top ten STDs

Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS

Introduction

Are you prepared to safeguard your health from infections and disorders that are transferred sexually? Some of these illnesses are more well-known; you have heard of HIV, genital herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Though many more go unmentioned. Knowing about these prevalent STDs will help you save your loved ones from future health issues.

In this article, we address some of your challenging and occasionally uneasy inquiries regarding the signs and symptoms of top ten STDs. You’ll discover what sexual disease is known as “the clap,” why herpes is frequently referred to as an STD, and which infections can slumber for a very long period. Additionally, you can learn about the most effective methods of treating chlamydia, herpes, HIV, and other STDs.

Table of Contents

Following are the top ten STDs:

1. Chlamydia

Chlamydia is known as the most common disease among these top ten STDs.
Infection with the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria can result in chlamydia. It can have detrimental effects on the female reproductive system as well as the urinary systems of both sexes.
As the Australian study suggests chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease. Australia received 100 775 notifications of chlamydia in total in 2017.
Approximately 80% of chlamydia infections happen in adults under the age of 30 according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners guidelines.
Chlamydia can be sexually transmitted through a partner's mouth, penis, anus, or vagina. Additionally, transmission from an infected mother to the newborn after birthing is possible and can result in conjunctivitis or even pneumonia in the infant.
Though chlamydia is a most common sexually transmitted disease it can cause infertility if it remains untreated.

Symptoms:

2. Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect men and women, and it can spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It's caused by Neisseria, which is a bacterium.
Around the world, Neisseria is becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics, so it's becoming an even bigger problem. In 2017, there were over 28,000 notifications in Australia, and around 75% of them were male.
According to the statistics, the Northern Territory had the highest number of notifications in 2017, while Western Australia and New South Wales had the lowest.
The early treatment for gonorrhea is to clap both hands against your penis or use a heavy object like a mallet on it to squeeze out the pus in your penis. However, this is not recommended as it can damage your penis and won't cure the disease.
If not treated, it can cause infertility in men and women. There may not be any early signs of this common STI. Here is what gonorrhea looks like.

Symptoms:

Gonorrhea symptoms include burning during urination.
Discharge from the vagina or urethral region.
Pelvic pain in women, and swelling of the testicles or discharge from the penis in men.
Some of these symptoms are mild and may be confused with a urinary tract infection (UTI) or yeast infection.
If these sound like your symptoms, see your healthcare provider.

3. Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection(STD). Syphilis is one of the most common STDs in Australia.
There were 4,398 infections reported in Australia in 2017. Almost 85% of the infections were reported in men. Between 2013 and 2017, there was a 135% increase in the number of infections reported with syphilis.
In 2017, the rate of infections with syphilis reached 18,3 per 100,000 in Australia. The rates of infections were lower in major cities, and higher in rural and very rural areas.
Syphilis is transmitted through sexual contact between an infected partner and an uninfected partner. It is also transmitted vertically during pregnancy.
Antibiotics can be the best treatment option for syphilis an STD.
Have you been diagnosed with syphilis in the past?
Syphilis is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the world. However, many people are unaware of the early signs and symptoms of syphilis.
Syphilis can cause nerve damage and, over time, can lead to blindness, paralysis, and even death.

Symptoms:

Early signs of syphilis include a round, firm, and painless sore on your genitals or anal area, which is usually the first sign.
Later on, you may notice a rash on your feet, palms, and other parts of your body.
You may also have enlarged lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, and hair loss.
Late-stage syphilis affects many different organ systems, so it's really important to catch it early.

4. Hepatitis C

The hepatitis C virus is the primary cause of hepatitis C. The hepatitis C virus can cause acute and chronic hepatitis. The severity of hepatitis C can range from mild illness lasting a couple of weeks to fatal disease.
The study states that 80 million active hepatitis C infections are present worldwide.
According to National Australian data, there were 199230 chronic hepatitis C infections in Australia in 2017.
SyphiThere were 10537 hepatitis C notifications in Australia in 2017, of which only 1 in 3 were reported by women.lis is transmitted through sexual contact between an infected partner and an uninfected partner. It is also transmitted vertically during pregnancy.
It is very common to contract hepatitis C by reusing needles or syringes used by other people who may be infected with the virus. Another method of infection is unprotected sexual intercourse.

