Overview of sexually transmitted diseases (stds)

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Sexually transmitted (venereal) diseases are infections that are typically, but not exclusively, passed from person to person through sexual contact.

Sexually transmitted diseases may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or protozoa.
Some infections can also be spread through kissing or close body contact.
Some infections may spread to other parts of the body, sometimes with serious consequences.
Using condoms can help prevent these infections.
Most sexually transmitted diseases can be effectively treated with drugs.

Sexual intercourse provides an easy opportunity for organisms to spread (be transmitted) from one person to another because it involves close contact and transfer of genital and other body fluids.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are relatively common. For example, an estimated 20 million new cases of STDs occur each year in the United States. About half of the new cases occur in people age 15 to 24 years. Over 580,000 new cases of gonorrhea and over 1.7 million chlamydial infections were reported in the United States 2018, and even more probably occur—making gonorrhea and chlamydial infections the two most common STDs.
Several factors make prevention of STDs difficult. They include the following:

Unprotected sexual activity with several partners (whose names may be unknown and who thus may be difficult to find)
Reluctance to talk about sexual issues with a health care practitioner
The need for more funding to identify and treat as many infected people as possible and to develop better diagnostic tests and treatments for STDs
The need to treat both sex partners simultaneously if one of them is infected
Incomplete treatment, which can lead to development of organisms that are resistant to drugs
International travel, which enables STDs to be rapidly spread worldwide