STDs
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Sexually transmitted diseases transmitted from one person to another during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. They’re very common in an individual and lots of people who exhibit STDs don’t show any symptoms.
STIs
Sexually Transmitted Infections — A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection you can get through sex. Some STIs (such as gonorrhea and chlamydia) affect your sexual and reproductive organs. Others (such as HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis) affect your body’s immune system. They cause inflammation in your body. It is also called venereal disease.
Unprotected sex can spread STIs easily. Using a latex condom is the best tool to avoid unprotected sex and hence can avoid an STI also.
STI Vs STD
STD and STI both terms often meant the same thing. Medically, infections are only called diseases while they cause symptoms. And most of the STIs don’t have any symptoms. Usually, People leave STIs without getting tested as they don’t take them seriously. So, it’s important to get tested.
STD LIST
Many times Sexually Transmitted Diseases don’t show any symptoms but after getting tested many STDs arise. Some STIs are Bacterial Infections i.e. gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia. Few STIs are caused because of parasites i.e. trichomoniasis. And some are caused by viruses which are human papillomavirus, genital herpes, HIV.
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1) Chlamydia-
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. Antibiotic medications can easily cure chlamydia. It’s one of the most common STIs, and most people who have chlamydia don’t show any symptoms.
Oral sex, anal sex, and vaginal sex are the different ways to transmit Chlamydia. Semen and vaginal fluids are the carriers of infection. Chlamydia can affect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, eyes, and throat. Antibiotics easily cleared up chlamydia. But if you don’t treat chlamydia early it may cause a major health problem in the future. Also, the use of natural latex condoms while having vaginal or anal sex and the use of dental dams while having oral sex can prevent chlamydia.
The infected mother can transmit chlamydia to her baby during birth. You cannot get chlamydia from sharing food or drinks, kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on the toilet.
2) Syphilis –
Likewise chlamydia, Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can easily be cured with antibiotic medicine. If you don’t get treated properly it can cause permanent damage. Syphilis can kill if left untreated. Syphilis causes chancre which means sores on your genitals. The sores are generally painless and they can easily spread the infection to other people.
Syphilis can be easily transmitted to other people in the beginning, if there are sores. It can easily be prevented by using condoms whenever you have sex. It can’t be transmitted from sharing foods, holding hands, hugging, coughing, and sneezing.
3) Gonorrhea-
Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted infection. Especially it occurred in teens and people in 20s. It is also a bacterial infection. Bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhea is the biggest way of transmission infection. In another word, it is called “the clap” or “the drip.” An infected penis that leaks and drips discharge, hence it is also called the drip.
The treatment of Gonorrhea is easy. Untreated Gonorrhea can cause infertility (inability to get pregnant) and other health conditions. The infected mother can transmit this disease to her child during pregnancy. Gonorrhea can be more dangerous in babies; it can cause eye infections such as conjunctivitis, which in serious cases can lead to loss of sight in the baby.
It can be prevented by using Latex Male Condom or Latex Female Condom, dental dams, and latex gloves.
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4) Trichomoniasis aka Trich-
The no. of people infected by trich is getting higher every year. It’s caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis that spreads really easily during sex. The parasite is spread through sexual fluids like semen, pre-cum, and vaginal fluids of the infected person. Trich also spreads by unprotected sex with the infected person having Trichomoniasis. It can be avoided by using Latex Male or Latex Female Condom.
It cannot be transmitted through casual contact such as hugging, kissing, handshaking. If any infection gives discharge a bit of a green tinge and creates some odor then these symptoms will be of trichomoniasis. Trich is occurred more in women than in men. It can be treated easily with antibiotics. But if it remains untreated this infection can remain in the body for several months or for several years and then can cause HIV. This infection can remain in women at least for three months.
Trichomoniasis treatment can be taken by having a single oral dose of antibiotic medication i.e. metronidazole or tinidazole pills. A pregnant woman can also take these oral medications.
People who drink alcohol can feel some uncomfortable side effects after taking medications. People who are treated with these medications can get reinfected. To avoid this reinfection make sure that your sex partner has taken this kind of treatment.
5) Pubic Lice-
Pubic Lice is also called crab. Lice i.e. tiny insects (parasites) that look like tiny versions of the crabs you see at the beach. They live on the skin and coarse hairs that are around your genitals as well as hairs around your other body parts such as beards, underarms hairs.
If you feel lots of itching & if you find super small bugs on your pubic hair then these are the symptoms of STI called pubic lice. Pubic Lice parasites are usually visible to the naked eye.
A lotion containing 1% permethrin or a mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide can be used to kill pubic lice insects. The lotion or the shampoos used to kill head lice too can be used to treat pubic lice. Use all of these lotions to get rid of crabs rapidly. If you are taking oral drugs to prevent lice you must have to take the advice of a specialized doctor. It generally affects your genital area hence it is considered to be an STD.
You can get lice by hugging and kissing an infected person; also by sharing towels, beds, clothes of an infected person.
6) Scabies-
Scabies is an itchy skin condition. A tiny parasite looks like an insect called ‘scabies mites’ caused Scabies. Having sex with the infected person is the biggest way of transmission of scabies; because during sex, your body skin is touching close to an infected person for a long time. People also can get mites from the furniture.
The early symptoms of having scabies are intense itching, especially at night. Scabies looks like a pimple-like rash. Tea tree oil is an effective home remedy to avoid scabies which kills scabies but not from the base. Scabies usually does not occur on your head and neck. Prescribed medications like scabicides which come in the form of a lotion or cream can easily avoid scabies.
If you follow a specialized doctor’s medication while getting the treatment you can easily prevent scabies in 4-5 weeks. Along with using medications, you can prevent it by cleaning your clothes, towels, and beddings.
