Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are caused by Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), which spread from one person to another by sexual contact. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
STDs can be caused by more than 30 different viruses, bacteria, or parasites. STIs have a direct impact on sexual and reproductive health, leading to infertility and cancers, and they can also increase the risk of HIV infection. Currently, 4 types of STDs are curable: syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.