Treatment Options

Chlamydia: Bacteria common among teens, and a leading cause of infertility (inability to have children).

Most females have no symptoms. Twenty-five percent experience vaginal discharges, bleeding, or abdominal pain. Males may feel a burning sensation while urinating.

Antibiotics, usually tetracycline (te-truh-SY-kleen) or doxycycline.

Gonorrhea: Bacteria that infects the lining females’ urethra and cervix. Like chlamydia, it can result in infertility in women. U.S. location with highest infection rate for ages 10–24: Washington, D.C.

For females: painful and frequent urination, fever, pelvic pain, vaginal discharge. For males: painful urination and discharge of puss from the penis.

Antibiotics, usually doxycycline.

Herpes: A permanent viral infection with recurring symptoms. Infections have increased 30 percent in the last 20 years. As many as 20 percent of Americans carry the virus that causes genital herpes.

Herpes Simplex I causes cold sores on the lips and face. Genital herpes leads to painful genital sores.

No treatment can cure herpes, but antiviral drugs like acyclovir (ay-SY-kloh-vir) help sores heal.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Virus that results in AIDS. AIDS, in turn, renders the body vulnerable to infections and cancer. AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among people ages 15–24 in the U.S.

One can be infected with HIV without any symptoms. Once HIV progresses to full-blown AIDS, the patient may suffer weight loss, headaches, fatigue, fever, and swollen glands. Without a cure, AIDS is ultimately fatal.

There is no cure for AIDS yet, but drugs like AZT can slow the progression of the virus.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): Virus that causes genital warts. Up to 65 percent of people who've had sex with infected partners become infected themselves.

Highly contagious warts start out as small, painless hard spots. They become painful as they spread in or around the vagina, penis, or rectum.

No cure exists for the virus itself. But warts can be treated with medications or removed by surgery. In one-third of all cases, warts return.

Syphilis: Bacteria that remains in the body for life if left untreated. If the infection persists, it can cause brain damage or death. New cases in 1996: 52,995.

Painless sores on the genitals or mouth, swollen lymph nodes and rashes. Most contagious when sores are present.

Penicillin injections.