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STD
What
are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
The term "sexually transmitted diseases" or
"STDs" represents a group of more than 25 different
diseases that can be passed from one person to another through
sexual contact
How
are STDs transmitted?
STDs can be transmitted through oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
They can be transmitted from partner to partner with or without
visible signs or symptoms. Many people can pass an STD to a sex
partner without knowing it. Some STDs can be passed without
having intercourse; they can be passed through skin-to-skin
contact
What
are the typical symptoms of STDs?
Many STDs have no noticeable symptoms. When they occur,
typical STD symptoms for women may include unusual vaginal
discharge (flow), sores, bumps, burning when urinating, and
redness or itching around the vaginal area. Typical symptoms for
men may include discharge from the penis, burning when
urinating, and sores, bumps, or redness on or around the penis.
Can
I get STDs from a towel or a toilet seat?
Most STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes,
and genital warts, are spread only through direct sexual contact
with an infected person. Crabs (pubic lice) or scabies, which
are often sexually transmitted, can be passed through contact
with infested items like clothes, sheets, or towels.
Does
the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
facilitate HIV transmission?
Yes. Every STD causes some damage to the genital skin and
mucous layer, which facilitates the entry of HIV into the body.
The most dangerous are:
- Syphilis
- Chancrold
- Genital herpes
- Gonorrhoea
Why
is early treatment of STD important?
High rates of STD caused by unprotected sexual activity
enhance the transmission risk in the general population. Early
treatment of STD reduces the risk of spread to other sexual
partners and also reduces the risk of contracting HIV from
infected partners. Besides, early treatment of STD also prevents
infertility and ectopic pregnancies.
Is
There a Relationship Between HIV and Other STDs?
The presence of certain STDs increases the risk of getting
HIV infection during contact with an HIV-infected person.
Certain STDs result in breaks in the skin on or in the anus,
vagina, or penis that permit the virus to enter the blood system
more easily. See a health care provider for testing and
treatment if you think you might have any STD.
How
common are STDs?
STDs are very common. In many developing countries it ranks
among the top five conditions for which adults seek health care.
WHO estimates that 340 million new cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea,
chlamydia and trichonmoniasis have occurred among men and women
in the age of 15 -49 years.
What
should I do if I think I have an STD?
If you think you have an STD, see a health care provider
immediately. Seeking treatment early will help to minimize the
long-term effects of most STDs. Avoid sexual contact until you
are cured. Make sure your partner(s) get tested and treated too.
Can
I get an STD more than once?
You are not "immune" to an STD if you have had it
before. STDs caused by bacteria (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and
syphilis) can be treated and cured, but you can get them again
if exposed. Viral STDs cannot be cured and may remain in your
body forever.
Can
all STDs be cured?
Bacterial STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, can be
easily treated and cured. Viral STDs like herpes, genital warts,
and HIV are incurable, but there are treatments available to
lessen the severity of the disease.
Is
it true that if I get tested for HIV, I get tested for all STDs?
No. Each STD, including HIV, has its own test. Talk to your
health care provider to make sure you're getting the test you
need.
Can
I test myself for STDs?
Currently, there are no home tests for STDs. The only way to
know if you have an STD is to see a healthcare provider and get
tested.
How
serious are the complications of STDs?
If left untreated, STDs can lead to major health problems.
HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Other
STDs can cause infertility, tubal pregnancy, reproductive tract
cancers, pelvic inflammatory disease, and serious complications
in newborns. Complications from STDs often occur years after
infection. ( AORTIC ANEURYSM, PARAPLEGIA )
Are
women at greater risk for STDs?
Yes, women are at greater risk for many STDs, including HIV.
Women are biologically more susceptible than men to becoming
infected if exposed to an STD. STDs are also less likely to
produce symptoms in women, and therefore are more difficult to
diagnose until serious problems develop, such as PID (Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease).
What
is the best protection against STDs?
All STDs are preventable. Abstinence (not having sex) is the
only sure way to prevent an STD. If you are having sex, using
condoms (latex or polyurethane) can significantly reduce the
risk of getting an STD, when used correctly. Limiting your
number of sex partners also reduces your risk of getting an STD.
What
is the difference between "STD" and "STI"?
STD is short for sexually transmitted disease. STI is short
for sexually transmitted infection. They are synonymous; STI is
the latest accepted terminology.
What
is the difference between bacterial and viral STDs?
The main difference between these two categories of sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) is what causes them -- bacterial
STDs are caused by bacteria and viral STDs are caused by
viruses. As a result of being caused by different
microorganisms, bacterial and viral STDs vary in their
treatment. Bacterial STDs, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and
chlamydia, are often cured with antibiotics. However, viral
STDs, (the four "H's) such as HIV, HPV (genital warts),
herpes, and hepatitis (the only STD that can be prevented with a
vaccine), have no cure, but their symptoms can be alleviated
with treatment.
In addition to bacteria and viruses, STDs can
also be caused by protozoa (trichomoniasis) and other organisms
(crabs/pubic lice and scabies). These STDs can be cured with
antibiotics or topical creams/lotions.
One of the most common symptoms of an STD is no
symptoms. So it's important to go for check-ups. 80 percent of
women and 40 percent of men diagnosed with chlamydia may not
experience symptoms. STDs need to be diagnosed correctly and
fully treated as soon as possible to avoid complications that
could be serious and/or permanent.
How
effective are latex condoms in preventing HIV?
Studies have shown that latex condoms are highly effective in
preventing HIV transmission when used consistently and
correctly. These studies looked at uninfected people considered
to be at very high risk of infection because they were involved
in sexual relationships with HIV-infected people. The studies
found that even with repeated sexual contact, 98-100 percent of
those people who used latex condoms correctly and consistently
did not become infected.
How to use a condom
properly?
Condoms can only work well if they do not come off or split.
If they are stored and used carefully, this will only very
rarely happen.
Both men and women should know how to use
one.
It is a good idea for people to practice
putting a condom on and off - in private, on a penis or suitable
object, before using one during sex. They will then feel happy
and confident that they know what to do.
You should:
-
Choose good quality condoms (from a good
shop or clinic if possible). Store them in a cool place,
away from heat or sunshine which can damage rubber;
-
Use a new condom each time, and use it
only once. Check the date on the packet, and that the packet
is not damaged, crushed or torn;
-
Open the packet carefully, so the condom
is not damaged. Check that the condom is neither brittle nor
sticky. If it is, throw it away and use another one;
-
When having sex, wait until the penis
goes hard, but put the condom on before the penis touches
the other person's sex organs or anus;
-
Check that the condom is the right way
up, with the roll on the outside;
-
With one hand, pinch the top of the
condom to press out the air bubble;
-
With the other hand, roll the condom
right down to the base of the penis, to the pubic hair;
-
If a lubricant is used (and this can help
to prevent the condom from splitting), use a water based one
(KY jelly), not oils, fat or cream which can damage the
rubber;
-
After sex, hold the condom in place and
withdraw the penis from the vagina or anus while it is still
hard;
-
Take the condom off carefully, making
sure that no semen is spilled, wrap it up with a waste paper
and dispose of it carefully in to the dust bin.
With anal sex there is a greater risk that a
normal condom will split, so a special thicker condom should be
used, together with lots of a water based lubricant.
Never re-use a condom
If a new condom is used each time a couple
has sex, they will be protecting both themselves and their
partners health and future life.
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