5. Hepatitis B

According to research hepatitis B is the most serious STD of these top ten STDs.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can change over time and cannot be cured. In 2017, there were 6,102 hepatitis B notifications in Australia, with the highest rate among 30-39-year-olds.
Over 233,000 people live with chronic hepatitis B. The virus spreads through sexual contact, drug injection, and sharing needles, razors, and toothbrushes.
Babies can be infected at birth from an infected mother and can go without symptoms for years.

Symptoms

There is no cure for hepatitis B, but there is a vaccine. Symptoms of hepatitis B include:

6. Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an infection caused by a virus and does not last forever. Australia is not one of the countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis A. It can affect people of all ages. However, an increasing number of cases are associated with traveling to countries with endemic hepatitis A.
Hepatitis is transmitted through the fecal-to-oral route and occurs when you eat or drink food or water contaminated with the virus. An additional method of transmission is through sexual contact, especially oral-anal intercourse with an infected person.

Symptoms

7. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)

Around 1 in 8 sexually active Australian adults are infected with genital herpes, caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Estimates show that 37% of Australian adults are infected with HSV1, and 10% with HSV2, with females being more susceptible.
Genital herpes, caused by the Herpes Simplex 2 Virus, can be reduced with medications, but there is no cure for this condition.
Genital herpes infections, caused by HSV-2, are an STD, affecting over 87% of individuals who are unaware due to mild symptoms.

Symptoms

If you have genital herpes, it can cause painful, swollen blisters and crusty sores on your genitals, butt, or anus.
You may start to feel mild tingling or burning pain in your legs, hip, or butt a few hours before a flare-up.
Less severe flare-ups usually happen in the first year, but they can get worse over time.
GHS can also spread to your lips if you have oral contact. Medications can help reduce the severity of the infection, but there's no cure.

8. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS, a life-threatening illness with various symptoms. Since 1984, 38,172 Australians have been diagnosed with HIV.
In 2017, Australia had 27545 HIV-positive individuals, with a prevalence of 0.14%. Infections occur through body fluids, sexual contact, blood, and drug injection.
The HIV/AIDS virus is a disease that significantly weakens the body's immune system.
HIV weakens the immune system and spreads through sexual contact, needle sharing, or mother-to-child transmission. Symptoms may persist for years, but blood tests detect infection. Treatment prevents serious illnesses.

Symptoms

If you have genital herpes, it can cause painful, swollen blisters and crusty sores on your genitals, butt, or anus.
You may start to feel mild tingling or burning pain in your legs, hip, or butt a few hours before a flare-up.
Less severe flare-ups usually happen in the first year, but they can get worse over time.
GHS can also spread to your lips if you have oral contact.
Medications can help reduce the severity of the infection, but there's no cure.
HIV/AIDS is a disease with no cure, but some medications can suppress the virus's multiplying inside the body. These medications, known as PrEP and PEP, can significantly reduce a person's risk.
However, the "window period" can occur, allowing the virus to be transmitted. Treatment options include a combination of antiviral drugs and additional treatments if the immune system weakens.

9. Genital warts

Genital warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), are common sexually transmitted infections causing bumps in various body areas. In Australia, a 90% reduction in genital warts has been observed in teenagers aged 15-20 years.
The HPV vaccine has also significantly reduced genital warts in young heterosexuals aged 15-20 years.
HPV can be transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact and can cause cervical or anal cancer.

Symptoms

10. Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis refers to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the vagina caused by the bacterium Trichomonas vaginitis. It is the most common and curable STI in the world.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the prevalence of STIs in women is estimated at 8.1%.
In Australia, the prevalence of STIs is higher in older women and women living in rural and remote areas.
In a 2012 study, it was found that STI prevalence increased with distance in both Aboriginal women and non-Indigenous women.
Trichomoniasis has been linked to a higher risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and genital and respiratory infections in newborns.

Symptoms

Conclusion

This article highlights the top ten STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), including HIV, genital herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Chlamydia is the most common, affecting adults under 30 and causing infertility if untreated. Gonorrhea, caused by Neisseria, affects men and women and spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Syphilis, a common STD in Australia, had 4,398 infections in 2017, with 85% reported in men. Hepatitis C is the primary cause, with 80 million active infections worldwide. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that cannot be cured, and Herpes simplex virus affects around 1 in 8 sexually active adults.