Vermilion County IL Health Department

Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes,
genital warts, hepatitis, HIV.........
These are all Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Some STDs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis can be treated and cured. But they have to be found first. Some people have these diseases and don't even know it -
they may have no symptoms.
Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory infection, or can cause sterility or infertility. Left untreated, syphilis can can cause damage to the brain, spinal cord, and other organs of the body. A pregnant woman with syphilis can pass the disease to her unborn child. Syphilis could cause miscarriage or birth defects.
Other Sexually Transmitted Disease such as herpes, genital warts, HIV, and hepatitis are not curable, but there is medication and treatment to relieve or eliminate the symptoms. However, taking the medication and/or treatment does not mean the symptoms won't return.
You may be at risk if........

• In your life, have you had sex (of any kind) with more than one person?
• You don't know how many partners your partner has had in the last week, month, year, or lifetime
• You don't know the name(s) of the person(s) with whom you have had sex or anything about them or who they have had sex with
• You don't know anything about your sex partner(s) Does he/she "look" or "seem" like the "type" of person who just could not possibly have any kind of sexual disease? Don't be fooled
• You share needles with other people, or have sex with people who do
• You buy or sell sex for drugs, money or other items; or if you have sex with people that do
• You have participated in unprotected sex (without a condom)
• You have a discharge, bumps, sores, or lesions in your genital area
• You have a skin rash on your arms, hands, legs, or feet, or a sudden hair loss; or if you have had sex with anyone with these symptoms
• You have had sex when you've been drinking / drunk, or high, or not in control of what you're doing
• Your partner has had sex with other people, or shared needles with others
• You had sex without a condom, or other type of barrier; birth control will not protect you from STDs |