Below are the most common sexually transmitted infections, diseases, and infestations you’re likely to encounter in North America and Europe as of 2009. All information is taken from The Oxford Handbook of Genitourinary Care and The Color Atlas and Synopsis of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
The bacterial STIs:
| Common Name | Latin Name | Transmission Type | Partner Notification | Symptoms | Testing Method | Treatment | Incubation Period |
| Syphilis, "the pox", "the syph" | Treponema pallidum | Contact with sexual fluids, blood to blood contact. Transplacental transmission rates 80%-90% from 9wks on in the first two years following infection. | Primary- All partners within last 3 months. Secondary- All partners within last 2 years. Above include IDU partners. | Primary- Classical: Non-painful mucosal chancre. Modern: multiple painful ulcers (similar to HSV) of the mucosa and/or (rarely) other skin (nipples, eyes, fingers, etc). May also present as flat, grey, shiny, patches on tongue. | Blood test. | Oral or injectable antibiotics. | Primary- 9-90 days past infection (avg: 3 wks). Secondary- 6-12 wks post infection |
| Secondary- "rash-like" red spots on palms and soles of feet, swollen lymph nodes (frequently extremely swollen near infection site), mucosal ulcerations with white or grey borders. | |||||||
| Gonorrhoea, "the clap", GC | Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Contact with sexual fluids. (Survives up to 24 hours on non-porous surfaces) | All in last 12 weeks (or last partner) | Penis: 80% -urethral discharge w/ painful urination. 20% asymptomatic. | Swabs of possible infection sites. | Oral antibiotics. | 1 to 14 days. (6 average) |
| Vagina: 50-70% asymptomatic. 30-50% vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, painful urination , intermenstrual bleeding. | |||||||
| Anus: 90% asymptomatic. 10%- discharge. | |||||||
| Throat: 90% asymptomatic. 10% swelling, painful swallowing. | |||||||
| Eyes: heavy discharge, swelling, redness. | |||||||
| Chlamydia | Chlamydia trachomatis | Contact with sexual fluids. | All in last 6 months (or last partner) | Penis: 50%-urethral discharge w/ painful urination. 50%- asymptomatic. | Swabs of possible infection sites. | Oral antibiotics. | 7 to 21 days. |
| Vagina: 80% -asymptomatic. 20%- increased discharge, painful urination, intermenstrual bleeding, lower abdominal pain, post coital bleeding. | |||||||
| Anal: discharge, pain, bleeding. | |||||||
| Throat: mild “sore throat” | |||||||
| Eyes: heavy discharge, ulceration, pain. |
The Fungal STIs
| Common Name | Latin Name | Transmission Type | Partner Notification | Symptoms | Testing Method | Treatment | Incubation Period |
| Trich | Trichomoniasis vaginalis | Contact with sexual fluids, transmissible by moist object contact. | Current partner(s) | 50% asymptomatic. | Swab and smear. Microscopic visual examination in-office. | Oral anti-fungals. | 4 to 28 days. |
| Vagina: frothy yellow discharge, swelling, and itching. | |||||||
| Penis: urethral discharge | |||||||
| Yeast Infection, Thrush | Candida albacans | Contact with warm, moist environments. | Current partner(s) | Swelling, itching, and burning of moist areas. | Wet smear, visual exam. | Topical or oral anti-fungals. | Brief. 1 to 2 days. |
The Viruses:
| Common Name | Latin Name | Transmission Type | Partner Notification | Symptoms | Testing Method | Treatment | Incubation Period |
| Herpes, HSV, “the herp” | Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 and 2 | Direct skin and mucosa contact | If contact and treatment seems appropriate. | Swelling of lymph nodes, fever, small ulcerations that scab over as they heal. | Swab of lesions | Topical or oral acyclovir. Diet changes. Daily oral acyclovir as suppressant. | Typically 3-14 days. An unknown number of people may be asymptomatic carriers. |
