Sexually transmitted diseases are so common they deserve their own acronym, STDs. Down through the ages, Sexual activity with multiple partners has been so popular that the ever-resourceful bacteria, fungi, and viruses all compete for this ever present ecosystem. It is not uncommon to have multiple STDs at the same time.

Since STDs have many symptoms and physical findings in common, it is essential to go to the doctor for a diagnosis; certainly the treatments very widely.

Until the mid 20th century, treatments were very unsatisfactory, and the infection of the vagina would often lead to deeper infections of the uterus and abdominal cavity; pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)was fairly common then, and still occurs in people foolish enough to postpone getting their problem treated properly.

The common STDs include bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papilloma virus infection(HPV), Syphillis  and Trichomoniasis. These are sufficiently different in their symptoms and treatment as to deserve their own discussion among the 101 common disorders. Now we have a new kid on the block, Monkeypox, that is helping out AIDS as a plague to the homosexual community.

I have a dear friend who is a physician for a student health department at a major university. STDs, depression, and other psychiatric problems are among the more common things that she sees in her practice.

—Dr. C.