Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a group of infections that are predominately transmitted by sexual intercourse. They can infect several different body sites and be transmitted by any type of sex, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Common STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (caused by bacteria), herpes, human papillomavirus, and HIV (caused by viruses), and trichomoniasis (caused by a protozoa).

Some STDs are reportable to the Iowa Department of Public Health, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. The information that IDPH gathers on STDs is used to gain a better understanding of how these infections affect populations in our state and develop disease intervention strategies to reduce the negative consequences associated with these infections in our communities. Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) are health department staff who work with patients and medical providers to ensure that diagnosed patients and their partners have been connected with resources needed for their health, as well as working to reduce the spread of infection in Iowa's communities.