Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually Transmitted Infections Overview
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) usually pass from one person to another through sexual contact. Examples include chlamydia, crabs, and genital herpes. Treatment can depend on the type of STI.
HIV has other routes of transmission. For example, this STI can spread through the use of unsterilized drug needles as well as sexual contact.
STIs can affect anyone, regardless of the individual’s sexual orientation or hygiene standards. Many STIs can spread through nonpenetrative sexual activity.
Types of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Chlamydia
If symptoms do occur, they may include a change in vaginal discharge and burning pain during urination.
Chlamydia can also affect the rectum if it occurs as a result of anal sex or spreads from another area of the body. This can lead to:
- Rectal pain
- Bleeding
- Rectal discharge
Crabs (pubic lice)
Pubic lice can spread during close physical contact, including sexual contact. They can also transmit via shared towels or bed linen. However, they cannot spread via toilet seats.
If pubic lice are affecting the hair near the eyes, the person may need a prescription medication.
Genital Herpes
HSV-1 usually affects the mouth. It can spread through saliva or if there is a herpes-related sore around another person’s mouth. It can pass to the genital area during oral sex.
HSV-2 can affect the genital area, the anal area, and the mouth. It transmits through vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
Herpes cannot spread via utensils, toilet seats, swimming pools, soaps, or bedding. However, if a person touches a body part where herpes is present and then touches another part of their body, the herpes can spread to that area.
Once herpes is present, it stays in the body. It usually remains dormant, however, and many people will never develop symptoms.
The main symptoms are blisters around the mouth, anus, or genital area. These blisters can break, causing a painful sore that takes a week or longer to heal.
Symptoms of Herpes
Following are some of the symptoms of initial herpes infection:
- Body aches
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
Some people never have symptoms, some have only an initial outbreak, and some have repeated outbreaks.
A person might never know that they have the herpes virus, but it can still spread to others.
There is currently no cure, but medication can help relieve any symptoms. Daily antiviral medications can help prevent the spread of herpes.
Wearing a condom will not completely prevent the transmission of herpes.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B can cause a long-term infection and result in liver damage. Once a person has the virus, it can remain in their semen, blood, and other bodily fluids.
Hepatitis B Transmission
Transmission is possible through the following:
- Engaging in sexual contact with an infected person
- puncturing the skin with a sharp object where the virus is present
- Using nonsterile equipment for injections
This infection can pass to a baby during pregnancy or delivery. However, a doctor can advise on ways to prevent this.
People at high risk of contracting hepatitis B should ask their doctor about a vaccine, which can offer some protection. The vaccine may not provide long-term immunity, however, and the person may need booster doses for continued protection.
Trichomoniasis
In females, it is most likely to affect the vagina. In males, the infection can develop in the urethra.
Transmission can occur through penetrative sex and vulva-to-vulva contact.
Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
Many people do not experience any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Discomfort or pain during sex
- Pain during urination
- Unusual discharge
- Pain during ejaculation
Trich can also lead to pregnancy complications and increase the chance of both contracting and transmitting HIV.
A doctor can prescribe medications to resolve trich, but both partners will likely need treatment, or the infection may return. Without treatment, trich can last for months or years.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system. It can spread through sexual contact and some other means.
Once a person has HIV, the virus will be present in their bodily fluids, including semen, blood, breast milk, and vaginal and rectal fluids. If these fluids enter another person’s body, that person can also contract HIV.
This can happen through sexual contact, sharing needles, contact with broken skin, giving birth, and breastfeeding.
Treatment of HIV
Treatment can reduce the amount of the virus present in the body to an undetectable level. This means that the amount of the virus within the blood is so small that blood tests cannot detect it. It also means that it cannot spread to other people.
A person with undetectable HIV must continue to follow their treatment plan exactly as the doctor prescribes to keep virus levels low.
Prevention of HIV
Following are some of the ways to prevent transmission of HIV:
- Using a condom or other barrier method of contraception during vaginal or anal sex
- Taking preexposure prophylaxis, which is a drug that can help prevent HIV in people with exposure to the virus
- Not sharing needles
- Using gloves and disposing of sharps carefully, such as when working in a healthcare setting
Human Papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus (HPV) refers to a group of viruses that affect the skin and mucous membranes, such as the throat, cervix, anus, and mouth. There are various types, and some pose a higher risk than others.
Many people experience no symptoms, but in these cases, it is still possible for the virus to spread.
Some types of HPV can lead to genital warts. These tend to be low risk.
Having HPV can also increase the risk of cervical cancer and throat cancer.
Spread of HPV
HPV can spread through the following:
- Genital-to-genital contact
- From a pregnant person to a baby, though this is rare
- Oral sex
- Vaginal and anal sex
Vaccination can help prevent the transmission of HPV.
