WHAT
IS SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD)
Sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that pass from one person to another
through sexual contact. They are also known as sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) or venereal diseases (VD).
Some
STDs can spread through the use of unsterilized drug needles, from mother to
infant during childbirth or breast-feeding, and blood transfusions.
The
genital areas are generally moist and warm environments, ideal for the growth
of yeasts, viruses, and bacteria.
People
can transmit microorganisms that inhabit the skin or mucous membranes of the
genitals. Infectious organisms can also move between people in semen, vaginal
secretions, or blood during sexual intercourse.
Individuals
pass on STDs more easily when they are not using contraceptive devices, such as
condoms, dams, and sanitizing sex toys.
Some
infections can transmit through sexual contact but are not classed as STDs. For
example, meningitis can be passed on during sexual
contact, but people can acquire a meningitis infection for other reasons. It is
therefore not classed as an STD.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 1 million new STDs acquired each day globally.
People
between the ages of 15 and 24 years acquire half of all new STDs, and 1 in 4 sexually active
adolescent females has an STD. However, STD rates among seniors are increasing.
The
following sections explain the most common STD's.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an STD caused by Chlamydia
trachoma is (C. trachomais). This bacterium only infects humans. Chlamydia is
the most common infectious cause of genital and eye diseases globally. It is
also the most common bacterial STD.
According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, nearly 3 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 years
had Chlamydia.
Women
with Chlamydia do not usually show symptoms. Any symptoms are usually
non-specific and may include:
·
bladder
infection
·
a
change in vaginal discharge
·
mild
lower abdominal pain
If
a person does not receive treatment for chlamydia, it may lead to the following
symptoms:
·
pelvic
pain
·
painful
sexual intercourse, either intermittently or every time
·
bleeding
between periods
Chancroid:
Chancroid is also
known as soft chancre and ulcus molle. It is a bacterial infection caused by
called streptobacillus Haemophilus ducreyi.
The infection causes painful sores on the genitals and is only spread through
sexual contact. This infection is more common in developing nations, especially
among commercial sex workers and some lower socioeconomic groups. This is due
to the lack of access to healthcare services, the stigma attached to seeking
help, a lack of sufficient sexual health education, and other factors.
In 2015, just 11 cases of
Chancroid were reported in the United States. Chancroid increases the risk of
contracting HIV, and HIV increases the risk of
contracting Chancroid.
Within 1 day to 2
weeks of acquiring the infection, the patient develops a bump that turns into
an ulcer within a day. The ulcer can be from 1/8 of an inch to 2 inches across.
It will be very painful and may have well-defined, undermined borders and a
yellowish-gray material at its base.
If the base of the
ulcer is grazed, it will typically bleed. In some cases, the lymph nodes swell
and become painful.
Women often have at
least four ulcers, while men usually have just one. Males tend to have fewer
and less severe symptoms. The ulcers typically appear at the groove at the back
of the glans penis in uncircumcised males, or, in females, on the labia minora
or fourchette.
Chancroid is treated
with a 7-day course of erythromycin, a single oral dose of azithromycin, or a
single dose of ceftriaxone.
Crabs, or pubic lice
Pubic lice manifestations
are primarily spread through sexual contact. Pets do not play any part in the
transmission of human lice.
The lice attach to
the pubic hair, and may also be sometimes found in the armpits, mustache,
beard, eyelashes, and eyebrows. They feed on human blood.
The common term
"crabs" comes from the crab-like appearance of the lice.
Genital
herpes
This
STD is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus
affects the skin, cervix, genitals, and some other parts of the body. There are
two types:
·
HSV-1,
also known as herpes type 1
·
HSV-2,
also known as herpes type 2
Herpes
is a chronic condition. A significant number of individuals with herpes never
show symptoms and do not know about their herpes status.
HSV
is easily transmissible from human to human through direct contact. Most
commonly, transmission of type 2 HSV occurs through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Type 1 is more commonly transmitted from shared straws, utensils, and surfaces.
In
most cases, the virus remains dormant after entering the human body and shows
no symptoms.
