Hey everyone,

Hope you all had a great spring break. I had an awesome time down in Acapulco soaking up the sun, going to parties and just having a jolly old time. But, in any situation where you go to a foreign country and you partake in activities involving the opposite sex and drinking you always have to be careful. I know we haven’t had a lot of in depth information about STDs recently, so I thought you may want a list of some common symptoms. That “sunburn” on your private might actually be genital warts. In all seriousness, it is always important to wear a condom and be sexually responsible, nonetheless here’s a list of some common STDs…

Chlamydia
Most people have no symptoms.
Abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina,
pain in the testicles,
and burning with urinating.
Long-term irritation may cause lower abdominal pain, inflammation of the eyes and skin lesions.
In women, it can cause inflammation of the pelvic organs pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Chlamydia can be completely cured, but can be caught again, especially if both sex partners aren't treated.

Genital Herpes
Small red bumps, blisters, or open sores on the penis, vagina, or areas close by.
Also, vaginal discharge in women.
Fever, headache, and muscle aches. Pain when urinating.
Itching, burning, or swollen glands in genital area.
Pain in legs, buttocks, or genital area.
Symptoms may go away and then come back. Some people may have no symptoms. There is no cure. Treatment includes taking a medicine to lower severity of symptoms.

Gonorrhea
Pain or burning when urinating
. Yellowish and sometimes bloody discharge from the penis or vagina.
But, many men have no symptoms. Can be completely cured, but can be caught again, especially if both sex partners aren't treated.

Hepatitis B
Mild fever.
Headache and muscle aches, joint pain
. Tiredness
. Loss of appetite. Nausea and vomiting.
Dark-colored urine and pale bowel movements.
Stomach pain.
Skin and whites of eyes turning yellow (jaundice).
About 30% of people have no symptoms. Treatment includes taking a medicine to help the liver fight damage from the virus.
There are medications available to treat long-lasting (chronic) HBV-infection. These work for some people, but there is no cure for hepatitis B when you first get it.
Fortunately, routine immunization of all children with the Hepatitis B vaccine will hopefully eliminate future Hepatitis B infections.

HIV Infection And Aids
May have no symptoms for 10 years or more.
Extreme fatigue.
Rapid weight loss
Frequent low-grade fevers and night sweats.
Frequent yeast infections (in the mouth).
Red, brown, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids.
Women can have vaginal yeast infections and other STDs, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and menstrual cycle changes.
There is no cure. Treatment includes taking medicines to stop the virus from replicating, or making copies of itself.
Keep in mind that the CDC recommends that routine screening for HIV should begin for all teens at age 13 and then repeated each year if they are at high risk for getting an HIV infection.

Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus (HPV))
Genital warts that usually first appear as small, hard painless bumps on the penis,
in the vaginal area, or around the anus.
They sometimes can be hard to see, but if left untreated can turn into a fleshy, cauliflower-like appearance
. Some people have no apparent symptoms.
HPV is linked with a higher risk of cervical cancer in women.
Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, will hopefully decrease the risk of getting genital warts and cervical cancer and can be given to girls between the ages of 9 and 26 years of age.
Syphilis
In the first (primary) stage, about 10 days to six weeks after exposure: a painless sore (chancre) or many sores that will heal on their own. If not treated, infection spreads to the next stage.
Secondary stage: skin rash that usually does not itch and clears on its own. Fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and tiredness.
Latent (hidden) stage: symptoms disappear, but infection remains in body and can damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. Late stage: not able to coordinate muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, dementia, and possibly death. Can be completely cured, but can be caught again, especially if both sex partners aren't treated.

Matt