Gonococcal Arthritis
Like chlamydia, the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea can infiltrate the joints of unwitting victims and cause arthritis. Typically this condition, called gonococcal arthritis, is more
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Venereal Arthritis
Joshua Heller wasn’t worried when he noticed a painless knot below his right ankle. A couple of months later, he felt a dull ache in
HIV: An Epidemic of Despair, Reasons for Hope
Among chronic diseases, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) poses challenges to those struck with it that others can barely imagine, says Cheryl Gore-Felton, PhD, an
Living Healthy With HIV
Getting infected with HIV — the human immunodeficiency virus — is a life-changing event. With access to treatment, that’s life-changing — not life-ending. If you
Migrant Workers and HIV/AIDS
It may come as a surprise to know that of the roughly 11 million Mexican-born migrant workers currently living in the United States, recent immigrants
HIV and AIDS
What is AIDS? It’s a disease that first surfaced in 1981, when scientists discovered a previously unknown human retrovirus linked to the outbreak of a
HIV Medications
Do I need to take medication if I’m HIV-positive? Back in the mid-1980s — before doctors really knew what caused acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Genital Herpes (HSV-2)
What is it? Genital herpes is a common sexually-transmitted infection that can cause painful genital sores on both men and women. It’s caused by a
Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Overview
There are only two ways to completely protect yourself from a sexually transmitted disease. You can abstain from sex altogether or have sex only with
Syphilis
What is syphilis? Although its incidence dropped substantially during the 1990s, this potentially deadly disease is on the rise again in the U.S. According to
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Prevention and Treatment
What is pelvic inflammatory disease? Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is a serious infection of a woman’s reproductive system. Every year it’s contracted by about
Trichomoniasis (Trich)
What is trichomoniasis? It’s a sexually transmitted disease that causes vaginitis (vaginal inflammation) and infects a man’s urethra. Each year, more than seven million Americans
Chancroid
What is chancroid? Chancroid (pronounced shan-kroid) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium called Hemophilus ducreyi. Though it’s most prevalent in developing and
Chlamydia
What is chlamydia? It’s a sexually transmitted disease that has recently (and sneakily) assumed the status of an epidemic. Chlamydia is easily cured, but it’s
Crab Lice
What are crabs? Lice are bad enough when you get them on your scalp. But if you catch pubic lice — more commonly known as
Cytomegalovirus
What is cytomegalovirus (CMV)? Although few people have heard of cytomegalovirus, or CMV, many of us are carrying it at this very moment. It’s a
Gonorrhea
What is gonorrhea? Many people view gonorrhea as an old-fashioned venereal disease, one that’s been almost wiped out by modern antibiotics. But in reality gonorrhea
HIV: Advances in Treatment
For all of the progress made against HIV/AIDS over the years, the push for still better treatments is far from over. Until a cure is
HIV Home Testing Kit
If you think you might have HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS, you need to find out for sure. Fortunately, there’s a