Sexual Transmitted Diseases Defined Essay, Research Paper

Sexual Transmitted Diseases Defined

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I . Sexually transmitted diseaeses defined

II. Genital Herpes

III. Vaginal Candidiasis

IV. Chlamydia

V. Prevention

VI. Bibliography

A sexually transmitted disease is not the same as genital disease. Most

genital diseases are not caused by sexually transmitted organisms. But most

sexually transmitted infections do involve the genitals. Infection of the

rectum, throat, and the eye are also common. Alot of sexually transmitted

diseases spread from a single place and produce sores on parts of the body. At

least a dozen diseases are sexually transmitted. Sexually transmitted diseases

occur mainly in people 15 to 30 years of age. But sometimes people are born

with it because of an infected mother. People with a sexually transmitted

Disease are usually at high risk for catching other diseases. There are more

male infections reported than female cases. This is caused by prostitutes and

homosexual contacts. 50 percent or more infections result from homosexual

contacts. Other infections like syphilis, herpes, and HIV infection may be

passed on to the fetus or during childbirth. The fetus or baby can suffer from

the disease and can die from it. The helping of STDs has three parts:

treatment, counseling, and following up. Sometimes treatment is given in a

single dose but in sometimes you have to take it more than once. A person can

still be infected even if the symptoms go away. That is why a follow-up visit

is important. To avoid spreading the infection the person should not have sex

until the doctor says that it is cured. It can take up to fourteen days. This

stops the Ping Pong effect.

GENITAL HERPES

This infection is caused by the Herpes simplex virus. The symptoms are

similar, and can result from either oral-to-genital or genital-to-genital

contact. The virus causes blisters on the genitals, similar to the cold sores

that occur on the mouth. Cold sores on the mouth are also caused by the herpes

virus. These infections are caused by viruses cures are not available. It has

been estimated that approximately 1 in 6 people in Australia has had a history

of genital herpes at some time.

Not all people infected with the herpes virus will have symptoms. As

many as 60-70% of people with herpes virus type 2 infection by a blood test

have not had symptoms diagnosed as genital herpes.

Things occur most often on the penile shaft, glans or anal area and on

the labia, clitoris,vagina or cervix. They also are around the mouth or on the

throat after oral sex. . Genital herpes is usually more painful in women

Vaginal and blisters may be so painful that women become unable to pass urine.

It is important to get early treatment in order to prevent this from getting

worse. Some symptoms happen for 1 to 3 weeks. Herpes lives in the body between

symptoms. Relapses can happen by emotional or physical stress, fever, trauma,

hormonal changes, sunlight, alcohol. There are two different Infections

Asymptomatic Infections and Neonatal Infections.

Genital herpes can be passed on through most forms of sexual contact,

genital-to-genital, oral-to-genital, and mutual masturbation. Many people are

unaware that cold sores may cause genital infection during oral sex. It is also

possible for a person to transfer herpes from their own mouth to their genitals,

and to their eyes. Condoms may further reduce spread between attacks.

Some treatments that can relieve discomfort: -Keeping sores clean and dry -

Wrapping an ice-block in a towel -Bathing in salt water -Drinking plenty of

water -If urination is painful, urinating in a hot bath or, for women, using

both hands to separate -the lips of the vulva to achieve a free stream of urine,

preventing urine from touching the

ulcers. -Wearing loose, cotton underpants and avoiding tight trousers -

aspirin

Anti-Herpes Drugs: Acyclovir

The use of condoms during vaginal and anal intercourse reduces the risk

of genital herpes, but protects only those areas in contact with the condom.

Because herpes can be transmitted from mouth-to-genitals condoms or dental dams

may be used during oral sex. If there are sores , it is important to avoid

oral sex. Because herpes can be spread by the hands between people, it is

important to wash your hands if they have come into contact with sores.

VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS (”THRUSH”, MONILIA, YEAST)

The yeast like organisms that cause candidiasis are very common and

normally are in the vagina as well as the mouth and in the intestines of most

people. Candida is not an actual STD. It is seen in most sexually active people.

The presence of candida doesn’t usually have symptoms. There is a change in

the pH of the vagina and may cause a problem in the balance of the normal flora.

