What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Everybody thinks that I cannot get sexually transmitted infections known as STI.  People who are at higher risk of getting the disease are people who have multiple partners and those have multiple partners further ahead. In reality, you may be single or in a relationship, a male or a female, young or old, you can get STI if you don’t take precautions. That is why it is important to know your partner’s sexual history before you have sex with any partner.

What is STI?

These are the diseases caused by different bacteria and viruses and usually spreads by sexual contact, some can even be passed on by skin to skin genital contact. People call it as STD or VD, all of them means the same thing. They often have no symptoms. The only safe sex is no sex. STI includes diseases such as Chlamydia Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, and HIV. They can be transmitted through vaginal, oral or anal sex. If you are pregnant, your babies are at risk to get infections. In babies, these can have severe lifelong consequences. The best way to prevent STI is to know your status if you don’t know your status get tested, even if you don’t have any symptoms.

For example, people with Chlamydia don’t show any symptoms, but if left untreated it can cause infertility in both men and women. The best defense against STI is to use the condom. Any other type of birth control does not help safeguard you against STI. Get it tested today, talk to doctor openly about yourself and your partner’s history. This can be difficult, but protecting your health is more important. It is also possible that it breaks relationships, but the good news is, If you are infected, you can be treated and treatment can be given to your partner too. Or else it can cause lifelong problems. If you want to have sex, the only safe way is to have is use a condom. It is important to treat STIs as soon as possible and not let them spread and cause havoc. Most can be treated.

Categories Of STI

STI can be grouped into 3 families.

• Parasitic.
• Bacterial.
• Viral.

Parasitic

It is a creature that lives on the body of other people. PARASITE is a little bug that lives on the human but cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Pubic Lice:

Also called crabs as they look the same under the microscope. They live in pubic hairs around the genitals. They lay their eggs at the base of the hair, they can be itchy and cause little inflammation easily and they spread pretty easily.

Scabies:

They are tiny mites. They dig little holes under the skin and lay their eggs. You can’t see them but they cause itchy rashes and inflammation. They can be treated with lotions and creams. Wash all bedding, clothing, and furnishings with hot water as this ensures that they don’t come back.

Trichomoniasis:

Commonly called trich STI. This single-cell organism can affect the urethra, bladder, vagina, cervix or get under the foreskin in men. It is transmitted through sexual activity or by sharing sex toys. Often there are no symptoms. The trich can make genitals itchy or irritated. And it causes a frothy discharge and pain during urination in both men and women. But it is easily treatable by medication.

Bacterial Infection

There are 3 types in this category:

Chlamydia:

It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections between the 15 to 29 age group. It is transmitted through sexual activity and does not show any signs or symptoms. If it does show signs or symptoms, some of the more common are itchy and inflamed genitals discharge and painful urination. Chlamydia is easily treated by antibiotics, but if left untreated it can cause infertility in both men and women.

Gonorrhea or Clap:

It is an infection that is transmitted in the same age as Chlamydia and shares many of the same symptoms. It can be treated with antibiotics. It can also cause infertility in both men and women.

Syphilis:

Great imitator, it is rare though the same as the other ones. The place where the bacteria enter the body, it shows small painless sore. This stage is treatable with antibodies, only if detected early. At stage 2 there is the general feeling of being unwell or flat smooth warts appear. In stage 3 it may cause heart problems, mental issues or even death.

Viral Infection

There are 4 viruses in this category:

Human Papilloma Virus:

HPV is the most common viral. Over 30 different type of HPV that are sexually transmitted through any type of sex. But it can also spread by having skin to skin contact. Sometimes causes warts and some types can cause cancer if it goes untreated for many years. It often has no signs or symptoms. Vaccines are now available to treat such issues.

Hepatitis B Virus:

It is a vaccine-preventable hep B virus, which affects liver functions. Hepatitis A ORC is another form of liver disease, so as not to be mixed. Bis easily transmitted not only through sexual activity but also sharing razors, needles or toothbrushes. Signs and symptoms are tiredness, yellowing skin, nausea, vomiting and a decrease in appetite.

Genital Herpes:

Caused by the herpes virus. It is the same family of viruses that causes cold sores around the mouth. Both types of herpes can infect genital areas causing sores. The virus is transmitted through sexual activities or by skin to skin contact. Most often people mistake genital herpes as HPVs or genital warts. The sad news is there is no cure for herpes. But effective treatment for recurring outbreaks is there. The viruses can go into a dormant stage and display no symptoms but it is still transmittable during this stage.

Human Immuno Deficiency Virus:

It attacks the body’s immune system leaving the body unable to fight other diseases. It can also spread through sex as well as sharing personal items. But nothing is transmitted through shaking hands or normal contact. Someone who is infected might face rapid weight loss, sore throat skin rash and eventually effected individuals may get infected from other infections and die.

If you notice these symptoms get tested for STI and if tested positive, make sure you get help from health professionals. These infections can lead to death if left untreated for long.

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