Often confused, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)aren’t actually the same thing.

An infection —which is when bacteria, viruses, or parasites attack the body —comes before a disease.

And while an infectionmay result in zero symptoms, a disease usually always comes with clear signs.

Think of it this way: An STD will always start out as an STI. But not all STIs turn into STDs.

Now you know the difference between the two, here’s the lowdown on the types of STDs that currently exist, how to treat them, and, most importantly, how to prevent them.

If an STD starts with a symptomatic STI, you might first experience:

  • pain or discomfort during sexual activity or urination
  • sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the vagina, penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
  • unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis or vagina
  • painful or swollen testicles
  • itchiness in or around the vagina
  • unexpected periods or bleeding after sexual activity

But remember that not all STIs have symptoms.

If an STI progresses to an STD, symptoms can vary. Some of them may besimilar to the above, such as pain during sexual activity, pain during urination, and irregular or painful periods.

But other symptoms can be quite different and depend on the STD. They can include:

All STDs are caused by an STI.

These infections are usually transmitted through sexual contact , including through bodily fluids or skin contact via vaginal, oral, and anal sex.

Some of them never become a disease, especially if they’re treated, and they can even go away on their own.

But if the pathogens that caused the infection end up damaging cells in the body and disrupting its functions, an STIwill progress to an STD.

While the list of STIs is pretty lengthy, there are fewer STDs.

They range frompelvic inflammatory disease (PID), caused by STIs likechlamydiaandgonorrhea, to some forms of cancer, caused byhuman papillomavirus (HPV).

Below are the main STDs to be aware of.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Gonorrhea, chlamydia, andtrichomoniasisare common STIs that can lead to PID if left untreated.

Butnot all cases of PID are caused by an STI, as other bacterial infections can play a role.

Around 250万名女性 in the United States have a reported lifetime history of being diagnosed with PID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Although this infection of the female reproductive organs is classified as a disease, some people have no symptoms.

Those who do have symptoms may experience:

  • pelvic or lower abdominal pain
  • pain during penetrative vaginal sex or when urinating
  • irregular, heavy, or painful vaginal bleeding
  • unusual vaginal discharge
  • nausea
  • high temperature

Antibiotics can successfully treat PID if it’s diagnosed early enough. However, they won’t treat any scarring on the fallopian tubes that may have occurred.

This scarring can make anectopic pregnancymore likely and has also been linked to infertility, witharound 1 in 10people with PID becoming infertile as a result.

Tertiary syphilis

The early stages ofsyphilis—a relatively uncommon infection — are considered an STI.

The infection first appears as one or more small round sores on the genitals, anus, or mouth. If left untreated, syphilis will move to the latent phase, which has no symptoms .

However, around a quarter of people will go on todevelop tertiary syphilisfrom here —a process that can take between 10 and 30 years after the initial infection.

This disease can have serious consequences for several organ systems in the body, leading to:

  • loss of vision
  • loss of hearing
  • memory loss
  • mental health conditions
  • infections of the brain or spinal cord
  • heart disease

The earlier syphilis is diagnosed and treated, the less damage it does.

While penicillin injections aretypically usedto treat tertiary syphilis and remove the bacteria from the body, they can’t reverse any damage that’s already occurred.

Of course, if the disease causes problems with major organs, like the heart, other medications and procedures may be required.

Cancer

Although some strains of HPV tend to cause no disease, other strains can cause abnormal cell changes .

This can lead to cancer, including:

According to the National Cancer Institute , most cases of HPV-related cancer in the United States are caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18.

HPV causes almost all cervical cancers , as well as over 90% of anal cancers, 75% of vaginal cancers, and over 60% of penile cancers.

Symptoms of these cancers vary, depending on where in the body they affect. Swellings and lumps, bleeding, and pain can be common.

If cancer is diagnosed early, it’s often easier to treat with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery.

Some screening tests exist to detect pre-cancerous cell changes caused by HPV.

Genital warts

Some lower-risk strains of HPV can cause a disease calledgenital warts.

These skin-colored or white bumps show up on the genitals or anus, with超过350000人developing them every year.

They are treatable, but not curable, as the virus that causes them may remain. (In some cases, HPV disappears on its own.)

Genital warts can also go away by themselves, but they can also come back.

If you want to get them removed,optionsrange from freezing or burning them off to applying a chemical cream or liquid.

AIDS

HIVcan damage the immune system and increase the risk of contracting other viruses or bacteria and developing certain cancers.

With today’s treatments, many people with HIV live long, healthy lives.

But if left untreated, the virus can lead toAIDS, where the body becomes vulnerable to serious infections and illnesses.

People with AIDSmay experience:

  • rapid weight loss
  • extreme fatigue
  • sores
  • infections
  • neurologic disorders
  • cancers

No cure is available for AIDS. And due to the variety of diseases that can be contracted as a result of a severely weakened immune system, life expectancy without treatment is around 3 years .

Some STIs can be transmitted to a fetus during pregnancy or a newborn during childbirth. But this isn’t the case for all STDs.

Syphilis可以传递给一个未出生的婴儿吗, resulting in a serious infection,miscarriage, orstillbirth.

Genital warts can also pass to a baby, but it’sextremely rare.

PID can affect future pregnancies, making an ectopic pregnancy more likely andcausing infertilityin 1 in 10 people.

Here’s what else to consider if you’re pregnant:

  • Getscreened for STIs, including HIV and syphilis, toavoid complicationsby ensuring any infection can be detected and treated.
  • Speak with a healthcare professional if you have an STD. They may need to check that a medication is safe for you to use or delay treatment where necessary.
  • Note that a cesarean delivery may be needed —particularly if genital warts make it difficult for the vagina to stretch.

It’s hard for healthcare professionals to diagnose an STD based on symptoms alone, so they’ll need to do some tests and examinations.

Depending on the suspected STD, this may involve:

  • physical examinations
  • swabs of bodily fluids
  • blood tests
  • specialist procedures, such as keyhole surgery or a colposcopy

STDs can have varied effects on the body.

There are a number of treatment options, depending on the condition, including:

  • antibiotics
  • other oral or topical medications
  • surgery
  • laser

You may also be advised to make lifestyle alterations, such asabstaining from sexuntil treatment is complete.

Remember that, with most STDs, it’s not possible to undo any damage that the disease has already caused. And some STDs, such as genital warts and AIDS, aren’t curable.

The best way to avoid an STD is to prevent STIs. And the only foolproof way to do that is to avoid sexual contact.

But there are ways to make sexsaferand reduce the risk of contracting an STI:

  • Have an open discussion about sexual history with a new partner before engaging in any sexual activity, and decide what you’re each comfortable with.
  • Get tested regularly性传播感染,特别是如果你有一个新的合作伙伴multiple partners. Ask any partners to do the same.
  • Use acondomproperly during vaginal, anal, and oral sex to help prevent STIs that spread through fluids.Dental damscan also provide protection during oral sex.
  • Consider getting vaccinated forHPVandhepatitis B.
  • If you’re at ahigher risk for contracting HIV, think about takingPrEP medicationevery day.

Many STDs are treatable, but not all of them are curable. Some can be life threatening, while others have less serious effects.

They are, however, all caused by an STI. So the best way to prevent them is to get regularly screened and practice safer sex.

And if you test positive for any STI, seek treatment as soon as possible.

Lauren Sharkey is a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in women’s issues. When she isn’t trying to discover a way to banish migraines, she can be found uncovering the answers to your lurking health questions. She has also written a book profiling young female activists across the globe and is currently building a community of such resisters. Catch her onTwitter.