As a result, candidal overgrowth can occur and then cause symptoms. Some things

that cause symptoms are heat, moisture, diabetes, steroid medications, cancer,

chronic infection, and malnutrition . Men can also get candidiasis, which

causes balanitis which causes inflammation of the glans penis. This usually

happens to uncircumcised men who still have a foreskin which gives moist

conditions for candidal overgrowth.

Some symptoms are itchiness in the anal and genital area, which

intensifies at night, smooth to firm vaginal pus discharges, inflamed, split,

and abraded skin and Inflammation of the glans penis.

There is some treatment to change some of the factors that prevent the

organism to spread. Minor vaginal candidiasis is treated with anti fungal agent

in the form a capsule of nystatin which is inserted into the vagina, or a

vaginal cream. Another way to treat this is natural yoghurt which can be

inserted into the vagina or a vinegar and water douche. Genital and oral

antifungal therapy can be effective also, however, thrush can always recur

because candida lives in the bowel. Candida cannot be permanently taken care of.

Carefully washing and drying of the anal and genital area using soap helps

somewhat.

CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia grows within cells. Chlamydia usually infects the cervix and

fallopian tubes of women and the urethra of men. Chlamydial infections are said

to be the most common of all STDs. It is also said that in a population of 15

million, there are up to 300,000 cases of chlamydia each year. There are many

undiagnosed cases of chlamydia in the community. It has been estimated that the

true population of chlamydia in sexually active people may be in the order of

5% to 10%.

Chlamydia often produces no symptoms. 60% of women and 40% of men have

no symptoms. Infection of the cervix and fallopian tubes occurs more, and

chlamydia can also cause urethral infection. Symptoms can include pain in

urination, bladder infection, a thin vaginal discharge of pus and lower

abdominal pain. Inflammation of the cervix with pus is very common. Eye

infections in infants born of infected mothers can also occur. In men,

chlamydia may produce inflammation of the urethra similar to gonorrhoea.

Symptoms for men may include discharges also. The most severe complication of

chlamydia, is the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). As a result of

infection to women it travels into the upper genital tract. Chlamydia can also

lead tothe genital tract in men causing epididymitis,although this is much less

common for men than for women. The risk of infection from person-to-person is

alot like gonorrhoea. It can also be passed to the eye by a hand moistened with

infected fluids. Chlamydia can be transmitted during anal intercourse causing

inflammation of the rectum. Chlamydial infections are treated the best with a

drug doxycycline, taken orally for 10 days. Other infections, such as PID,

require longer treatment.

For prevention, use of condoms during vaginal and anal intercourse

works well. Because chlamydia can infect the eyes, care must be taken to avoid

spreading sexual fluids into them.

PREVENTION OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Some ways to reduce the chance of having sexual contact with a person infected

are:

1. If you are born of uninfected and not having sex. Which makes life

fairly

uninteresting.

2. Being careful in selecting your partners.

3. If you cannot resist having sex with every person you have a

relationship with,

you can examine your sex partner by looking them to actually see

if they have an

infection.

4. Use of a condom helps the risk of passing on the infection

5. After unprotected sex with your sex partner you should go to the

doctor and

make sure you didn’t catch anything.

6. If medical treatment is started, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE

YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR RE-EXAMINATIONS UNTIL THE

DOCTOR SAYS YOUR INFECTION IS CURED.

How to know if you have an STD.

1.Discharge of fluid from the penis or vagina

2.Pain or irritation when urinating or having sex.

3.Sores, blisters, warts, lumps or rashes anywhere in the genital or

anal area.

4.Itchiness or irritation in the genital or anal area

5.Frequent diarrhea

If you have any of these, you should see a doctor at once. Do not wait

for them to go away, even if they do, this does not mean the disease is gone.

Most STDs can go undetected and cause serious illness later. Having no symptoms

doesn’t mean that you do not have a STD.

How to avoid STDs.

It is not hard to avoid getting STDs. The risk can be reduced by using

condoms during vaginal or anal sex. Scientific research has shown that latex

condoms are an effective against HIV and the viruses and bacteria that causes

STDs. Condoms, will only protect you against disease if you use them every time

you have sex. Sometimes is not good enough. Another way to avoid STDs not to

have sex at all. Kissing,touching and masturbation. To have sex only with a

partner who has no other sexual partners is an assuring way also.

Bibliography

CLINIC 275

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ADELAIDE

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email: [email protected]

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Branch

Public and Environmental Health Division

South Australian Health Commission

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Rundle Mall

Adelaide SA 5000

Australia

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