The
symptoms associated with genital herpes, if they do occur, may include:
blisters
and ulceration on the cervix
·
vaginal
discharge
·
pain
on urinating
·
generally
feeling unwell
Also,
red blisters may occur on the external genital area, rectum, thighs, and
buttocks. These can be painful, especially if they burst and leave ulcers.
Hepatitis
B
It
is transmitted through contact with infected semen, blood, and other bodily
fluids. HBV is passed on in the following ways:
·
unprotected
sex
·
using
an unsterilized syringe
·
being
accidentally pricked by a sharp object
·
drinking
infected breast milk
·
being
bitten by a person with hepatitis B
The
liver swells, and an individual can experience serious liver damage as a result
of HBV. This can eventually lead to cancer,
and the disease can sometimes become chronic. Blood donation centers always
check to make sure that any donors do not have hepatitis B.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis
is a common STD that can affect both sexes. However, women are more likely to
experience symptoms. The infection is caused by a single-celled protozoan
parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis.
For
women, the vagina is the most common site of infection, while for men it is the
urethra. Transmission may occur either by sexual intercourse or vulva-to-vulva
contact.
While
women may acquire the infection from either male or female sexual partners, men
nearly always become infected from having sex with women.
Trichomoniasis, or
trich, is highly curable, but it does not cause symptoms in everyone who gets
it. Without treatment, it can lead to complications.
It is one of the most
common sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
in the United States (U.S.). Around 3.7 million people in the U.S. are thought to have it,
but only 30 percent have symptoms. Having a trich infection seems to increase the
risk of getting and passing on HIV.
Symptoms Of Trichomoniasis Include:
·
vaginal
odor
·
vaginal
discharge
·
pain
or discomfort during sexual intercourse
·
pain
when urinating
A
woman with trichomoniasis is more likely to acquire HIV once exposed to the
virus. A woman with trichomoniasis and HIV is also more likely to transmit HIV
virus onto other sexual partners.
HIV
AND AIDS
Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, leaving its host much
more vulnerable to infections and diseases. If the virus is left untreated, the
susceptibility to infection worsens.
HIV
can be found in semen, blood, breast milk, and vaginal and rectal fluids. HIV
can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, sexual contact,
breast-feeding, childbirth, the sharing of equipment to inject drugs, such as
needles and syringes, and, in rare instances, blood transfusions. With
treatment, the amount of the virus present within the body can be reduced to an
undetectable level. This means the amount of HIV virus within the blood is at
such low levels that it cannot be detected in blood tests. It also means that
HIV cannot be transmitted to other people. A person with undetectable HIV must
continue to take their treatment as normal, as the virus is being managed, not
cured.
If
HIV progresses without treatment and reaches stage 3, known as AIDS, it can be fatal. However, modern
medicine means that HIV need not reduce life expectancy.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Human
papillomavirus is
a name for a group of viruses that affect the skin and mucous membranes, such
as the throat, cervix, anus, and mouth.
There are over 100 types of HPV, of which, about 40 can affect the
genital areas. These types may also transmit to the mouth and throat.
HPV Infection Can Lead To:
·
abnormal
cell growth and alteration within the cervix, significantly increasing the risk
of cervical
cancer
The majority of individuals with HPV
have no symptoms and are unaware. HPV is so common in the U.S. that almost
every sexually active man and woman will transmit the virus during their
lifetime. HPV is most commonly transmitted through vaginal or anal sex, oral
sex, and genital-to-genital contact. People with an HPV virus but no signs and
symptoms can still infect others.
A woman who is pregnant and has HPV
might transmit the virus to her baby during childbirth, although this is very
rare. Vaccination is the best way to prevent HPV.
Molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum
contagiosum is
a contagious, viral skin infection.
There are four types:
·
MCV-1,
the most common type
·
MCV-2,
the most commonly sexually transmitted type
·
MCV-3
·
MCV-4
When the virus infects young
children, it is not considered as STD.