| Genital warts, HPV | Human Papiloma Virus | Direct skin and mucosa contact, fluid to skin/mucosa contact with friction | Offer screening. | Multiple warts on dry skin. Cauliflower growths on moist, non-hairy skin. | Visual evaluation, pap smear of the cervix, anus, or head of penis underneath the foreskin. | Removal through freezing, electro-surgery, or excision. Topical ointments may be available. Vaccine is available. | 2 weeks to 9 months. Many people may be asymptomatic carriers. May also be cleared by the immune system. |
| Molluscum, water warts | Molluscum contagiosum Virus | Skin to skin. Friction is implicated in fostering transmission but may not be required. | Offer screening. | Smooth, pearly colored lesions grow over several weeks to between 1/4 and 1/2 inch diameter. | Visual evaluation. | Clears within 2 or 3 months. Cosmetic treatment with cryotherapy if necessary. | 2 to 12 weeks, on average, but may be up to 6 months. Many may be asympto-matic carriers. |
| Hep A | Hepatitis A Virus | Ingestion of contaminated food, water, urine, or feces. Blood to blood contact, especially IDU. | All partners -including IDU partners- for last 8 weeks. | Flu-like symptoms with upper right abdominal pain. Jaundice, pale feces, and dark urine. | Blood screen. | Vaccination for prevention. Other wise, containment until non infectious (1 week post the onset of jaundice.) [Lifelong immunity to re-infection once cleared.] | 2 to 6 weeks. |
| Hep B | Hepatitis B Virus | Ingestion of feces. Blood to blood contact, especially intravenous drug use but including other needles. Sexual fluid contact with feces. Transplacental. | All contacts for the last 6 months. Includes all non-sexual close contacts (family, etc) | 10 -50% asymptomatic. When present, symptoms are very like HAV. | Blood screen. | Vaccination. Oral antivirals. | 6 weeks to 6 months. |
| Hep C | Hepatitis C Virus | Sexual fluid transmission is possible. Most transmission occurs through blood contact such as IDU and non-sterile body modification tools. | All contacts for the last 20 weeks. Includes IDU, possible needle contact, and all non-sexual close contacts (family, etc) | Acute symptoms similar to HAV. 80% asymptomatic until chronic damage manifests. | Blood screen. | Vaccination for prevention. Oral and injectable antivirals. | 1 to 20 weeks. |
| HIV | Human Imuno-deficiency Virus | Body fluid contact. Blood, sexual fluids, and breast milk. | Primary- All contacts including IDU, etc, for the past 3 months. Otherwise, as many contacts as possible based on type of contact and risk factors involved. | Primary (1 to 3 weeks post infection) heavy flu-like symptoms lasting 5 to 10 days. Infrequently, oral ulcers, thrush, and pneumonia. | Blood screen. | Oral antivirals. Symptomatic treatment. If exposure is likely, prophylactic treatment begun within 72 hours may prevent infection. | Up to 3 months. 2 to 6 weeks average. Peak of viral load at about 3 weeks. |
The parasites:
| Common Name | Latin Name | Transmission Type | Partner Notification | Symptoms | Testing Method | Treatment | Incubation Period |
| Scabies | Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis | Skin to skin. (10 to 20 minutes of contact required) | All close contacts. | Initial infestation generally asymptomatic for 4 to 6 weeks. Afterwards, or with re-infestation- and exczema-like rash with 1/4 to 1/2 inch long grey/black channels. | Scraping and microscopic evaluation. | Topical ointment. | 4 to 6 weeks. |
| Crab lice | Pthiriasis-pthirus pubis | Mostly sexual skin to skin, hair to hair. Occasionally linen contact-clothing, bedding, towels, etc. (Does not survive more than 48 hours off a human body. | All close contacts for last 3 months, especially bed-mates. | Genital irritation. Black spots on skin and or clothing. | Visual inspection. | Topical ointment. | At contact. |
Sexually Transmitted Infections Charts by Jessica S Mesick is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.