The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in women varies by country and some STDs infect women more often than men. Some common treatable STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and chancroid, while HIV, hepatitis, genital herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV) have no cure. HPV is the most common untreatable female STD and can cause cervical cancer. Other common STDs include viral hepatitis, herpes, and HIV. Carcinoid is a bacterial STD that is more common in developing countries and is easily treated with antibiotics.
The prevalence of a particular sexually transmitted disease (STD) in women depends on the country where they live and other factors. There are nine STDs that infect a significant proportion of women worldwide. These include diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. All female STDs can infect men, but some diseases infect women more often than men.
Some of the most common STDs are treatable. These are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis and chancroid. HIV, hepatitis, genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) have no cure through drugs. However, the body usually gets rid of HPV naturally after two years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reports that the most common of all treatable STDs in that country is trichomoniasis. Caused by a parasite, female carriers may have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, the infection causes unusual discharge, vaginal irritation, and discomfort.
In the bacterial category, chlamydia is most prevalent in women living in the United States. The infection is usually asymptomatic in women but can cause infertility if left untreated. Babies can also contract the disease during birth from their mother.
Gonorrhea is another STD that affects women more than men. Symptoms of this bacterial disease include vaginal discharge and pain when urinating. It can also cause infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia and gonorrhea together are the leading causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is itself a cause of infertility.
Syphilis is another relatively common bacterial STD of women. The disease causes sores on the skin, which allows the infection to be transmitted during sexual intercourse. Untreated syphilis can cause bone, skin, and organ deterioration.
The most common of all untreatable female STIs in the developed world is the human papilloma virus (HPV). More than 40 strains of the virus affect humans. Some cause genital warts, but most strains usually cause no symptoms.
The high prevalence of the virus is due to the lack of symptoms and the fact that sexual partners can transmit the infection without showing any symptoms. HPV can cause cervical cancer in some infected women who may not even know they have it. In some countries, vaccines against some strains are available, but there is no cure for the infection.
Viral hepatitis is another disease on the list of the most common female sexually transmitted diseases. Hepatitis B is spread through sexual contact and can cause liver damage. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B. Herpes is another viral STD that can affect women. It causes skin sores and is incurable.
The prevalence of HIV in women is higher in some developing countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, than in developed countries. Furthermore, globally, HIV affects slightly more women than men. HIV leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is fatal. Having a sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea or thyroid cancer, can make it more likely that you will pass HIV from one partner to another.
Carcinoid, a bacterial sexually transmitted disease, is more common in developing countries than developed parts of the world. Symptoms include sores or painful urination. The disease is easily treated with antibiotics.
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