1. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Caused by
Bacteria

2. Gonorrhea (GC)

3. Gonorrhea (GC) STD caused by a bacterium
Organism: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Location: Secretions in the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes in women and the urethra (urine canal) in women and men

4. Symptoms of Gonorrhea Many females have no symptoms
Some females have a vaginal discharge and/or pelvic/abdominal pain
Males usually have pain with urinating and may have a discharge from the penis
Can spread to many body parts causing infections (eyes, joints, throat, rectum . . .)

5. How is Gonorrhea Spread?
Skin to skin contact with the infected secretions during sexual activity (vaginal, oral, or anal sex)
Mother to child during childbirth

6. Is Gonorrhea Serious?
Can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID – a severe infection of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries) in females
PID can lead to:
infertility (can’t get pregnant)
tubal pregnancies
chronic pelvic pain
Easier to get HIV if you are infected with Gonorrhea

7. Is Gonorrhea Common? 650,000 NEW cases each year in the U.S.
Total number of currently infected unknown

8. How is GC Diagnosed?
Lab Tests (culture) of the secretions from the infected area (cervix, urethra, rectum, throat)
Urine specimen

9. Treatment of Gonorrhea
Antibiotics by mouth or injection
Despite treatment, Gonorrhea may lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), an infection of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries

10. Can Gonorrhea be Prevented?
Condoms have not been proven to greatly reduce the spread in females
Abstinence is 100% effective

11. Gonorrhea: Summary
Can be spread through skin to skin contact during sexual activity
Thousands in the U.S. are infected
Treatment is available
Despite treatment, may lead to PID

12. References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Gonorrhea Fact Sheet. Available at Accessed October 31, 2002.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. STD Clinical Slides. Available at Accessed Nov. 2, 2002.
Health Awareness Connection. Young People's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS/HIV Disease. Available at Accessed October 31, 2002.

13. Chlamydia

14. Chlamydia STD caused by a bactera Organism: Chlamydia trachomatis
Location: Secretions in the vagina, cervix, urethra inside the penis, urine

15. Symptoms of Chlamydia Many females have no symptoms
Some females have a vaginal discharge and/or pelvic/abdominal pain
Males usually have pain with urinating and may have a discharge from the penis

16. How is Chlamydia Spread?
Skin to skin contact with the infected secretions during sexual activity (mucous membranes of cervix and penis)

17. Is Chlamydia Serious?
Can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in females (severe infection of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries)
PID can lead to:
infertility (can’t get pregnant)
tubal pregnancies
chronic pelvic pain

18. Is Chlamydia Common? 3,000,000 NEW cases each year in the U.S.
Most frequently reported bacterial STD in the U.S.
Total number of infected people in U.S. unknown

19. How is Chlamydia Diagnosed?
Culture of cervix in females
Culture of urethra in males
Urine test

20. Treatment of Chlamydia
Antibiotics by mouth
Sexual partners must also be treated
Despite treatment, females may still get PID

21. Can Chlamydia be Prevented?
Condoms have not been proven to greatly reduce transmission
Abstinence is 100% effective

22. Chlamydia: Summary
Can be spread through skin to skin contact with infected secretions during sexual activity
Most females who are infected are not aware and can spread it to others
Millions in the U.S. are infected
Can cause PID
Treatment is available

23. References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Chlamydia, Disease Information Fact Sheet.. Available at Accessed October 31, 2002.
Society of Health Advisers in Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Chlamydia. Available at Accessed November 6, 2002.
Life Saving Cures. Various Pictures of STD's. Available at Accessed November 7, 2002.

24. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

25. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
An infection caused by a bacteria
Organism: Anaerobic bacteria – imbalance of bacteria normally found in a woman’s vagina (increase in the “harmful” bacteria)
Location: vagina

26. Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis
White or grayish vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor (often strong fish-like odor especially after intercourse)
Vaginal
Pain
Itching
Burning
Some have no symptoms

27. How is Bacterial Vaginosis Spread?
Vaginal intercourse – women who have a new sex partner or who have had multiple sex partners are more likely to develop BV
Women who have never had sexual intercourse are rarely affected with this imbalance of bacteria in the vagina

28. Is BV Serious? Can cause pelvic inflammatory disease
Pregnant women with BV more often have babies who are born early or with low birth weight

29. Is BV Common?
Most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age
16% of pregnant women have BV

30. How is BV Diagnosed? Pelvic exam
Tests on the vaginal fluid to look for the increase in harmful bacteria

31. Treatment of BV
Antibiotics
By mouth (pills)
In vaginal creams

32. Can Bacterial Vaginosis be Prevented?
Bacterial Vaginosis is linked to having new or multiple sexual partners
There is no scientific evidence to show that condoms prevent BV
If you don’t have sex, you don’t have to worry about getting BV

33. Bacterial Vaginosis: Summary
Can be spread through vaginal sex
Foul smelling white or grayish vaginal discharge
Very common infection
Treatment is available

34. References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Bacterial Vaginosis Fact Sheet . Available at Accessed October 31, 2002.
Society of Health Advisers in Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Bacterial Vaginosis. Available at Accessed November 6, 2002.

35. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
(PID)

36. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Disease as a result of bacterial infections
Organisms: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Bacterial Vaginosis
Location: Infection of the uterus, tubes, ovaries

37. Symptoms of PID
Women may have only mild pain or no symptoms even though serious damage to their internal reproductive organs may be occurring
Many patients have lower abdominal pain, fever, vaginal discharge, pain with vaginal intercourse

38. How is PID Spread? Vaginal intercourse with an infected partner
The more sex partners a woman has, the greater the risk of PID

39. Is PID Serious?
PID can cause permanent damage (scar tissue) to the fallopian tubes
If the tubes are totally blocked by scar tissue, the egg and sperm cannot meet causing infertility
Estimated 100,000 women become infertile (can’t get pregnant) each year as a result of PID

40. Is PID Serious?
If the tubes are partially blocked or slightly damaged, the fertilized egg can get stuck in the tube (tubal or ectopic pregnancy)
An ectopic pregnancy can rupture the tube and cause severe pain, internal bleeding, and even death
Scarring of the fallopian tubes and ovaries can also cause pelvic pain that lasts for months or even years

41. Is PID Common? 1,000,000 NEW cases each year in the U.S.
More than 100,000 women are diagnosed with infertility each year
More than 150 women die from this infection every year

42. How is PID Diagnosed?
PID is difficult to diagnose because symptoms are often mild and many cases go undetected
No precise tests, cultures of the cervix to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea should be performed in women with lower abdominal pain who are sexually active
Ultrasound and surgery may be necessary to diagnose PID

43. Treatment of PID
Antibiotics by mouth (pills) or intravenous (I.V.) in the hospital can kill the bacteria causing the PID
Antibiotics CANNOT reverse any damage that has already occurred to the fallopian tubes
About 25% of women with PID must be admitted to the hospital

44. Can PID be Prevented?
If you don’t have sex, you won’t get chlamydia and gonorrhea.
If you don’t get chlamydia and gonorrhea, you won’t get PID.

45. PID: Summary Caused by STDs Acquired only through sexual activity
Many may not have symptoms
Causes infertility
Millions in the U.S. have PID

46. References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) fact sheet. Available at Accessed October 31, 2002.

47. Syphilis

48. Syphilis STD caused by a bactera Organism: Treponema pallidum
Location:
Chancre (painless sore) on the genital area
Rash on the hands/feet and other areas of the body

49. Symptoms of Syphilis
Primary Stage: Painless sore on the genital area, mouth, lips
Secondary Stage: Rash on hands, feet, and other areas of body
Late Stage: Paralysis, numbness, blindness, dementia, death

50. How is Syphilis Spread?
Skin to skin contact with syphilis sores during sexual activity (outercourse, oral, anal, vaginal sex)
Sores can also occur on the lips and mouth
Because syphilis sores can be hidden in the vagina, rectum, or mouth, it may not be obvious that a sex partner has syphilis

51. Is Syphilis Serious?
If not treated, infection can spread to the brain, heart, spinal cord, eyes, and other areas of the body causing severe damage
Genital sores of syphilis make it easier to get HIV infection
Can be spread to the baby during pregnancy causing severe brain and growth abnormalities

52. Is Syphilis Common? 70,000 NEW cases each year in the U.S.
Total number of currently infected people unknown

53. How is Syphilis Diagnosed?
Blood tests
Dark field microscopy to examine material from infectious sores

54. Treatment of Syphilis Antibiotics by injection
Persons who receive syphilis treatment must abstain from sexual with new partners until the syphilis sores are completely healed
Late effects such as those on the heart, brain, and nerves are not reversed with treatment

55. Can Syphilis be Prevented?
Condoms have not been proven to greatly reduce the transmission
Abstinence is 100% effective

56. Syphilis: Summary
Can be spread through skin to skin contact during sexual activity
There are 3 stages of syphilis
Thousands in the U.S. are infected
Treatment is available

57. References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Some facts about Syphilis. Available at Accessed October 31, 2002.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. STD Clinical Slides. Available at Accessed Nov. 2, 2002.
Health Awareness Connection. Young People's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS/HIV Disease. Available at Accessed October 31, 2002.