As it often confuses us, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not actually the same thing.
Infection — which is when bacteria, viruses or parasites attack the body — comes before illness.
And while the infection can lead to zero symptoms, the disease usually always comes with clear signs.
Think of it this way: an STD will always start as an infection. But not all sexually transmitted infections turn into STDs.
Now that you know the difference between the two, here’s a quick look at the types of STDs that currently exist, how to treat them, and most importantly, how to prevent them.
If an STD begins with a symptomatic infection, you may first experience:
# pain or discomfort during sexual activity or urination
# sores, bumps or rashes on or around the vagina, penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs or labia
# unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis or vagina
# painful or swollen testicles
# itching in or around the vagina
# unexpected periods or bleeding after sexual activity
But remember that not all sexually transmitted infections have symptoms.
If the infection progresses to a disease, the symptoms may vary. Some of these may be similar to the above, such as pain during sexual activity, pain during urination, and irregular or painful periods.
But other symptoms can be quite different and depend on sexually transmitted diseases. These may include:
# fever
# recurring pain
# fatigue
# memory loss
# vision or hearing changes
# nausea
# weight loss
# lumps or swellings
All sexually transmitted diseases are caused by infection.
These infections are usually transmitted through sexual contact, including bodily fluids or skin-to-skin contact through vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
Some of them never become a disease, especially if treated, and can even go away on their own.
But if the pathogens that caused the infection eventually damage the cells in the body and disrupt their functions, the infection will progress to sexually transmitted diseases.
Although the list of sexually transmitted diseases is quite long, there are fewer sexually transmitted diseases.
They range from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), caused by infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, to some forms of cancer, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Below are the main STDs to be aware of.
Gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis are common infections that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease if left untreated.
But not all cases of pelvic inflammatory disease are caused by infection, as other bacterial infections can also play a significant role.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 2.5 million women in the United States have a reported lifetime history of a BCC diagnosis.
Although this infection of the female reproductive organs is classified as a disease, some people have no symptoms.
Those with symptoms may experience:
# pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen
# pain during penetrative vaginal sex or when urinating
# irregular, heavy or painful vaginal bleeding
# unusual vaginal discharge
# nausea
# high temperature
Antibiotics can successfully treat pelvic inflammatory disease if diagnosed early enough. However, they will not treat fallopian tube scarring that may have occurred.
This scarring can make an ectopic pregnancy more likely and is also linked to infertility, with around 1 in 10 people with pelvic inflammatory disease becoming infertile as a result.
The early stages of syphilis — a relatively rare infection — are considered a sexually transmitted infection.
The infection first appears as one or more small round sores on the genitals, anus, or mouth. If left untreated, syphilis will go into a latent phase, which has no symptoms.
However, about a quarter of people will develop tertiary syphilis from here — a process that can last between 10 and 30 years after the initial infection.
This disease can have serious consequences for several organ systems in the body, leading to:
# vision loss
# hearing loss
# memory loss
# of mental health conditions
# infections of the brain or spinal cord
# heart disease
The earlier syphilis is diagnosed and treated, the less damage it does.
While penicillin injections are usually used to treat tertiary syphilis and remove the bacteria from the body, they cannot reverse the damage that has already been done.
Of course, if the disease causes problems with major organs, such as the heart, other drugs and procedures may be needed.
Although some strains of HPV usually do not cause disease, other strains can cause abnormal cell changes.
This can lead to cancer, including:
# oral cancer
# cervical cancer
# rak vulva
# penile cancer
# anal cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, the majority of HPV-related cancers in the United States are caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18.
HPV causes almost all cervical cancers, as well as over 90% of anal cancers, 75% of vaginal cancers and over 60% of penile cancers.
The symptoms of these cancers vary depending on where in the body they affect. Swelling and lumps, bleeding and pain may be common.
If cancer is diagnosed early, it is often easier to treat with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
There are some screening tests to detect precancerous cell changes caused by HPV.
Some lower-risk strains of HPV can cause a disease called genital warts.
These skin-colored or white bumps appear on the genitals or anus, and over 350,000 people develop them each year.
They can be treated, but not cured, because the virus that causes them can remain. (In some cases, HPV goes away on its own.)
Genital warts can also disappear on their own, but they can also come back.
If you want to remove them, options range from freezing or burning them to applying a chemical cream or liquid.
HIV can damage the immune system and increase the risk of infection with other viruses or bacteria and the development of certain cancers.
With today’s treatments, many people with HIV live long, healthy lives.
But if left untreated, the virus can lead to AIDS, where the body becomes vulnerable to serious infections and diseases.
People with AIDS may experience:
# rapid weight loss
# extreme murder
# rane
# infections
# neurological disorders
# of cancer
There is no cure for AIDS. And because of the various diseases that can be acquired as a result of a severely weakened immune system, life expectancy without treatment is about 3 years.
Some sexually transmitted infections can be passed to the fetus during pregnancy or to the newborn during delivery. But this is not the case for all STDs.
Syphilis can be passed on to an unborn baby, leading to serious infection, miscarriage or stillbirth.
Genital warts can also pass to the baby, but are extremely rare.
Pelvic inflammatory disease can affect future pregnancies, making an ectopic pregnancy more likely and causing infertility in 1 in 10 people.
Here’s what else you need to consider if you’re pregnant:
Get screened for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and syphilis, to avoid complications by ensuring that any infection can be detected and treated.
Talk to a health care professional if you have an STD. They may need to check that the medicine is safe to use or delay treatment when necessary.
Keep in mind that a cesarean delivery may be necessary — especially if genital warts make it difficult to stretch the vagina.
It is difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose STDs based on symptoms alone, so they will need to do some tests and examinations.
Depending on the suspected STD, this may include:
# physical examinations
# body fluid swabs
# blood tests
# specialist procedures, such as cervical surgery or colposcopy
Sexually transmitted diseases can have different effects on the body.
There are several treatment options, depending on the condition, including:
# antibiotics
# drugi oralni ili locali lekovi
# surgery
# laser
You may also be advised to make lifestyle changes, such as abstaining from sex until treatment is complete.
Remember that with most sexually transmitted diseases, it is not possible to undo the damage that the disease has already caused. And some sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital warts and AIDS, cannot be cured.
The best way to avoid STDs is to prevent STDs. And the only safe way to do that is to avoid sexual contact.
But there are ways to make sex safer and reduce the risk of STDs:
Discuss your sexual history openly with your new partner before engaging in any sexual activity and decide what is right for you.
Get tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections, especially if you have a new partner or multiple partners. Ask all partners to do the same.
Use a condom correctly during vaginal, anal, and oral sex to prevent sexually transmitted infections that are spread through fluids. Dental dams can also provide protection during oral sex.
Consider HPV and Hepatitis B vaccinations.
If you are at higher risk of contracting HIV, consider taking PrEP medication every day.
Many sexually transmitted diseases can be treated, but not all are curable. Some can be life-threatening, while others have less serious consequences.
However, they are all caused by sexually transmitted infections. So, the best way to prevent them is to get checked regularly and practice safer sex.
And if you test positive for any sexually transmitted infection, seek treatment as soon as possible.
Source: www.sitoireseto.com
