Improve Your Knowledge on STDs
The term “STD” stands for “Sexually transmitted diseases”. STDs are infections that are spread from one person to another, usually during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Transmission may also happen through injections or breastfeeding.
Young people aged 15-24, gay and bisexual men, and pregnant women stand at a higher risk to catch STDs. Left untreated, STDs can cause:
- Increased risk of giving or getting HIV
- Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain
- Inability to get pregnant or pregnancy complications
You should go for a check-up if you see the following symptoms:
- unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
- pain when peeing
- lumps or skin growths around the genitals or anus
- a rash
- unusual vaginal bleeding
- itchy genitals or anus
- blisters and sores around the genitals or anus
Types of STDs
1. HIV
One of the most lethal and dreaded STDs, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus which causes AIDS. It can damage the immune system and increase the risk of other viruses or bacteria and even increase the chances of having certain cancers. HIV is a lifelong infection that can infiltrate the cells and reduces the body’s capability to combat diseases.
Condoms can protect you against HIV. The risk of HIV progressing to AIDS varies widely between individuals and depends on many other factors such as the age of an individual, the body’s ability to resist HIV, and presence of other infections.
2. Chlamydia
It is one of the most commonly transmitted infections and of caused while having unprotected sex with your partner.
According, to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), in 2015, nearly 3 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 years were reported to have
If you develop symptoms, you may experience:
- Pain during sexual intercourse or urination
- Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom
- In women, pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods.
- In men, pain and swelling in the testicles.
3. HPV
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and usually harmless and goes away by itself.
There are more than 200 types of HPV and most people who have sex get HPV at some point in their life. Most people have no symptoms (asymptomatic infection) and feel totally fine.
However, some types of HPV can lead to cancer or genital warts.
4. Syphilis
In the initial stage, this infection usually goes unnoticed or appears to be in the form of a small round sore, blisters or ulcers on your genitals, anus or mouth. It is normally passed on through unprotected sex i.e., without a condom or by sharing a sex toy with someone who is diagnosed with this precarious infection.
Syphilis has three stages, each with distinct symptoms:
Symptoms can include:
- small, painless sores or ulcers that typically appear on the penis, vagina, or around the anus, but can occur in other places such as the mouth
- a blotchy red rash that often affects the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- small skin growths (similar to genital warts) that may develop on the vulva in women or around the bottom (anus) in both men and women
- white patches in the mouth
- tiredness, headaches, joint pains, a high temperature (fever) and swollen glands in your neck, groin or armpits
5. Gonorrhoea
Another bacterial STD, also known as “the clap” or “the drip”, gonorrhoea affects both men and women. This particular infection is spread through semen and vaginal fluids, but it can infect eyes, mouth, and throat in addition to the vagina, cervix, uterus, urethra, and anus.
Typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when peeing and, in women, bleeding between periods.
But around 1 in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women do not experience any symptoms.
6. Herpes
Herpes is the shortened name for the Herpes simplex virus (HSV). Herpes is easily spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus.
Herpes can be annoying and painful, but it usually doesn’t lead to serious health problems. There is no cure for herpes but medication can ease the symptoms and lower the chances of giving it to other people.
7. Trichomoniasis
It is caused by a tiny protozoan organism, called Trichomonas vaginalis, which can be passed from one person to another by having sex without using a condom. It spreads through genital contact and does not pass through kissing or hugging, or sharing cups, plates, etc.
How to Protect Yourself from STDs?
- Abstinence, which is the most reliable way
- Vaccination, which is the recommended way to prevent hepatitis B and HPV
- Being monogamous or reducing the number of sex partners
- Using condoms – correct and consistent use of the male latex condom is highly effective
- Testing yourself for STDs
- Seeking medical help if in doubt
People throughout the world are becoming sexually active at younger ages, having more sex partners earlier in life, getting married later in life and exposing themselves more often to the risk of acquiring STDs. It is important to understand the risks while having sex so that one can take steps to minimize and prevent them.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2018’, official CDC website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)/Prevention’, official CDC website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- National Health Service, ‘Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)’, official NHS website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- National Health Service, ‘Overview Chlamydia’, official NHS website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- National Health Service, ‘Overview Syphilis’, official NHS website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- National Health Service, ‘Overview Gonorrhoea, official NHS website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- National Health Service, ‘Overview Syphilis’, official NHS website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- National Health Service, ‘Overview Trichomoniases, official NHS website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- Planned Parenthood, ‘STDs’, official website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- Planned Parenthood, ‘HIV & AIDS’, official website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- Planned Parenthood, ‘Human Papillomavirus (HPV)’, official website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
- Planned Parenthood, ‘Oral & Genital Herpes’, official website (accessed on 28th April, 2020)
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