Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
Sexually transmitted diseases include syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, AIDS, and other less common diseases that are transmitted by close bodily contact, either through sexual intercourse or other intimate contact with some one who has a STD. All STD services are confidential. Your privacy is respected. Do not let shame or embarrassment keep you from getting medical treatment if you think you have a STD.
Warning: If not treated, STD can cause permanent damage including:

• Sterility (inability to have children);
• Damage to an unborn baby;
• Insanity or paralysis;
• Blindness or deafness;
• Non-healing skin ulcers; and even
• Death.

One or more of the following symptoms may indicate that you have STD. However, you can be infected with a disease and not have any symptoms, or you may have some of these symptoms for other reasons. Do not ignore symptoms. The only sure way to know if you have STD is to go to a doctor or a walk-in clinic. Se a doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

• Painful burning sensation while urinating.
• Painless sores or blisters on or around the mouth or sex organs.
• Itching or swelling in the groin area.
• Unusual discharge or odors from the vagina.
• Patchy hair loss from the scalp.

Once in the body, STD will continue to do damage until it is treated. Even if the outward symptoms disappear, the germs which cause STD are still in your body and can result in permanent damage to you and any future sex partners whom you might expose to the disease unknowingly.

Fact: You do not catch STD from toilet seats.
Fact: You can get STD at any age, and get it again and again.
Fact: No vaccine can prevent STD; however, most venereal diseases can be treated.
Fact: Anyone can get STD.

Tests: When you go to your physician or clinic, you will be given a simple medical exam and lab tests to find out if you have STD. Your doctor will then determine the appropriate treatment if the results of your tests are positive.

STD is a disease. Do not allow shame or embarrassment to keep you from seeking help. See a doctor or contact your local public health clinics.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
AIDS is a potentially fatal sexually transmitted disease. There is no cure for AIDS at this time. AIDS is primarily spread by sexual contact (bodily fluids such as vaginal fluid and semen), by sharing of needles by intravenous drug users, or contact with contaminated blood. AIDS attacks the body’s immune system, the way your body fights off diseases. When a person contacts AIDS, he/she is no longer immune to disease, and the individual falls ill to other diseases.

Your best protection against AIDS is to NOT have sex and to NOT use intravenous drugs.

There is no evidence that AIDS can be spread by:

• Sharing a classroom with a person with AIDS.
• Casual contact with a person with AIDS.
• Mosquito bites.
• Toilet seats.

New testing of all blood samples helps protect us from the spread of AIDS by transfusion. AIDS cannot be contracted by donating blood.

Ask about an AIDS curriculum and an ABSTINENCE curriculum in your school. AIDS has reached epidemic proportions and is serious. THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE. Symptoms may include swollen glands, pink or purple flat or raised blotches or bumps, weight loss, fever, night sweats, cough, and diarrhea. If you think you may have contracted AIDS, get medical attention. The fewer people one comes in contact with sexually, the less chance this disease has to spread. If you have any questions or need a doctor’s name, contact the AIDS Hotline at (800) 458-5231.

Chlamydia
Chlamydia is twice as common as gonorrhea. Its symptoms resemble mild gonorrhea (burning sensation or discharge of pus) and it often appears at the same time as gonorrhea. The symptoms appear one to two weeks after contact, although often no signs or symptoms are found. Diagnosis often depends on an analysis of symptoms, aided by microscopic studies of discharge samples. Chlamydia is one of the most common causes of infertility (not being able to have children).

Gonorrhea
Most females and some males have no symptoms. There may be a painful burning sensation while urinating (mostly in males) and/or discharge of pus from vagina or penis. Gonorrhea can have serious consequences including sterility, arthritis, and other effects if left untreated. If you think you may have contracted gonorrhea, your doctor or clinic will give you a smear test (males) or culture (females an sometimes males) and a medical exam.

Genital Warts
Genital warts are caused by a virus. The warts show as pale pink or flesh-colored warts which are highly contagious, appearing on genitals one to three months or longer after infected. Without treatment they can disfigure and/or interfere with intercourse and waste elimination. Treatment is not a cure but may eliminate lesions.

Herpes
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) is transmitted by coming in contact with the infected skin surface of someone who already has herpes. A person with herpes is infectious anytime just before or during an outbreak. The average frequency of outbreaks is 3-4 times a year. When herpes is dormant, it is less likely to b e passed from one person to another. Herpes may affect the lips, mouth, and occasionally the eyes. Genital herpes affects the genital areas. Several complications may occur:

• Cancer of the cervix;
• Spinal Meningitis;
• Problems with childbirth – if an infant does get herpes, it is serious and can be fatal.

Herpes sores can itch or be painful on lips, mouth, face, or gums. Swollen glands, muscle aches, fever, burning sensation when urinating, vaginal discharge, headache, and swelling of lymph nodes in groin are possible symptoms of herpes.

SEE YOUR DOCTOR for diagnosis and treatment. There is an ointment that reduces the symptoms of the first outbreak only, but there is no known cure. Beyond that, use good personal hygiene, keep the area clean and dry, and be careful not to spread it with your fingers.

Syphilis
A painless sore (Chancre) or rash on the body may go away without treatment. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE CURED. Untreated syphilis can cause blindness, heart disease, birth defects in children, insanity, and death. If you think you may have contracted syphilis, seek medical attention for a blood test and exam.

THIS LIST IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL STD’S. CONTACT A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR HOTLINE FOR ADDITIONAL HELP.

• Meade County Public Health Nurse
  • (605) 347-5650

Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is illegal. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature is sexual harassment. When submission to, or rejection of, this conduct affects your employment, unreasonably interferes with your work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment, this is sexual harassment. It can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to:

• The victim, as well as the harasser, may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex.
• The harasser can be the victim’s supervisor, a co-worker, or a non-employee. He/She does not have to be the person harassed, but may be anyone offended by the conduct.
• The harasser’ conduct must be unwelcome.

If you want to file a charge of sexual harassment, contact any field office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Call toll free (800) 669-4000 on how to proceed. For publications call (800) 669-EEOC (3362).