{"id":1040,"date":"2016-01-25T14:39:46","date_gmt":"2016-01-25T14:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/?page_id=1040"},"modified":"2025-08-12T18:28:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T18:28:12","slug":"std","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/disease-prevention\/std\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-1040\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-1040-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1040-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" ><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1040-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" ><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1040-0-2\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" ><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1040-0-3\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1040-0-3-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-social-media-buttons panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-social-media-buttons so-widget-sow-social-media-buttons-atom-963bb580e5c3-1040\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n\n<div class=\"social-media-button-container\">\n\t\n\t\t<a \n\t\tclass=\"ow-button-hover sow-social-media-button-facebook-0 sow-social-media-button\" title=\"Find us on Facebook\" aria-label=\"Find us on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DiseasePreventionHotline\/\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-fab\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf39e;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<a \n\t\tclass=\"ow-button-hover sow-social-media-button-phone-0 sow-social-media-button\" title=\"Contact\" aria-label=\"Contact\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/disease-prevention\/contact-us\/\" \t\t>\n\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-fas\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf095;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1040-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1040-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1040-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-dbf295114b96-1040\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/gonorrhea\/images\/gono-4.jpg\" title=\"Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1040-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Each year, there are about 20 million new STD infections in the United States. Anyone who is sexually active, including oral sex, can get an STD. Get the facts about STDs below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1040-1-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-accordion panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div class=\"anchor-links panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-1040-1-0-2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-accordion so-widget-sow-accordion-default-2f9b41a03028-1040\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div>\n\t<div class=\"sow-accordion\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t sow-accordion-panel-open\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"syphilis\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-syphilis\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-syphilis\" aria-expanded=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSyphilis\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-syphilis\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-syphilis\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Syphilis is a STD caused by the bacterium <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treponema pallidum<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.\u00a0 Syphilis is often called the \u2018great imitator\u2019 because it has so many possible symptoms. Many of the symptoms look like symptoms from other diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>1st Stage<\/strong>: 1-12 weeks after infection, a painless sore will appear where you were infected.\u00a0 The sore can be anywhere in genital area, inside vagina, rectum, or mouth. The sore will go away without treatment, but the infection is still causing damage to your body.\u00a0 Because the sore is painless and may not be visible, many people with syphilis do not recall noticing a sore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>2nd Stage<\/strong>: 2-12 weeks after the sore has healed, you may get a rash on your hands, feet, or whole body.\u00a0 A red, blotchy rash is common with this stage and sometimes called a \u201cpalmar-plantar rash\u201d because of the location on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet.\u00a0 You might have flu-like symptoms, or rapid patchy hair loss. Even though the symptoms will go away, you still have syphilis until you get treated. Syphilis can eventually cause death.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>3rd Stage<\/strong>: After the second stage, many people with syphilis can go a long time with no symptoms at all.\u00a0 This \u201clatent period\u201d does not mean you no longer have syphilis. The infectious sores may return. Untreated syphilis can damage your internal organs.\u00a0 Syphilis can continue to cause damage to your body for decades if untreated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neurological symptoms: Neurological symptoms can happen at any stage of syphilis.\u00a0 Some people with syphilis may have confusion, depression, headaches, or numbness. Syphilis can also cause serious permanent eye damage or blindness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should get tested regularly if you are pregnant, are a man who has sex with men, have HIV infection, and\/or have partner(s) who have tested positive for syphilis. Pregnant women should get tested throughout their pregnancy because the infection can cause serious problems in a baby.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/syphilis\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"chlamydia\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-chlamydia\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-chlamydia\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChlamydia\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-chlamydia\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-chlamydia\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chlamydia is a common STD in the United States that is easy to cure with the right medicine. It is caused by a bacteria called <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chlamydia trachomatis<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Anyone who is sexually active can get chlamydia, by having vaginal, oral or anal sex. Most people who have chlamydia don\u2019t know it, since the disease often has no symptoms. This is why it is important to get tested regularly if you are sexually active, and get treated if you are infected. Chlamydia can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant if left untreated; it can also cause discharge from the penis of an infected man.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can get infected with chlamydia again after being treated if you have unprotected sex with someone with the infection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/chlamydia\/about\/?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/chlamydia\/stdfact-chlamydia.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"lymphogranuloma-venereum-lgv\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-lymphogranuloma-venereum-lgv\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-lymphogranuloma-venereum-lgv\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-lymphogranuloma-venereum-lgv\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-lymphogranuloma-venereum-lgv\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>LGV is spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected person.\u00a0 The first symptom of LGV is usually a sore on the genitals or anus which may heal on its own.\u00a0 LGV can also cause swollen lymph nodes in the groin, discharge from the rectum, or anal pain.\u00a0 LGV can lead to serious health problems in both men and women if left untreated.\u00a0 LGV can be cured with medication.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"gonorrhea\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-gonorrhea\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-gonorrhea\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGonorrhea\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-gonorrhea\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-gonorrhea\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gonorrhea is another common STD, sometimes called \u201cthe clap\u201d or \u201cthe drip.