Hepatitis B Virus

• What it is: A viral infection primarily affecting the liver.
• How many get it: About 77,000 new cases a year through sexual transmission; about 750,000 people are already infected with Hepatitis B as a result of sexual transmission.
• Signs: Many people don't have any symptoms. Others may experience severe fatigue, achiness, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, darkening of urine, or abdominal tenderness, usually within one to six months of exposure. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (called jaundice), and darkening of the urine can occur later.
• How it's spread: Through unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex. It can also be transmitted through sharing contaminated needles, or through any behavior in which a person's mucus membranes are exposed to an infected person's blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or saliva. (Don't worry... the chance of getting Hepatitis B through kissing is slim, unless your partner likes to bite!).
• Treatment: Most cases clear up within one to two months without treatment, during which complete abstinence from alcohol is recommended until liver function returns to normal. Some people are contagious for the rest of their lives. A three-dose vaccine is now available to prevent this STD.
• Possible consequences: Chronic, persistent inflammation of the liver and later cirrhosis or cancer of the liver; plus, if you're pregnant, your baby must be immunized at birth.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• What it is: A viral infection with more than 100 different types, primarily affecting the genital area, both the outer and inner surfaces.
• How many get it: An estimated 5.5 million new cases each year; at least 20 million people already have it.
• Signs: Soft, itchy warts in and around the genitals (vagina, penis, testicles, and anus) may appear two weeks to three months after exposure. Many people, however, have no symptoms but may still be contagious.
• How it's spread: Through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse, or by touching or rubbing an infected area (infected areas may not always be noticeable).
• Treatment: There is no cure. Warts can be removed through medication or surgery. Even with such treatments, the virus stays in the body and can cause future outbreaks.
• Possible consequences: Increased risk of genital cancer for men and women. Some virus types cause the most common form of cervical cancer in women.

HIV

• What it is: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS.
• How many get it: An estimated 40,000 Americans are infected with HIV each year, most of whom were infected sexually, and an estimated 800,000 - 900,000 people in the U.S. are living with HIV/AIDS.
• Signs: Many people who have HIV don't even know it because symptoms may not appear for 10 years or longer. Others experience unexplained weight loss, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, fatigue, persistent fevers, night sweats, headaches, mental disorders, or severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections.
• How it's spread: Through body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk - in other words, during vaginal, oral or anal intercourse; by sharing contaminated needles; or via pregnancy or breast-feeding. During vaginal intercourse, the risks of becoming infected are higher for women than for men, because HIV is more easily transmitted from man to woman.
• Treatment: There is no cure and AIDS is considered fatal. Several new antiviral medications can slow progression of the infection and delay the onset of AIDS symptoms. Early treatment can make a big difference.
• Possible consequences: It is the deadliest STD of all and can weaken the body's ability to fight disease, making someone with HIV vulnerable to certain cancers and infections such as pneumonia. Babies born to HIV-positive mothers may become infected with HIV if the mother is not receiving treatment, but treatment can reduce that rate significantly.