The STDs used to be called venereal diseases or VD. They are among the most common infectious diseases. About 65 million Americans have an incurable STD. Twenty million new cases are reported each year; half of these diseases are between the ages of 15 and 24 and may have long-term effects.
What Are STDs?
Sexually transmitted diseases ( STDs) are transmitted from one person to another through sexual activity. STD can also be referred to as a sexually transmitted illness (STI) or a venereal disease (VD).
You may have STD contracted from having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has STD. That doesn’t mean that sex is the only way that STDs are transmitted. Based on the individual STD, pathogens can also be spread by exchanging the needles and breastfeeding.
The sources of STD are bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The germs which cause STDs are found in semen, blood, vaginal fluid, and sometimes saliva. Many species are transmitted by genital or oral sex.
Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Some common symptoms of STDs can be:
- Unusual discharge of the vagina, penis, or anus
- Pain when you pee
- Lumps or growths of the skin around the vagina or anus
- a rash
- Uncommon vaginal bleeding
- Genital itch or anus
- Blister, sores around the genitals or anus
Risk Factors for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
You are at high risk of contracting an STD if:
- You’ve got more than one sex partner
- You’ve got sex with someone who has a lot of partners
- When you have sex, you don’t use a condom
- You share needles when you inject intravenous drugs
- You trade sex for money or drugs.
Now, let’s learn about some of the most common STDs.
1. Chlamydia
Name of the causing bacteria: Chlamydia trachomatis
Symptoms
At least half of all men and at least 70% of women with Chlamydia don’t notice any symptoms. However, some symptoms are:
Symptoms In Men:
- Pain when urinating
- White, cloudy, or watery discharge from the apex of the penis
- Pain in the testicles
- Burning or itching in the urethra
Symptoms In Women:
- Pain when urinating
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Bleeding between periods
- Pain in the tummy or pelvis
- Pain during sex and bleeding after sex
Transmissions: Through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected partner.
Prevention:
- Use condoms every time while having sex.
- Limit the number of sex partners as multiple sex partners put you at high risk of having Chlamydia.
- Get regular screenings if you are sexually active or have multiple partners.
- Try to avoid douching. Douching kills good bacteria in the vagina, so the risk of infection increases.
Treatment:
Chlamydia can usually be effectively treated with antibiotics. More than 95% of people will be cured if they take their antibiotics correctly and regularly.
If you think you have the infection, you might start treatment before you get your diagnosed results.
The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for Chlamydia are mentioned below:
- Azithromycin, which is given as 2 or 4 tablets at once
- Doxycycline, which is given as 2 capsules a day for a week
2. HPV (human papillomavirus)
Name of the causing virus: Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Symptoms
HPV infection doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. Thus you might not know if you have HPV. It’s widespread. Many people will get some type of HPV in their life.
Symptoms include different types of warts in women and genital warts on the penis, scrotum in men.
Transmissions: You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus.
Prevention
- Avoid skin-to-skin contact by not having sex
- Use condoms and dental dams every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
- Safer sexual relations can lower your chances of getting HPV.
- The immune system is the first line of defense against HPV, so boosting it can help fight off the virus naturally
- Limit your number of sexual partners.
- Talk to your sexual partners about the most recent time they’ve been tested for STIs.
Treatment
There is no cure for the virus itself, but 90% of HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away independently within two years. About 70 to 90 percent of cases of HPV infections are cleared from the body by the immune system.
The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer and some other cancers.
The goal when care is needed is to alleviate symptoms by removing any visible warts and irregular cells.
3. HIV
Name of the causing virus: Human immunodeficiency virus
Symptoms
80% of people infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like symptom, occurring 2-6 weeks after the infection. Then, the virus usually doesn’t cause any symptoms for several years.
The most common symptoms are:
- Raised temperature (fever)
- Sore throat
- Body rash
Other symptoms can include:
- Tiredness
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Swollen glands
When the immune system gets severely damaged, symptoms can include:
- Weight loss
- Chronic diarrhea
- Night sweats
- Skin problems
- Recurrent infections
- Serious life-threatening illnesses
Transmissions: Through sexual behaviors, needle or syringe use, and only certain body fluids such as blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
Prevention
- Use condoms every time you have sex as it will protect you
- Use a clean needle. Don’t share needles with anyone
- Use PrEP, a daily pill that helps prevent HIV
- Use a condom or dental dam while having oral sex
- If you’ve been exposed to HIV, then use post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- Tell your sexual partners if you have HIV
Treatment
The treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART), which involves taking a combination of HIV medicines every day. People who have HIV should start taking HIV medicines as soon as possible.
The therapy works by stopping the virus from replicating in the body, which allows the immune system to repair itself and prevent further damage. The combination of HIV drugs is used because HIV can quickly adapt and become resistant.
ART is recommended for everyone who has HIV. Though ART can’t cure HIV, HIV medicines help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. ART also reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
4. Syphilis
Name of the causing bacteria: Treponema pallidum
Symptoms
Some people with syphilis do not have any symptoms. Symptoms are quite common among men and women. Symptoms can include:
- Small, painless sores or ulcers that typically appear on the penis, vagina, or around the anus and the mouth
- A blotchy red rash which affects the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- Small skin growths (similar to genital warts disease) that may develop on the vulva in women or around the bottom of the anus in both men and women
- White patches in the mouth
- Tiredness, headaches, joint pains, a high temperature, swollen glands in the neck, groin, or armpits
Transmissions: Transmission of syphilis can occur during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. it is mainly spread through close contact with an infected sore.
Prevention
Syphilis cannot always be prevented, but you can reduce your risk by practicing safer sex:
- