According to the National Institutes of Health there are twenty STDs. You have heard of the most common STD/I like gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, and HIV but there are others to worry about as well. STDs are caused by bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Most STDs are equal opportunity offenders in that they affect both men and women however women may be affected more seriously by some STDS. Some STDs may not have symptoms that are obvious in women so they may go undetected until the infection has reached other parts of the body or may affect a woman’s ability to bear children.

For a basic but thorough introduction to STD causes, symptoms and treatment go to the tutorial at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/sexuallytransmitteddiseases/htm/_no_50_no_0.htm