Symptoms include small, round bumps
and indents on the skin. If left untreated, the bumps usually go away, but this
can take up to 2 years. A doctor can remove the bumps with chemicals, an
electrical current, or by freezing them. There are some prescription medicines
that will eventually get rid of the growths.
Scabies:
Scabies is a contagious skin condition
caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, a tiny mite. They burrow into the skin
and lay their eggs.
A person with scabies develops a
skin rash and experiences intense itchiness. People with scabies are often unaware
of their condition for several weeks after initial infection, which means
scabies infestations spread rapidly.
The cause of scabies is unknown,
although some believe poor living conditions and a lack of personal hygiene are
linked to the condition. However, there is no scientific proof of this.
Scabies is most commonly transmitted
through close body contact, such as holding hands for a long time or sexual
intercourse. Hugging or simply shaking hands with a person who has scabies is
unlikely to lead to transmission.
The scabies mite cannot jump or fly.
However, it can survive for 1 to 2 days after leaving the human body. This
means that sharing clothes or bedding with a person who has scabies increases
the risk of infection.
However, prolonged physical contact,
as is likely to occur during sexual intercourse, is the most common route of
transmission.
Symptoms of scabies may not occur
for several weeks after initial transmission and may include:
·
A
skin rash: The scabies mite leaves small red spots, known as burrow marks. They
look like tiny insect bites, and some people may think it is eczema. Burrow marks typically appear as a
small line of at least four tiny spots and appear around the area of the
elbows, wrists, and in between the toes and fingers. Women experience this rash
around the nipples and men near the genitals.
·
Intense
itching: This gets worse at night or after taking a hot shower.
·
Sores:
After scratching the rash, the area can become inflamed, and crusty sores may
develop.
Less commonly, the rash may appear
on the buttocks, ankles, armpits, genitalia, groin, scalp, neck, face, head,
shoulders, waist, soles of the feet, lower leg, and knees.
Syphilis
Syphilis is the result of Treponema
pallidum, a bacterium. It is transmitted by sexual contact, and the person
passing on the infection will have a syphilitic lesion. A woman who is pregnant
and also has syphilis can pass on this STD to her baby, which can result in
stillbirth or serious congenital deformities.
There is an incubation period of
between 9 and 90 days after initial infection before the symptoms of the
disease occur, with an average incubation period of 21 days. Each stage of
syphilis has characteristic signs and symptoms. Some people with syphilis show
no symptoms, while others may experience more mild presentations.
For some people with the condition,
even if symptoms resolve, the bacterium is still in the body and can cause
serious health problems later on.
Gonorrhea:
This
sexually transmitted bacterial infection usually attacks the mucous membranes.
It is also known as the clap or the drip.
The
bacterium, which is highly contagious, stays in the warmer and moister cavities
of the body.
The
majority of women with gonorrhea show no signs or symptoms. If
left untreated, females may develop pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID).
Males may develop inflammation of the prostate gland,
urethra, or epididymis.
The
disease is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria can
survive in the vagina, penis, mouth, rectum, or eye. They can be transmitted
during sexual contact.
As
soon as a person contracts gonorrhea, they risk spreading the bacteria to other
parts of the body. An individual may accidentally rub their eye and spread the
infection. This prolongs the treatment period. A woman who is pregnant can pass
the infection on to the infant during childbirth.
Symptoms
of gonorrhea may occur between 2 to 10 days after initial infection, in some
cases, it may take 30 days. Some people experience very mild symptoms that lead
to mistaking gonorrhea for a different condition, such as a yeast infection.
Males
May Experience The Following Symptoms:
·
burning
during urination
·
testicular
pain or swelling
·
a
green, white, or yellow discharge from the penis
Females
are less likely to show symptoms, but if they do, these may include:
·
spotting
after sexual intercourse
·
swelling
of the vulva, or vulvitis
·
irregular
bleeding between periods
·
pain
in the pelvic area
·
burning
or pain during urination
If
the rectum becomes infected, a person with gonorrhea may experience anal itching, painful bowel movements, and sometimes discharge. When
transmission occurs as a result of oral sex, there may be a burning sensation
in the throat and swollen glands.
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