Fortunately, spectinomycin or ceftriaxone can be used to treat resistant strains. Because gonorrhea is highly contagious and yet may cause no symptoms, all men and women who have sexual contact with more than one partner should be tested regularly for the disease. Using condoms during sexual intercourse is very effective in preventing the spread of infection. Penicillin remains the drug most commonly used to treat syphilis. Genital warts infect up to 3 million Americans each year.
Scientists believe that the virus causing genital warts also causes several types of cancer.
If the warts are very large, they may be removed by surgery. Approximately 500,000 new cases of this incurable infection develop annually. The major symptoms of herpes infection are painful blisters or open sores in the genital area. These may be preceded by a tingling or burning sensation in the legs, buttocks, or genital region. The herpes sore usually disappears within two to three weeks, but the virus remains in the body and the lesions may recur from time to time.