Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and Responsible Sexual Behavior

1. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and Responsible Sexual Behavior General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

2. STD Facts • 1 in 4 Americans will become infected with an STD in their lifetime • 2/3 of all STD cases occur in ages 25 or younger General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

3. Chlamydia • Most common of all bacterial STDs. • About 3 million new cases occur each year. • When symptoms do occur they include abnormal genital discharge and burning with urination. • If untreated, it may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal pregnancies, and infertility. • Can be cured with oral antibiotics. General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

4. Trichomoniasis • Parasite infection of the genital area. • About 5 million new cases occur each year. • When symptoms do occur they include an odorous, yellowish-greenish discharge and/or genital area discomfort. • If untreated, it may lead to complications during pregnancy. • Can be cured with antibiotics. General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

5. Gonorrhea • Bacterial infection of the genital area. • About 650,000 new cases occur each year. • When symptoms do occur they include burning during urination, green or yellowish discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or pelvic pain. • Antibiotics can cure the infection. General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

6. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) • Viral infection primarily affecting the outer and inner genital areas. • About 5.5 million new cases occur each year. • Most people don’t know they are infected. • Symptoms are soft, itchy warts in and around the genitals, often called genital warts. • There is no cure for HPV, but warts can be removed through medication and surgery. There may be future outbreaks because the virus stays in the body permanently. General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

7. Genital Herpes • Viral infection of the genital area and sometimes the mouth. • About 1 million new cases occur each year. • Symptoms include cold sores and fever blisters on the mouth, red bumps that turn into painful blisters, or sores on the genital areas. • If untreated, it may lead to complications during pregnancy. • There is no cure for herpes, but medication can be used to reduce the frequency of future outbreaks. • Herpes can be transmitted even when medication is used and there are no symptoms. General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

8. Caused by bacteria that spread throughout the body. About 70,000 new cases occur each year. Appears in stages. Stage 1 symptoms are painless sores on the genitals or mouth. Stage 2 symptoms are a rash on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or genital area. Stage 3 can result in damage to the brain, heart, nervous system, and death. If untreated, it may lead to complications during pregnancy. Can be cured with antibiotics if caught early, but damage caused by the disease cannot be undone. Syphilis General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

9. Hepatitis B • Viral infection primarily affecting the liver. • About 77,000 new cases occur each year. • When symptoms do occur they include fatigue, achiness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, darkening of urine, abdominal tenderness, and yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes. • Can be treated with antibiotics, but some people are contagious for the rest of their lives. General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

10. How is HIV Transmitted? • Sexual contact • Blood exchange • Not from hugging, touching, toilet seats, and swimming pools General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

11. Your Naval Career and HIV/AIDS • The time from when a person is infected to the appearance of clinical symptoms may be 10 years or longer. • Navy policy states that personnel shall be assigned within the United States to a unit not normally programmed for deployment and within 300 miles of a naval medical treatment facility. • HIV-infected pilots, NFOs, and aircrew members are permanently grounded and reassigned to shore duty. CHART 1 OF 2 General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

12. What To Do • See a doctor immediately for diagnosis and treatment • Notify all recent sexual partners • Follow doctor’s order and complete the course of treatment General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior

13. Abstain from sex or delay sex Choose outer-course versus intercourse Monogamy Use Condoms and other barriers Reduce the number of sexual partners Do not have sex with “higher-risk” people Do not share needles Stay sober Strategies for Preventing STDs General Military Training – Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Responsible Sexual Behavior