Introduction - Terms

Venus After “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)

Diseases resulting from sexually transmitted infections and infestations are now generally known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Another expression often used is sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This term excludes infestations such as scabies and crab lice, but includes infections without symptoms or before symptoms have appeared. Since the present course deals mainly with the possible consequences of infections, i.e. diseases and their symptoms, we are speaking here of STDs.

In the past, people also used to speak of “social diseases” or, more poetically, of "venereal diseases" (literally, diseases attributed to Venus, the ancient Roman goddess of love).

None of these terms is very precise. After all, the last two are obvious euphemisms used mainly in order to avoid talking openly about sex. On the other hand, calling the diseases “sexually transmitted” is not entirely satisfactory either, because virtually all infectious diseases can be transmitted by close physical contact, including sexual intercourse. (The French king Louis XV died of a sexually transmitted smallpox infection.) The decision as to which infections and infestations should be included among the STD's is therefore somewhat arbitrary. Nevertheless, today there is general agreement in medical practice about a standard list of STDs, and this list is also used as a basis for the following discussions.