Resource on the common sexually transmitted diseases.
This free public resource has a STD Facts Library and STD Picture Gallery on each condition. This site is provided for informational purposes only and does not substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Diagnosing or treating any sexually transmitted disease or any serious health problem/disease should be primarily handled by your doctor/health care provider.
True power comes with knowledge and quality information. When we come to understand a disease we can better manage and control it.
Photos of the major sexually transmitted diseases. These STD Pictures are graphic in nature and may disturb some people.
Accurate Diagnosis of any sexually transmitted disease is highly is important and the first step in treating the condition.
STD INFORMATION LIBRARY
There are four main types of organisms that cause sexually transmitted diseases in humans:
bacteria, fungi, protozoans and viruses
Bacteria are microscopic single celled organisms that do not have a nucleus in their cells. Some of the most commonly known STD’s such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia are all caused by bacteria. Bacterial infections usually respond to treatment with antibiotics, although a worrying trend is the development of antibiotic resistant strains.
Fungi are weird little organisms like mushrooms which have a kingdom of their own because they are so different from plants and animals. Their cells have cell walls so they are probably more closely related to plants than animals. The yeasts are single celled fungi. Many yeasts are quite useful such as the yeasts that are used in the processes of making bread and beer, However the STD known as Candidiasis is caused by a yeast that flourishes in the warm moist environment of the vagina. The most common fungal infection is tinea but this is not normally transmitted sexually.
Protozoans are single celled plants and animals that, like us, have a nucleus in their cells. Trichomoniasis or ‘trich’ is caused by a protozoan parasite.
Viruses are the most diabolical parasites. Viruses are not technically alive since they cannot survive on their own. They need a host. Basically they are little capsules of DNA, the self replicating molecule, and when they get in a suitable host, they take over the host cells in order to reproduce themselves. In the process they can harm or even kill the unlucky host. Herpes, Hepatitis and AIDS are caused by viruses. Viruses, because they hide in our cells, are notoriously difficult to fight. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