Molluscum Contagiosum
It can affect both adults and children. Doctors consider it an STI when it occurs in adults but not when it occurs in young children. Experts believe that it is a type of pox.
Among adults, transmission tends to occur through skin-to-skin contact or lesions, usually during sexual activity.
Symptoms of Molluscum Contagiosum
Symptoms include small, round bumps and indents on the skin. There may only be one of these. The bump or bumps usually disappear without treatment, but this can take time, and they remain contagious while present.
Some ways of removing the bumps include taking certain prescription medications, applying chemicals or an electrical current, or freezing them.
Using a barrier method of contraception can help prevent the transmission of the virus. Anyone who has the virus should wash their hands carefully after touching an affected area of skin to prevent the spread of the virus to another part of the body or another person.
Scabies
The first time a person has scabies, the symptoms may appear after 2–6 weeks of exposure. If they have scabies again, symptoms can appear 1–4 days after exposure. Scabies can spread before a person even knows that they have it.
Transmission of Scabies
Transmission usually occurs through skin-to-skin contact and due to sharing items such as towels and bedding.
A doctor can prescribe topical creams that kill the mites. While a person has scabies, they should avoid skin-to-skin contact with others. Once it has cleared up, they should decontaminate any personal items, including all bedding and clothes.
Syphilis
The sore may not be visible, since it is often painless and may be hidden, for example, in the vagina.
The bacterium can spread at any point during the infection. Syphilis can also pass to a baby during pregnancy.
Secondary of Syphilis Infection
- A non-itchy rash of rough, brownish or red spots on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- Hair loss
- Lesions in the mucous membranes, such as the mouth, vagina, or anus
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Weight loss
Latent Stage of Syphilis Infection
In the latent stage, the symptoms disappear, but the bacteria remain in the body and can continue to cause damage.
In the tertiary stage, life threatening complications can affect the brain, nervous system, eyes, heart, and several other organs. Symptoms at this stage will depend on which part of the body the syphilis affects.
The only way to confirm whether or not syphilis is present is by conducting a test. If the result is positive, the person should inform their sexual partner or partners, and they, too, should seek medical advice.
Gonorrhea
This infection can also spread to a baby during childbirth.
Symptoms of Gonorrhea
There are often no symptoms, but if they do occur, they may include:
- Bleeding between periods
- Discharge
- Pain during urination
- swelling of the genitals
Gonorrhea Affects on Rectum
If it affects the rectum, it can lead to:
- Anal itching
- Discharge
- Pain during bowel movements
An infection that occurs as a result of oral sex can lead to burning pain in the throat and swollen lymph nodes.
In females, the infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. Males, meanwhile, may experience inflammation of the epididymis, which is the tube that stores sperm. Both conditions can affect fertility.
As soon as a person has gonorrhea, the bacteria can spread to other people and to other parts of the body through physical contact. Receiving treatment with antibiotics can usually resolve the infection.
Chancroid
It causes painful sores on the genitals. Chancroid can also increase the chance of HIV, and it can make HIV harder to treat.
When to see a doctor
Many STIs will not cause symptoms, so a person should not wait until symptoms appear before seeing a doctor.
Instead, people should seek medical advice if they think that they have had exposure to an STI.
Treatments and Tips
A doctor can test for STIs to confirm whether or not an infection is present. They will then prescribe the most appropriate treatment option.
The sections below will look at some treatments and tips for coping with an STI.
Antibiotic Treatment
Treatment for bacterial infections is with antibiotics. However, some STIs — such as gonorrhea — appear to be developing a resistance to the antibiotics that doctors commonly prescribe to treat them.
It is essential to complete any type of antibiotic treatment, even if the symptoms disappear. Stopping treatment early may allow remaining bacteria to grow again, and symptoms may return. At this stage, the infection can become harder to treat.
Vaccines
Vaccines can help protect a person from HPV and hepatitis B. People can discuss their situation with a healthcare provider, who will advise about vaccinations.
Dealing with Stigma
Many people find it hard to talk about STIs due to concerns about stigma. However, STIs are a common health concern, and treatments are available that can either cure the infection or help a person manage it. Seeking early treatment will also reduce the risk of complications.
Home testing kits for various STIs are also available for purchase online, though a person should seek confirmation of the result from a doctor.
Prevention
Using a condom, dental dam, or other barrier method of contraception can help prevent the spread of many STIs, though this will not prevent the transmission of infections that spread as a result of skin-to-skin contact.
Some other ways to reduce the risk of transmitting or contracting an STI include:
- Ensuring that both partners undergo testing before starting a new sexual relationship
- Talking to any new partners about protected sex and any past infections
- Receiving vaccinations to protect against some infections
- Taking care when using alcohol or recreational drugs, as these can increase the chance of risky sexual behaviors
Outlook
Most STIs go away after treatment. Some may require lifelong management with medications. You can develop the same STI after it goes away if you get infected with it again.
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