Preventing sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs are infections that are spread by sexual contact with infected persons. STDs are a major health concern today. Persons between the ages of 15 and 35 who are sexually active have a one-in-four chance of contracting an STD.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is the oldest known STD and is caused by a type of bacteria. The disease usually infects the urinary and genital tracts. The pathogens that cause gonorrhea live in the warm, moist, mucous membranes of the body.

In males, symptoms occur between two to nine days after contact with an infected person. Inflammation of the urethra results in redness, swelling, and painful urination. There is a watery discharge from the tip of the penis that later becomes white to greenish-yellow in color. If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause sterility. Sterility is the inability to reproduce.

Females often have no symptoms. If symptoms do appear they may include a vaginal discharge, irritation of the vaginal area, pain or burning during urination, and pain in the lower abdo­men. Untreated gonorrhea in females can lead to pelvic inflam­matory disease (PID). PID is a general term referring to infection of the female reproductive organs.

Gonorrhea is detected by a special laboratory examination of discharge from the urethra in males or the vaginal area in females. It is treated with penicillin or other antibiotics.

Syphilis

Syphilis is an STD caused by a type of spiral-shaped bacteria. The first symptom of syphilis is the presence of a chancre that appears two to four weeks after infection. A chancre is a painless, open sore that heals in four to six weeks. If syphilis is left untreated at this stage, secondary syphilis may occur one week to six months after the chancre disappears. Symptoms of the secondary stage include a pale red or pink rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Fever, sore throat, muscle pains, and weight and hair loss are also symptoms of the disease. These symptoms may disappear after three to six months.

In the latent, or last, stage of syphilis, the pathogens attack other body parts, including the brain and heart. Without treat­ment, this stage can result in heart disease, brain damage, and death. Syphilis is dangerous to a developing baby. A pregnant female can infect her unborn baby with syphilis if the pathogens cross the placenta. Syphilis can be detected with a special blood test. Penicillin and other antibiotics are used to treat syphilis. However, damage that occurs to the brain and heart in latent syphilis cannot be reversed.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an STD caused by a type of bacteria. It is the most common type of STD in the United States today. Chlamyd­ia is responsible for most cases of NGU (nongonococcal urethri­tis), which is an infection of the urethra. Symptoms of chlamydia in males include a watery, puslike discharge from the penis and painful urination. Symptoms in females may include a vaginal discharge, pain in the pelvic area, and painful urination. Infec­tion of the cervix may also occur, leading to PID. Chlamydia can also lead to sterility in males and females.

Chlamydia is detected by checking either a smear of tissue or a tissue culture from the infected area. Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia. Both sexual partners must be treated. If only one partner is treated, he or she can be reinfected by the untreated partner.

Genital Warts

Genital warts is an STD caused by a virus resulting in the presence of small growths around or in the genital area.

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почервоніння набряк болісне сечовипускання безпліддя вагінальні виділення запалення тазових органів виявити (хворобу) втрата ваги і випадання волосся прихований сифіліс водянисті, гнійні виділення мазок з тканини генітальні бородавки