Sexually Transmited Disease Essay, Research Paper

Syphilis

Syphilis is an STD caused by a bacterium. Anyone having unprotected sex with an infected person can get syphilis. Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with the syphilis sore, lesion, or moist rash. It can be passed through sexual contact, which includes vaginal, anal and oral sex. Kissing can pass the disease if one of the people has a sore on the lips or in the mouth. Pregnant woman can pass the disease to their babies before birth. The first stage of Syphilis is marked by a single sore or chancre. It is firm, round, and painless. The chancre could appear on the penis, mouth, or lips, inside or outside the vagina or anus, or on the hand. The chancre lasts 1-5 weeks and heals on its own. The second stage of Syphilis is marked when one or more rashes appear on the hands and soles of the feet, in the groin area, and all over the body. Some of the rashes look like symptoms of other diseases. The second stage symptoms can also include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, muscle aches, and tiredness. The rashes lasts 2-6 weeks and clear up on their own. About 25% of untreated people will have a return of the second stage symptoms within 12 months. If Syphilis is left untreated, the symptoms will disappear but the germ will remain within the body and may seriously damage the brain, the heart and the nervous system. The results of the inside damage shows up many years later. The final result may be death. The symptoms usually appear between 10-90 days (average 21 days). Laboratory testing and physical examination diagnose it. The more sex partners a person have, the greater the chance of having Syphilis. A latex condom put on before having sex and worn until the penis is withdrawn is a good defense against infection from sores the condom might touch.

Hepatitis B. Symptoms may include muscle aches, fever, tiredness, and loss of appetite, headache and dizziness. As the disease worsens, you may have dark urine, loose, light-colored stools, yellow eyes and skin, and tenderness in the liver area (just below the ribs on the right side). Hepatitis B can be fatal if it leads to liver failure or liver cancer.

Herpes. Symptoms start with tingling or itching around your genitals. Small blisters may form in the area and then pop open. When this happens, you might feel burning, especially when urinating. The sores then turn to scabs. During the first outbreak, you might have swollen glands, fever and body aches. But some people don t have such obvious symptoms. Outbreaks may occur for the rest of your life, but usually become less frequent and less painful with time.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). It weakens your body s ability to fight off disease. As your body s immune system weakens, illnesses begin to develop until you can no longer fight them off. Symptoms may take years to develop and may include unusual infections, unexplained fatigue, night sweats and weight loss.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV may cause a growth of soft, flesh-colored warts around the genital area or on the cervix. The warts are painless, but may be bothersome because of the way they look. Sometimes the virus causes warts that can t be seen by the naked eye. There is a link between HPV and cancer of the cervix.

Am I at risk for having an STD?

If you ve ever had sex, you may be at risk for having an STD. You re at higher risk if you have had many sex partners, have had sex with someone who has had many partners or have had sex without using condoms (”rubbers”).

Should I be checked for STDs?

See your doctor if you re at risk for having an STD or if you have any concerns about whether you have one. Most STDs can cause further problems if not treated.

Chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women (a disease that can cause women not to be able to have children) and epididymitis in men (painful swelling of the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles).

Gonorrhea can lead to arthritis and PID. HPV (the virus that cause venereal warts) can lead to cancer of the cervix or penis, and syphilis can lead to paralysis, mental problems, heart damage, blindness and death.

Most STDs can be diagnosed through an exam by your doctor, a culture of the secretions from your vagina or penis, or a blood test.