Sexually transmitted diseases are infectious diseases transmitted by sexual contact or blood, less commonly by laundry and towels. Today, we often refer to them as sexually transmitted infections in order to emphasize the fact that most of these diseases are without symptoms, but can have lasting consequences on internal reproductive organs. They are more common in people who frequently change sexual partners or have sexual contact with a random partner. According to the estimates of the World Health Organization, at least 125 million people are newly infected annually. In Slovenia, the numbers are not negligible either. According to the Institute of Public Health, more than 500 cases of new sexually transmitted infections are reported annually. In women, the highest incidence is between the ages of 20 and 24, and in men between 25 and 29 years of age.

The most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are the following:
- Genital warts
- Other HPV infections (causing changes in the cervix)
- Chlamydia
- Genital herpes
- Non-specific urethritis (inflammation of the urethra not caused by the gonorrhea bacterium)
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis
- HIV
- Fungal infections (candidiasis)
- Parasitic infections (trichomoniasis)
- Scabies, pubic lice

Bacterial STDs (chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea) are treated with antibiotics. Viral STDs (herpes, HPV infections, HIV, hepatitis) cannot be cured, as they remain with an individual after the infection, and present themselves whenever the body's immunity drops. In viral infections, only the consequences of infection, i.e. the symptoms, are treated, whereas the virus itself cannot be eliminated.

Please note:
- Anyone can get infected!
- STDs are on the rise.
- Infections can be transferred from the mother to the child.
- Untreated infections can cause permanent and severe consequences (infertility, cervical cancer ...).

It is of the utmost importance to detect and treat STDs as soon as possible to avoid lasting consequences!