Minority Women's Health

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Minority Women's Health > American Indians/Alaska Natives > Health Topics > Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Over 25 diseases are spread through sex. Some STDs seem to affect certain groups more than others. Gonorrhea rates for American Indians/Alaska Natives are four times those of whites. Between 2002 and 2006, gonorrhea rates for American Indians/Alaska Natives went up almost 23 percent. Rates of syphilis and chlamydia are also going up.

STDs are more easily passed from men to women. And many STDs have no symptoms. If you're having sex, get tested for STDs.

Publications

1.   Fact Sheet — Chlamydia — This publication provides information on chlamydia infection, including its symptoms, how it is spread, how it is treated, and how to avoid contracting this STI.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/chlamydia.cfm

2.   American Indian Health — This Web site is an information portal to information about the health of native peoples of the United States. The topics include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and environmental health.

   http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/

3.   Chlamydia — This fact sheet describes the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and current research on chlamydia infection. Complications of chlamydia, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infection in newborns, also are discussed.

   http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/chlamydia/

4.   Fact Sheet — Genital Herpes — This fact sheet provides information on genital herpes, its symptoms, ways to reduce future outbreaks, and the complications that it might cause.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/genital-herpes.cfm

5.   Fact Sheet — Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts — This publication provides information on human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts. It includes modes of transmission, treatments, and ways of prevention.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/human-papillomavirus.cfm

6.   Fact Sheet — Sexually Transmitted Infections: Overview — This fact sheet explains in clear language what a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is and why STIs are especially harmful to women. It lists common STIs and their symptoms, describes the process of testing for STIs, and explains how women can protect themselves from getting an STI. This fact sheet also provides a list of resources that offer more information on STIs.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/sexually-transmitted-infections.cfm

7.   Fact Sheet — Syphilis — This fact sheet explains what syphilis is, how it is spread, and how best to avoid infection. It describes symptoms of syphilis and how it is diagnosed and treated. This publication also lists sources to contact for more information on syphilis.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/syphilis.cfm

8.   Genital Herpes — This fact sheet describes the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, possible complications, prevention, and current research on genital herpes. Other topics covered include re-occurrence and its role in the spread of HIV infection.

   http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/genital_herpes/default.htm

9.   Gonorrhea — This fact sheet briefly describes gonorrhea with information on prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, what can happen if it goes untreated, and complications for pregnant women and newborns.

   http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/gonorrhea/default.htm

10.     HPV Brochure for American Indian Women — This booklet explains what genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is and what you can do to protect yourself from its possible effects.

    http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/common/ai/ai.pdf

11.   Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Tutorial — This online tutorial gives information to the general public about sexually transmitted diseases.

    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/sexuallytransmitteddiseases/htm/index.htm...

12.   STDs and Pregnancy — This online fact sheet answers common questions that a pregnant woman may have about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some topics that are discussed are becoming infected with an STD, STD trends in pregnant women, and treatments for STDs in pregnant women.

    http://www.cdc.gov/std/STDFact-STDs&Pregnancy.htm

13.   STDs Today — This online publication provides a detailed review of important sexually transmitted infections affecting people in the United States. For each disease, this publication provides an overview of key issues, risk groups, and basic statistics.

    http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/std/std.asp

14.   Syphilis — This fact sheet briefly describes the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of syphilis. The effects of the disease in pregnant women are also discussed.

    http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/syphilis/default.htm

15.   Condoms (Copyright © NPAIHB) — This brochure for American Indians describes what a condom is, how to use one, and other important facts.

    http://www.npaihb.org/images/projects_docs/Condoms.pdf

16.   STD Fact Sheet: American Indians/Alaska Natives (Copyright © NPAIHB) — This fact sheet provides information on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the American Indian/Alaska Native community. It provides statistics on gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS.

    http://www.npaihb.org/images/epicenter_docs/aids/National.pdf

17.   Syphilis (Copyright © NPAIHB) — This brochure for American Indians gives the facts about syphilis, including its symptoms, stages, and risk factors, and also includes a quiz to test your knowledge.

    http://www.npaihb.org/images/projects_docs/Syphilis.pdf

Organizations

1.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS (CDC INFO)
2.   National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, HHS
3.   National Prevention Information Network, CDC, HHS
4. American Social Health Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Resources reviewed March 2008.