STD s Sexually Transmitted diseases
What STD-s are?
STD s Sexually transmitted diseases are infections that you can get from having sex with someone who has the infection. This includes: oral, vaginal and anal sex.
They’re really common, and lots of people who have them don’t have any symptoms. Without treatment, STDs can lead to serious health problems. But, the good news is that getting tested is no big deal, and most STDs are easy to treat.
The STDs are caused when specific bacteria, viruses or parasites pass from a person to another through blood, semen and/or vaginal and other body fluids.
STD-s history
STDs are not new. They have been known for centuries. People’s lack of awareness and understanding of STDs contributed to the widespread transmission of the infections while few or no treatments were available to treat the conditions.
Syphilis and gonorrhea where the two most common STDs during the medieval area.
At first as treatment was used: mercury, arsenic and sulphur. They had a lot of side effects and a lot of people died from mercury poisoning.
The first effective treatment for syphilis was salvarsan. Salvarsan was very unstable and was only dissolved before injection. Salvarsan had a lot of side effects. It is considered as a toxic drug for this reason after the discovery of penicillin and other antibiotics it was no longer used.
Which are some of STD-s?
1. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
BV is a vaginal dysbiosis resulting from replacement of normal hydrogen peroxide and lactic-acid–producing Lactobacillus species in the vagina with high concentrations of anaerobic bacteria, including G. vaginalis, Prevotella species, Mobiluncus species, A. vaginae, and other BV-associated bacteria. Sometimes it is asymptomatic. It occurs when you have multiply partners, when you do not use condoms during sexual intercourse ecc.
Treatment is recommended only for females with symptoms. The aim is to relieve vaginal symptoms and signs of infections.
If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with BV the treatment is very important. If she does not take the right treatment may deliver a premature or low birth weight baby.
2. Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the USA. Chlamydia is easily cured but can make it difficult to get pregnant if left untreated. Treating persons with C. trachomatis prevents adverse reproductive health complications and continued sexual transmission. Furthermore, treating their sex partners can prevent reinfection and infection of other partners. Treating pregnant women usually prevents transmission of C. trachomatis to neonates during birth. Treatment should be provided promptly for all persons with chlamydial infection; treatment delays have been associated with complications (e.g., PID) in a limited proportion of women.
3. Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an STD that can be cured with the right medicines, but if it is left untreated can cause serious health problems. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect genitals, throat and rectum. Usually for the treatment of Gonorrhea is indicated a single dose of 500 mg intramuscular ceftriaxone. Nowadays the treatment of gonorrhea is difficult because of antibiotic resistance. Sometimes a combined therapy can be used.
4. Syphilis
Syphilis can have very serious complication when left untreated. You should get tested regularly if you are pregnant, are a man who has sex with men, have HIV infection, and/or have partner(s) who have tested positive for syphilis. The majority of reported male primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis cases where sex of sex partner is known are among men who have sex with men (MSM). Syphilis is easy to cure in its early stages. Pregnant women should be tested regularly for syphilis because infection with syphilis can cause serious problems in a baby
5. Genital herpes
You can have genital herpes when your partner is infected even if he/she does not have symptoms. There is no cure for herpes, but medication is available to reduce symptoms and make it less likely that you will spread herpes to a sex partner.
6. Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease. Both man and women can have it. Many people who have trichomoniasis do not know it. It is easy to cure. Avoid unprotected sex if you have trichomoniasis.
7. Human Papilloma Virus
There are many different types of HPV. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms. In most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within two years without health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer.
Symptoms of STD -s
If you have a sexually transmitted disease you will probably have symptoms that indicate that something is wrong with you and with your body.
If you think you have an STD but you are not sure avoid sex to avoid infecting other persons. Use always condoms during sexual activities.
The symptoms of an STD can include:
– an unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus;
– pain when peeing;
– lumps or skin growths around the genitals or bottom (anus);
– a rash;
– unusual vaginal bleeding;
– itchy genitals or anus;
– blisters and sores around your genitals or anus;
– warts around your genitals or anus;
– warts in your mouth or throat, but this is very rare.
Prevention
As they say better to prevent than to cure.
STD-s can be prevented. You may say how?
1. Use a condom every time you have sex.
2. Get tested often and every time you have a new partner, you and he/she should be tested as well.
3. Get vaccinated. The most common STD can be prevented by a safe vaccine.
4. Reduce number of sex partners.
Source:
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex
https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/treatment.htm
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis/
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