Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are 3 bacterial infections among the more common sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) present and more awareness seems necessary considering the rise in prescriptions and resistance for antibiotics used for treatment.

GONORRHEA
A highly contagious disease, is one of the most common STDs. The cause of gonorrhea is a bacterium, gonorrhea neisseria that spreads through sexual contact. The disease can also be passed from a mother to her child during birth
Sometimes referred to as "the clap," gonorrhea may produce signs and symptoms such as a burning sensation when urinating, or a thick discharge from the penis or vagina. Many people experience mild or no signs or symptoms. The first gonorrhea symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days after exposure to the bacterium. However, some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur.
In men, first there's often a tingling sensation in the urethra. Later, urination becomes painful and you may notice a discharge from your penis. As the infection progresses, urethral pain usually becomes more pronounced and the discharge becomes more profuse and thick.
In women, the signs and symptoms, if any, may be so mild you may not realize you have the infection. Often, the only clue that you may have gonorrhea comes when someone who you've had sexual contact with develops the disease. The infection usually affects the cervix and other reproductive organs as well as the urethra. In some women, gonorrhea causes frequent, urgent and painful urination along with an abnormal discharge from the vagina or urethra.

Complications
Not receiving adequate treatment for gonorrhea may lead to complications. These may include:
Inflammation of the epididymis. In men inflammation of the testicles  is an acute condition treatable with antibiotics and pain relievers. If untreated, it may lead to infertility.
Pelvic inflammatory disease. In women, the bacteria can spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may result in scarring of the tubes, greater risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. PID may lead to abdominal pain, backache, irregular menstrual periods, pain during intercourse and foul-smelling vaginal discharge. It's a serious infection that requires immediate treatment by a doctor.
Spread of the infection during childbirth. A pregnant woman with untreated gonorrhea may spread the infection to her baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. In an infant, gonorrhea may cause complications such as blindness and widespread infection of the joints and blood.
Irritation of your throat and tonsils. Oral sex can lead to pharyngeal gonorrhea with a sore throat, pain on swallowing and redness of the throat and tonsils.

Treatment
Doctors prescribe antibiotic medications for gonorrhea treatment. Fluoroquinolons (ie Cipro) have long been the standard choice, drug resistance has gone up in several areas to almost 10% and make cephalosporins the drug of choice ie ceftriaxon 250mg or as possible oral alternative zinnat 1 gram. Although over-the-counter pain relievers may reduce signs or symptoms, these medications won't cure gonorrhea.

CHLAMYDIA
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.
It is the most common sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydia may be acquired together with gonorrhea and/or syphilis, so individuals with one sexually transmitted disease must be screened for other sexually transmitted diseases as well. Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic infection and infertility.
In men, chlamydia may produce symptoms similar to those of gonorrhea (discharge from penis or rectum, burning on urination or defecation). However, up to 25% of infected men may have no symptoms.
In women, only approximately 30% will have symptoms due to chlamydia -- hence screening sexually active women for chlamydia is necessary to diagnose and treat asymptomatic women in order to decrease the risk of developing complications. Women who do have symptoms may note vaginal discharge, burning on urination, or abdominal pain.
Untreated infection may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause scarring of the tubes and result in infertility. If a woman is infected with chlamydia while pregnant, the infection can cause premature labor and delivery. In addition, the infant may develop chlamydial conjunctivitis (eye infection) and chlamydial pneumonia.

The mainstay of therapy for chlamydia includes appropriate antibiotic treatment -- these include: tetracyclines, azithromycin or erythromycin. Mostly a single dosage of 1 gram Azithromycin is used although some regions have upped the dosage to 2 gram due to increasing resistance to the drug. Sexual partners must be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth. There is no significant immunity following the infection and a person may become repeatedly infected.
Early antibiotic treatment is extremely successful and may prevent the development of long-term complications. Untreated infection, however, may lead to PID, scarring and ultimately infertility.

SYPHILIS
The disease affects your genitals, skin and mucous membranes, but it may also involve many other parts of your body, including your brain and your heart. Left untreated, syphilis can lead to serious complications or death. But with early diagnosis and treatment, the disease can be successfully treated. After a brief decline in cases in the late 1990s, incidence has again been on the rise during this decade.
Syphilis is contagious during its primary and secondary stages. The bacterial organism that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum, enters your body through minor cuts or abrasions in your skin or mucous membranes. The most common route of transmission is through contact with an infected person's sore during sexual activity.

Signs and symptoms
Primary These signs may occur from 10 days to three months after exposure:
A small, painless sore (chancre) on the part of your body where the infection was transmitted, usually your genitals, rectum, tongue or lips. A single chancre is typical, but there may be multiple sores.
Enlarged lymph nodes in your groin.
Signs and symptoms of primary syphilis typically disappear without treatment, but the underlying disease remains and may reappear in the secondary or third (tertiary) stage.
Secondary The signs and symptoms of secondary syphilis may begin two to 10 weeks after the chancre appears, and may include: Rash marked by red or reddish-brown, penny-sized sores over any area of your body, including your palms and soles.
Fever ; Fatigue and a vague feeling of discomfort ;Soreness and aching
These signs and symptoms may disappear within a few weeks or repeatedly come and go for as long as a year.
Tertiary Without treatment, syphilis bacteria may spread, leading to serious damage of the nerve system and of the heart and bloodvessels. This can lead to death years after the original infection.
Young adults between the ages of 15 and 25 years currently appear to be at highest risk of contracting syphilis. However, anyone who has unprotected sex is at risk of developing syphilis. Even if you've had syphilis and been treated for it previously, you can contract it again.

Treatment
Early diagnosis and treatment with an injection of penicillin — or another antibiotic if you're allergic to penicillin — can kill the organism that causes syphilis and stop the progression of the disease.
To make sure you're responding to the usual dosage of penicillin, your doctor likely will want you to have periodic blood tests. While you're being treated, avoid sexual contact until the treatment is completed and until your blood tests indicate that the infection has been eliminated.

RISK FACTORS
The silent nature of STDs represents their greatest public health threat. Most STDs cause some symptomatic illness, but many produce symptoms so mild or nonspecific that infected persons are not alerted to seek medical care. The more sexual partners you have, the greater your risk for STD’s. Casual contact, such as kissing, doesn't spread the disease. Persons who choose to engage in sexual behaviors that place them at risk of STDs should use condoms every time they have sex. About three out of four reported cases of STD’s in the United States occur in people younger than 30. The highest rates of infection often are present in 15- to 19-year-old women and 20- to 24-year-old men.
Testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) isn't part of a routine gynecologic exam for women or a regular physical exam for men. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned that you may have a STD. Either from your partner or your own behavior.