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Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are spread person-to-person. Each time you have unprotected sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they've had sex with. Each sexual contact with an infected person increases your risk of becoming infected.
STDs don't discriminate with regard to age, race or sexual orientation. They are equal opportunity diseases caused by viruses or bacteria. They live in blood, semen and vaginal secretions.
You can protect yourself from STDs - or at least significantly lower your chance of getting one - by:
Abstinence (not having sex)
Proper use of condoms
Knowing your partner (and his or her sexual history)
If you are having sex - and that includes oral sex, vaginal sex or anal sex - you could be infected with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papilloma virus, herpes, hepatitis B or HIV/AIDS. In some instances, you can "catch" an STD by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids.
The chart lists the signs and symptoms of the most common STDs, how you can get each, how each is treated, whether it can be cured and the possible complications that could come from being infected with a particular STD.
If you have any signs of an STD, call your health care provider immediately.
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