Also called venereal diseases, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are in a topic of their own and are higly

contagious infections almost always acuired during se xual contact. Bacteria, protozoans, or fungi that cause STDs generally attack only c ertain portions of the body, including the genital tract. They do not survive for long periods of time outside of the human body, and transmission through things like clothing or toilet seats are extremely rare. The transmision is rare because of the little surviva l time that the diseases have outside of the body. The effects of STDs range from mild, annoyin g symptoms to life-threatening illnesses that spread from the reproductive tract t o the entire body. The most serious diseases are AIDS, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea. Chlamydia, the most common STD in the United State today, is not life threatening but can have serious efects as it is a leading cause of sterility. Less serious infections include h erpes, chancroid, genital warts, cold sores, and vaginitis. None of these diseases is caught entirely through sexual contact. The sexual partners of a person with an STD ar e likely to be infected as well and should be examined and tested for the disease.