\u201d Anyone who is sexually active can get gonorrhea, by having vaginal, oral or anal sex. Many times, gonorrhea has no symptoms, so it is important to get tested regularly if you are sexually active. The right medication can cure the infection. Gonorrhea has developed resistance to most of the antibiotic drugs prescribed to treat it, therefore getting the correct treatment is important. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in both women and men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/gonorrhea\/about\/?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/gonorrhea\/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm\">Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"genital-herpes\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-genital-herpes\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-genital-herpes\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGenital Herpes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-genital-herpes\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-genital-herpes\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genital herpes is a common STD, and most people with genital herpes infection do not know they have it.\u00a0 Around one in five adults in the United States has genital herpes. Herpes sores usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth.\u00a0 The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take weeks to heal. You can get genital herpes from an infected partner, even if your partner has no symptoms. There is no cure for herpes.\u00a0 Medicine can make outbreaks less frequent. When you take medicine, it is less likely you will spread herpes to a sex partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/herpes\/about\/index.html\">Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"human-papillomavirus-hpv\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-human-papillomavirus-hpv\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-human-papillomavirus-hpv\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Papillomavirus (HPV)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-human-papillomavirus-hpv\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-human-papillomavirus-hpv\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STD in the United States.\u00a0 There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems including genital warts and cancers.\u00a0 Some health effects caused by HPV can be prevented with vaccines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/sti\/about\/about-genital-hpv-infection.html\">Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"mpox-formerly-referred-to-as-monkeypox\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-mpox-formerly%c2%a0referred-to-as-monkeypox\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-mpox-formerly%c2%a0referred-to-as-monkeypox\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMpox (formerly\u00a0referred to as monkeypox)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-mpox-formerly%c2%a0referred-to-as-monkeypox\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-mpox-formerly%c2%a0referred-to-as-monkeypox\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mpox is a contagious rash illness. \u00a0The mpox virus is what causes the rash illness. \u00a0Before 2022 it was not common in the U.S. and was not generally associated with sexual contact.\u00a0 An outbreak of mpox driven by sexual\/intimate contact began in 2022. \u00a0It is now ongoing in the U.S and other countries.<\/p>\n<p>The main symptom of mpox is a rash that may be located on the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth, or near the genitals.\u00a0 It may first look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.\u00a0 The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. Mpox can spread through close contact with an infected person. \u00a0This can include sexual or intimate contact, hugging, cuddling, and massage.\u00a0 Sexual\/intimate contact includes oral, anal, and vaginal sex. \u00a0Sex with anonymous or multiple partners poses a high risk for getting or spreading mpox.<\/p>\n<p>Vaccines for mpox are available for people at high risk of infection. \u00a0Testing for mpox is available for people who have symptoms.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/mpox\">Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"chancroid\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-chancroid\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-chancroid\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChancroid\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-chancroid\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-chancroid\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Chancroid is a bacterial STD that is uncommon in the United States.\u00a0 It can cause painful genital ulcers and swollen lymph nodes in the groin.\u00a0 Anyone who is sexually active can get chancroid by having vaginal, oral or anal sex with an infected person.\u00a0 Chancroid can be cured with medication.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"granuloma-inguinale\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-granuloma-inguinale\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-granuloma-inguinale\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGranuloma inguinale\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-granuloma-inguinale\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-granuloma-inguinale\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Granuloma inguinale is another bacterial STD that rarely occurs in the United States.\u00a0 It can cause painless lesions on the genitals that are typically red in color and can bleed when touched.\u00a0 Granuloma inguinale can also cause infection in the lower abdomen, bones, and mouth.\u00a0 Granuloma inguinale can be treated with medication.\u00a0 It may take several weeks for lesions to completely heal during treatment.\u00a0 Sometimes granuloma inguinale reappears even after treatment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1040-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1040-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" ><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-1040-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1040-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1040-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Get Tested<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>For more information on STD testing, visit our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/disease-prevention\/testing-hepatitis-hiv-and-stds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">testing page<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 To find a testing site near you, use the locator to the right.\u00a0 For testing or other health services at a local health department, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/health-department-locator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 For specific questions about STDs or testing locations call the Virginia Disease Prevention Hotline at (800) 533-4148.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-1040-3-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1040-3-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<div style=\"vertical-align:middle\"> \n<!-- iframe plugin v.6.0 wordpress.org\/plugins\/iframe\/ -->\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/widgets\/widget-gyt.html\" name=\"GYTwidget\" id=\"GYTwidget\" title=\"Widget for finding an STD testing site.\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"200\" width=\"250\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; display:block; float:right;\" class=\"iframe-class\"><\/iframe>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year, there are about 20 million new STD infections in the United States. Anyone who is sexually active, including oral sex, can get an STD. Get the facts about STDs below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1040","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) - Disease Prevention<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"VDH STD webpage. 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Find information on common STDs, get linked to resources, and find testing locations near you.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/disease-prevention\/std\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Disease Prevention\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-12T18:28:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/disease-prevention\\\/std\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/disease-prevention\\\/std\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) - Disease Prevention\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/disease-prevention\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-01-25T14:39:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-12T18:28:12+00:00\",\"description\":\"VDH STD webpage. 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