7) Hepatitis B-
Hepatitis B affects your liver and causes liver disease. It can spread through sex by having oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex. Use of condom is the best solution to avoid transmission of Hepatitis B. Also after birth, if you have taken vaccination for it can also help to prevent it. It is a contagious disease. Hepatitis B does not spread through saliva. Kissing, hugging, sharing foods and drinks, shaking hands, coughing or sneezing are not ways of transmission. It can spread through by sharing needles for shooting drugs, piercings, and tattoos, by sharing razors (blood on them can carry hepatitis B), etc.
Hepatitis B virus mostly occurred in blood, semen, vaginal fluid. If you left hepatitis B untreated it can affect your liver and causes liver failure, liver damage, liver cancer, and even can cause death. Hepatitis B vaccine is a vaccine that can avoid hepatitis B. However, to prevent it you must have to take all of those above precautions. The first dose is given to a newborn baby within 24 hours. Hepatitis B vaccines contain a protein named HBsAg (Hepatitis B Surface Antigen).
If a newborn baby is infected by such a disease it will develop some serious chronic diseases. Usually, in adults, Hepatitis B goes away on its own, and then you won’t need any treatment. But it will take a lot of time. The Doctor might tell you to rest, eat well, and get plenty of water.
The most common types of this kind of infection are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. There are also some other serious types of Hepatitis which are Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E which can cause a serious acute infection. And for the prevention of such infections, there are no drugs or vaccines invented yet.
8) Molluscum Contagiosum-
Molluscum Contagiosum is a contagious disease. The main symptom of it is a small bump that appears on the skin. The bumps are normally pink white in color. And those bumps can be as small as a pin or as big as a coin.
The bumps can be avoided by applying cream over them under a doctor’s consultation. If the infected area is on the way of recovery; keep it clean, dry, do not scratch the area and wash your hands after touching the area to avoid infection on other parts.
9) HIV-
HIV is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS. It affects your immune system. HIV is spread through sex and by using condoms while having sex you can avoid it. HIV is a serious sexually transmitted infection that can cause death. In beginning after infection, it will not show any symptoms. It will show symptoms after 10 years or more.
There is no treatment to avoid HIV completely but there are treatments that will help people live longer even if they are infected by HIV. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) with drugs can decrease the amount of HIV from infected blood. Another way to prevent HIV is an intake of PrEP drugs. PrEP is also known by its brand name Truvada; it lowers the chances of getting HIV at a very high rate.
10) HPV-
Human Papillomavirus is generally harmless and goes away by itself. But sometimes can lead to cancer or genital warts. It can infect your genital area and can spread during sexual contact. HPV does not show any symptoms. People who have a higher risk of HPV also don’t show any symptoms. There is no treatment for HPV. However, some tests such as Colposcopy, Cryotherapy, LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) can help to prevent it.
Some clinical experiments by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers suggest that the cancer drugs may help to treat HPV infections.
11) Genital Warts-
Genital warts are initiated by severe HPV. There are over 100 different strains of HPV. Some strains have been linked which lead to anal or cervical cancer. However, there is no association between genital warts and cancer.
Genital warts are not usually painful and don’t cause any health issues. Warts can be goes away without getting any certain treatment. But in some severe cases, tests such as Colposcopy, Cryotherapy, LEEP can help to prevent it.
12) Herpes-
There are two types of Herpes- Oral Herpes and Genital Herpes. Herpes is a common virus that causes sores on your Genitals or in your mouth.
Fifty percent of Americans are infected by Herpes. It is a super-common infection that will stay in your body lifelong. The viruses of Herpes are transmitted while having sex and by kissing.
There is no cure for herpes but medications can ease your treatment. Herpes is not deadly but it might be quite annoying and gets you feeling uncomfortable.
THE OVERVIEW OF STD
STI SYMPTOMS & CAUSES:
There are some signs by which you can consider that you have an STD:
- A clear, white, greenish, or yellowish vaginal discharge occurred in women.
- Yellowish discharge from the penis occurred in men having STI.
- A strong vaginal odor occurred in women having STIs.
- Vaginal itching or irritation occurred in women.
- Itching or irritation inside the penis also shows that you have STI.
- Feeling of painfulness while having sex.
- Feeling of painfulness while urination.
TRANSMISSION OF STIs:
Let us discuss some facts about the transmission of STDs
- You can catch herpes just by mouth-to-mouth kissing someone who is infected. And while experts believe that the risk of spread of HIV/AIDS from kissing is low (in fact none), someone who has a cut or sore in the mouth has a chance of infection during open-mouthed kissing.
- A cut or sore on the buttocks or thighs can spread some STDs through toilet seats.
- The STIs like HIV, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and syphilis you can get without having sex.
- Some STIs like HIV and hepatitis B can be spread by infected blood.
STD TREATMENT & PREVENTION:
- Use Latex Condoms every time while having sex.
- Avoid sharing towels, underclothing, and toothbrushes.
- Wash genitals before and after having sex.
- Those who have not taken vaccination for Hepatitis B after birth must get tested.
- Before pregnancy, you must get tested.
- If any drug shows side effects, get advice from the doctor.
- Some vaccines can also prevent certain STIs like Genital warts and Hepatitis B.
- Reducing the number of sexual partners you have and not mixing alcohol, drug, and sex. Because after the consumption of alcohol if you have the sex you might forget to use a condom which increases more chances of getting STDs.
- Practicing safe sex with only one sex partner can prevent STDs all time.
STI Home Testing & Diagnosis
- Blood Tests- Blood tests can confirm the diagnosis of HIV or later stages of syphilis.
- Urine Tests- Urine samples check some STIs.
- Fluid Samples- Fluid samples and genital sores testing can also check the type of STD.
- Only an expert can diagnose a STIs
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