If you think open discussion of sexually transmitted diseases is a sign of civilization's demise, think again. They've been a buzzkill throughout human history. References to STDs can be found in works by ancient Egyptians and even Moses got very preachy about them. Go figure. The topic has been covered a bit over 5,000 years, but April is STD Awareness Month, and if you haven't read Plato lately, you might want to get familiar with some of the important facts.

HIV requires a separate, in-depth column, so we'll set that aside for now. Keep in mind that infection with any of the following means you are at increased risk for acquiring HIV. The STDs discussed here are by no means the full catalog but more like a "Best of ... " album. As always, speak with your doctor if you have any concerns.

Generally, STDs can be divided into two camps: those that make it painful to pee, and those that announce themselves with skin lesions (conveniently, or perhaps inconveniently, located at the scene of the crime).

As the name suggests, STDs are passed through all forms of sexual activity: vaginal, anal and oral sex. Don't bother blaming a toilet seat. Read on -- for your health, and your education.

Check out Dr. Ken's list of things you need to know about STDs


Dr. Ken Spaeth is a Harvard-trained physician and a faculty member at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He is also co-author of "The Bioterrorism Sourcebook." You can e-mail him your questions at askdrken@aol.com.