Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Men
(STDs)

1. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Quiz on STDs

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be spread (transmitted) by intercourse, kissing, oral-genital contact, and sharing sexual devices.
• Aside from abstinence, the use of latex barriers, such as condoms, during intercourse and oral-genital contact (although not 100% effective) is the best means of preventing the spread of STDs.
• Genital or oral ulcers are most often caused by herpes simplex, chancroid, syphilis, and lymphogranuloma venereum.
• Syphilis infection can either produce no symptoms or can cause oral or genital ulcers, rash, fever, or a variety of neurological illnesses ranging from forgetfulness to strokes.
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be transmitted alone or together and cause inflammation of the urethra (urethritis), which the patient experiences as burning on urination and a penile discharge (dripping).
• The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is spread by infected blood or sexual secretions and is often associated with one or more of the other STDs.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes genital warts and is associated with the development of anogenital cancer such as cervical cancer in women and anal or penile cancers in men.
• Hepatitis B is transmitted primarily through sexual contact while hepatitis C is transmitted more commonly by contact with infected blood.
• Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) is a recently identified virus that may be transmitted sexually and has been associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (an unusual skin tumor), and possibly certain lymphomas (tumors of the lymph tissue).
• Pubic lice and scabies are tiny parasitic bugs that can be spread by skin-to-skin contact.