When it comes to STDs, most people have heard of HIV, HPV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and spyhillis. These are the most common sexually transmitted diseases. However, there are a lot more STDs that you have never heard of. This means that if you were to contract one of the less common diseases, you may not even know it. Some of them are transmitted during sex, even though you wouldn't have ever imagined such transmission. Here are three rare STDs that deserve more awareness and a much closer look by you and yours:

1. Trichomoniasis

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite that latches onto the cells in your body and causes them to deteriorate. This can cause various symptoms that are particularly unpleasant, including swelling and itching in the vaginal area, pain during urination and discharge. It can be transmitted from one partner to another via vaginal or anal intercourse and can affect same-sex partners as easily as heterosexual couples. Unfortunately, most people don't even realize they're infected because nearly three-quarters of individual with the infection do not exhibit any symptoms. However, it is the most STD common to cure and is generally cured with antibiotics.

2. Chancroid

Many individuals are under the assumption that a sexually transmitted disease cannot be transmitted from one individual to another during oral sex. However, this is not true, particularly with chancroid infections. Although they are rare here in the United States with zero cases in the majority of states, you could still become infected. The genitals will suffer an open sore (or multiple for women) that may bleed. The lymph nodes will swell and become infected, eventually possibly even releasing pus in roughly half of all cases. As a general rule, it can be cured with a course of antibiotics.

3. Molluscum Contagiosum

This particular infection can be transmitted via sex, but it can also be transmitted with skin-to-skin contact. For that reason, it is often misunderstood, since it is overlooked as a sexually transmitted disease. The primary symptom of this STD is wart-like growths in the vaginal or penile area. Although they may cause a bit of discomfort due to itching, these growths are generally painless. In most cases, this infection will cure itself, but there are medical treatments available, which include specialized creams or freezing off lesions.

As you can see, not all STDs have noticeable symptoms. Therefore, it is important to continuously have yourself checked and tested for sexually transmitted diseases. This is for your own health and safety as well as any individual that you decide to have intercourse with. If you don't have money to be tested, there are free STD clinics where you can get tested.