sexually transmitted disease
Noun: A communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact. This term refers to a category of infections primarily spread through sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
The term "sexually transmitted disease" (often abbreviated as STD) is used in medical, public health, and general contexts to describe infections passed from one person to another through sexual contact. It is a formal and clinical term. - It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., an STD, several STDs). - The abbreviation "STD" is very common in both spoken and written English.
General Statement:
- Regular screening is important for the early detection of a sexually transmitted disease.
- Public health campaigns aim to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Specific Context:
- The doctor explained that chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease.
- He was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease and began treatment immediately.
"STD" as an abbreviation: The initialism "STD" is universally recognized and frequently used.
- The clinic offers free and confidential STD testing.
Evolving Terminology: In many professional health contexts, the term Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is now often preferred. "STI" emphasizes that a person can have an infection, possibly without symptoms, before it develops into a disease. However, "STD" remains widely used and understood.
- There is a growing movement among health educators to use the term STI instead of STD.
- STD (n.): The standard abbreviation for "sexually transmitted disease."
- STI / Sexually Transmitted Infection (n.): A related term often used interchangeably, though with a nuanced focus on the infection stage.
- Venereal disease (VD) (n.): An older, now less common term for sexually transmitted diseases.
- Venereal disease (VD): (Somewhat archaic, but still understood.)
- Social disease: (An older, non-clinical term.)
- STI / Sexually Transmitted Infection: (A closely related modern synonym.)
- STD testing/screening: The process of being checked for sexually transmitted diseases.
- She went to the health center for STD screening.
- STD clinic: A healthcare facility specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.
- He got his results from the STD clinic.
- Contract an STD: A common phrase meaning to become infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
- It is possible to contract an STD even without symptoms.
- a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact