This is the most common venereal diseases, and more than 50% of sexually active people have been infected with it at some point in their lives. It can cause genital warts which are small skin-colored bumps, soft to the touch, that can resemble cauliflower. These warts can appear on the penis, vagina and anus and in some cases, although rarer, in the mouth. In younger people, they can often disappear on their own but in older people, because of their weaker immune systems, it's essential that you go to a doctor as soon as possible for treatment, or those harmless looking warts can turn into blisters which can bleed and facilitate their infection into other areas as well as their transmission to sexual partners.

One of the most common STDs in the United States, gonorrhea can be spread through any type of sexual contact. Among the most frequent symptoms are a burning sensation during urination and, in men, the penis can secrete pus while women can produce yellowish, or bloody vaginal fluid. If infected, it's necessary to visit a doctor and treat the infection with antibiotics as soon as possible. If left untreated, it can provoke more grave infections that can lead to death. When it comes to seniors it's important to note that an immune system naturally weakened by age can make the symptoms become more serious more quickly.

It is frequently manifested as one or more painful genital ulcers simulating a syphilitic chancres. Uncircumcised men are at an increased risk of contracting chancroid from an infected partner. In addition, the chancroid is a risk factor for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS.

Also known as "crabs", pubic lice are parasitic insects that inhabit the pubic hair and can cause extreme itching in the genital area. The lice spread from person to person by the friction created during sex and they can dwell on clothing, towels, sheets and even on toilets and can appear on other parts of the body containing coarse hair. It is one of the few STDs that can't be prevented with the use of condoms and the only way to get rid of them is through the application of pharmaceutical products to the affected area.

This virus, which can lead to AIDS, doesn't have symptoms that are as evident as some of the other STDs we've discussed. That said, symptoms may include cold sores, sore throat, serious reoccurring infections, weight loss and hematomas. Unfortunately, in the US, 25% of the people infected with this terrible, and as yet, incurable virus, are over 50 years old.

It is an infection of the lining of the uterus, the fallopian tubes, or the ovaries. Most cases of PID are caused by bacteria that move from the vagina or cervix to the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvis. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two bacteria that cause most cases of PID. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vaginal discharge with color, or pain when urinating. It can be treated with antibiotics.

Genital Herpes is an STD caused by two types of viruses: herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2. You can be infected through oral, vaginal or anal sex with a person who has the disease. Genital herpes sores, usually, look like one or more blisters and form on the genitals, rectum or mouth. The first time a person has an outbreak they are also likely to have flu-like symptoms. There is no cure for herpes, however, there are medications that can prevent or decrease the duration of outbreaks.

You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during oral, vaginal or anal sex. If left untreated with antibiotics, it can cause serious damage to both the brain and nervous system. Initial symptoms may appear in the form of sores on the penis or vagina, and if not treated, they can also appear on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands as well. It can even end up causing damage to the nervous system, heart, brain or other organs and in serious cases, it can be fatal.

Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis). The most common symptoms are itchiness and pimple hash. If a person has never had scabies before, symptoms may take as long as 4-6 weeks to begin. It is important to remember that an infested person can spread scabies during this time, even if he/she does not have symptoms yet. In a person who has had scabies before, symptoms usually appear much sooner (1-4 days) after exposure. Treatment to scabies involve prescription creams and lotions that can be applied directly to the skin. Oral medications are also available. Beware of the Norwegian Scabies, a more severe and extremely contagious type.

The majority of people infected with chlamydia won't have any symptoms, but those who do can experience unusual genital secretions and/or pain as well as a burning sensation during urination. Woman can suffer pains in the lower back or abdomen, nausea, pain during sex or bleeding afterward. Like some of the other STDs in this section, it can be treated with antibiotics. Although it's not relevant for seniors, chlamydia is the number one cause of preventable infertility in the U.S.

There are 3 types of Hepatitis: A, B, and C, the last two being the more likely to be contracted through sexual contact. Hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine, but to date there is none for type C. But while both are more infectious than HIV, they are both curable in 90% of the cases. However, in the worst cases, they can lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer or even death. The most dangerous aspect of this disease is that symptoms are similar to those of the flu, which leads many people to not recognize the infection and as a result, not visit a doctor.

Trichomoniasis (or "trich") is a very common sexually transmitted disease. It's caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Although symptoms of the disease vary, most people who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected. Some symptoms (if they occur) include vaginal o urethral discharge, a burning sensation when urinating and itching in the genital area. Trich can be treated with antibiotic medications. There are NO EFFECTIVE HOME REMEDIES for Trichomoniasis.