sexually transmitted disease

sexually transmitted disease (STD) or venereal disease, term for infections acquired mainly through sexual contact. Five diseases were traditionally known as venereal diseases: gonorrhea , syphilis , and the less common granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, and chancroid. In the 1960s up to 20 other diseases were recognized as being transmitted by tsexual contac, and the term "sexually transmitted disease" came into use. Some of the more common of these are AIDS , genital herpes (see herpes simplex ), chlamydia , and human papillomavirus . Other diseases or infestations that can be transmitted sexually include giardiasis , amebiasis, scabies , pubic "crab" lice (see louse ), hepatitis (A, B, and C), group B streptococcal infections (see streptococcus ), cytomegalovirus infection, and the protozoan infection trichomoniasis .