Test Your STD IQ with Dr. Wayne's STD Quiz!

“There is hardly anyone whose sexual life, if it were broadcast, would not fill the world at large with surprise and horror.” --William Somerset Maugham

According to the CDC, rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among gay men have been increasing in recent years. While some STDs are curable (such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis), others are not (such as herpes and HIV). Having any STD, even one that is curable, makes you much more likely to acquire HIV if you’re exposed.

Here are some questions to help you assess your knowledge of STDs. Remember, knowledge is power, and prevention is the best strategy.

Q: True of False? Washing or showering after sex is a good way to protect yourself against STDs.
A: False. According to the CDC, washing the genitals, urinating after sex, or douching will not prevent any STD. Abstinence from sex, or monogamy with an uninfected partner, are the surest ways to prevent STDs. Condoms can greatly reduce the risk of STDs if used correctly, and consistently.

Q: True of False? It burns when I urinate. I must have a urinary tract infection.
A: Maybe. But you might have gonorrhea or chlamydia. Urinary tract infections can be common in some women, but they are rare in men. Anyone having “genital” symptoms such as discharge or burning with urination should see a doctor for testing. Untreated infection with gonorrhea or chlamydia can lead to serious complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy in women, or epididymitis (swollen, infected testicles) in men. Both men and women are at risk for infertility if not treated.
The symptoms of gonorrhea or chlamydia usually appear within a week of being infected, but may take as long as 4 weeks. Many infected people have no symptoms. Testing involves a simple urine test, and infections can be cured with antibiotics.

Q: True or False? Gonorrhea and chlamydia are not spread by oral sex.
A: False. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can be spread by oral, vaginal, or anal sex. They are bacterial infections, and the bacteria can grow not only in the genitals and reproductive organs, but also in the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum. They can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. Ejaculation does not have to occur during sex for these infections to be spread. Symptoms of a throat infection include – a sore throat. Rectal infection can cause anal itching, discharge, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Again, there often are no symptoms.

Q: True of False? Lesbians don’t get STDs, so they don’t need to get pap smears.
A: False. While STD rates among lesbians are low, lesbian sex is not without risk. HPV (human papilloma virus), the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer, is spread through genital contact, including lesbian sex. There are over 40 strains of the HPV virus, classified as either “low risk” or “high risk.” A person with a healthy immune system can usually clear the virus within 2 years. In some people, “low risk” strains can cause genital warts, which appear within a few weeks of exposure, but may not appear for several months. They can be anywhere in the genital area or around the rectum, or even in the groin and inner thighs. They can be treated with topical medication, or frozen or surgically removed by a physician. They do not progress to cancer. “High risk” strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women or anal cancer in men. These cancers do not have symptoms until they are advanced, so it is important for all women, including lesbians, to get pap tests every year. Pap tests look for early cell changes, which can be treated before they progress to cancer. Anal pap tests are also being used to detect early cancer in gay men, particularly those infected with HIV. There is an HPV vaccine that is approved for women, and it is currently being studied for use in men.

Q: I had a sore on my penis, but it didn’t hurt, and it healed up after 2 weeks. It must have been nothing, and I’m OK now, right?
A: Wrong. What you described sounds like syphilis. Syphilis is a bacterial infection spread by oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Syphilis occurs in stages. The first stage is a painless ulcer that appears at the area of contact (the genitals, rectum, or mouth, but it can be anywhere on the body), usually within a few weeks from the time of exposure. The ulcer heals on its own, but the bacteria remain in the blood. Within a month or two, the second stage occurs, which can include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, or a rash in the mouth or on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. These resolve within a few weeks, and the infection then enters a latent stage, which may last for years. During the latent stage, the infection begins to slowly and steadily damage the internal organs (heart, brain, and liver, and also the eyes, joints, and blood vessels), causing blindness, dementia, and even death. Several famous people throughout history are alleged to have contracted syphilis, including Vincent Van Gogh, Friedrich Nietzsche, Adolf Hitler, and Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen, the author of Out of Africa).
Rates of syphilis have increased substantially in recent years. According to the CDC, men who have sex with men account for 64% of syphilis cases in the United States. Additionally, Phoenix and Maricopa County have one of the highest rates of syphilis in the nation. Syphilis is diagnosed with a blood test, and if it’s detected in the early stages, is easily cured with antibiotics.

Q: True of false? People with genital herpes aren’t contagious unless they’re having an outbreak.
A: False. Herpes is a viral infection transmitted by oral or genital contact, and can be transmitted even if the infected person has no visible sores. Herpes causes painful, fluid-filled blisters that occur within a few weeks of exposure. The blisters heal, but can recur. There is no cure for herpes, and there is no vaccination. Medication is available that, if taken daily, can decrease not only the frequency and severity of outbreaks, but also the risk of transmitting the infection to others. Consistent condom use can also reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

Having any STD infection makes you up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV if you’re exposed to the virus. The CDC recommends getting tested for STDs every 6 months if you’ve had new or multiple sexual partners and have engaged in unprotected sex.

So, how did you score? If you’d like more information about STDs, talk with your doctor, or visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/std.