl: A girl who has gonorrhea may have so mild symptoms that aren’t noticed. In cases, girls will feel a burning sensation when they urinate, or they will have a yellow or green vaginal discharge. If the infection spreads and moves into the uterus or fallopian tubes, it may result in an infection called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause abdominal pain, fever, and pain during sexual intercourse. Boy: Guys who have gonorrhea are much more likely to notice symptoms. Guys often feel a burning sensation when they urinate, and yellowish-white discharge may leak out of the urethra

Syphilis Syphilis is another STD caused by a type of bacteria known as a spirochete. It is extremely small and can live almost anywhere in the body. In the 1990’s there was a decrease in the number of people infected with syphilis. However, more recently there has been a steady increase in reported cases of syphilis, especially in young adults and in men who have male sexual partners.

Chlamydia Chlamydia is an STD that is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs. The bacteria can move from one person to another through sexual intercourse. If someone touches bodily fluids that contain the bacteria and then touches his or her eye, a chlamydial eye infection is possible. Chlamydia also can be passed from a mother to her baby while the baby is being delivered. This can cause pneumonia and conjuntivitis.