BRAVEheart Teen Initiative

Name

Symptoms

Damage

Numbers/Stats

Cure

Chlamydia

Men - Usually none. Some experience discharge from the penis and burning with urination.

Women - Usually none. Some experience pain and/or vaginal discharge.

Men - Sterility

Women - Considered to be the most common cause of sterility. Advanced stage may require removal of uterus, tubes, & ovaries.

1) 3 million cases reported annually.
2) 75% are unaware they are infected.
3) 40% of those sexually active are suspected carriers

Yes

Gonorrhea

Men - Pus from urethra. Burning upon urination.

Women - Pelvic pain. Painful urination and pus-like discharge.

Men - Sterility. Scarring of the urethra and urinary tract problems.

Women - Sterility. Surgery in severe cases.

1) 650,000 new cases reported annually.
2) 80% are not aware they are affected in the early stages.

Yes

Syphilis

Men - 1st stage: swollen non-painful ulcers on the external genitalia. 2nd stage: changes of skin, fever, enlarged lymph nodes.

Women - 1st stage: often unnoticed. 2nd stage: same as men

Men - Brain disorders, heart disease, blindness, dementia, and death.

Women - Same as men. Can cause birth defects of death in newborns if mother is infected.

1) 70,000 new cases reported annually.

2) 50% are not aware they have this disease.

Yes

HIV/AIDS

Men - Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph glands.

Women - Same as man.

Men - Immune system breakdown, death.

Women - Same as men.

1) 6th leading cause of death among persons 15-24 years.
2) Infected during teen years.

No

Genital Herpes

Men - Lesions appear at the site of infection, periodic eruptions of painful blisters and ulcers anywhere on body.

Women - Same as men.

Men - Continuous outbreaks. Eventually may lead to hospitalization. Lifetime medication required.

Women - Same as men. Causes infant death.

1) 45 million infected.
2) 1 million new cases annually.
3) 75% show no symptoms.
4) 25% of women have this disease.

No

Human Papilloma-virus

Men - Wart-like genital growths.

Women - Often no visible symptoms. Some experience vulvar burning itching and pain. Abnormal pap smears.

Men - Cancer of the penis and anus.

Women - Initially pre malignant changes difficult to eradicate. Develops into cervical cancer is not treated.

1) 20 million people are thought to be carriers.
2) 80 different strains exist today.
3) 75% of reproductive population infected with this virus.

No

Hepatitis B

Men - Often none. Some experience yellowing of the skin (jaundice), tiredness, dark urine, and gray colored stool.

Women - Same as men.

Men - Severe liver damage. Can eventually lead to cancer of the liver and cirrhosis.

Women - Same as men.

1) 120,000 new cases annually.

2) 40%-50% children born to infected mothers develop liver cancer.

No

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Men - This disease affects only women.

Women - See Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Often symptoms are minor and mistaken for menstrual cramps.

Men - This disease infects only women.

Women - Ectopic Pregnancy (fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of uterus). Can be life-threatening. Sterility and cancer common.

1) 1 million new cases annually, most in the 15-19 year age group.

2) 100,000 women become infertile as a result of PID each year.

Yes