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Bacterial and viral agents cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Bacterial STDs can be treated with antibiotics. Viral STDs are a lot more dangerous, since there are no cures for most of them.

Sexual abstinence or restricting sexual activities to one partner are the most effective means of preventing infection from STDs; other practical forms of protection must be used. Condoms are one of the most effective barriers to contracting an infection from STDs; condoms exist for both men and women.

Most of the common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases can be treated with antibiotics once the causative agent is known. However, due to mutations and drug resistance resulting from the prevalence and abuse of antibiotics, there are some bacterial strains that are difficult to treat.  Some of the more common bacterial STDs include: Chlamydia, Syphilis, Shigellosis, Gonorrhea, Vaginalis, Chancroid and Donovanosis. Chlamydia and Syphilis are two of the most common bacterial STDs.

Syphilis is contracted through broken skin or mucous membranes. Syphilis is characterized by a chancre or sore at the site of infection. The sore typically appears 2-6 weeks from the time of contact with the infected person. Syphilis can appear on the genitalia, mouth, lips or internally (cervix). There are four stages of this disease, a primary, secondary, latent and late stage. Diagnosis is performed via a blood test or a microscopic identification. Symptoms include, painful genital ulcers accompanied by painful, chronic abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes.

Chlamydia infections can be noticed in 5 to 20 days post infection. Symptoms include burning and itching around the genital area; other symptoms include abdominal and back pain. Infections are most prevalent in tropical regions and are spread by direct sexual contact with genitals, the rectum or the mouth, infection does not occur on intact skin. Serology, ELISA, cell culture or PCR can effectively diagnose Chlamydia. Chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics.

The most common sexually transmitted viral STDs are Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis Virus. HSV is responsible for both genital herpes and cold sores. The Herpes infection can be asymptomatic in as many as 80% of patients. HSV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and symptoms vary from person to person, symptoms heal in 2-12 days. Some common symptoms include blisters, cuts, rashes, itching, burning aches

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