Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are infections that are spread by sexual contact. Some of these infections may also be spread from a pregnant woman to her baby during the pregnancy or delivery. Exposure to an STD can occur anytime a person has sex or close physical contact that involves genitals, the mouth or the rectum of another person.

The Facts

• Sacramento County (2019) has the sixth highest rate of Gonorrhea in the state, and the sixth highest rate of Chlamydia in the state³.
• Sacramento County has the eighth highest rate of Syphilis in the state. Sacramento County has shown a sharp increase in Syphilis cases in recent years³.
• STDs affect both men and women, and two-thirds of all STDs occur in people younger than 25⁴.
• About 1 in 4 teen girls gets an STD within one year of becoming sexually active⁵.
• Some STDs can lead to long-term serious health problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and cervical cancer⁶.
• Some STDs also increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV⁷.
• STDs are serious illnesses that require treatment. Some STDs, like AIDS, cannot be cured and can be deadly⁸.

Common STDs:

Chlamydia
Genital Herpes
Genital Warts or HPV
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
HIV

Call Sac Valley Women’s Health in Sacramento at (916) 451-2273 (CARE) or request an appointment online for a free STD test.

³California Department of Public Health https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/STD-Data.aspx
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/STD-Data.aspx
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/StateSummaryGraphsAndTables.pdf
⁴Web MD
⁵Web MD; American Social Health Organization
⁶CDC
⁷CDC
⁸CDC

This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. We do not perform abortion services.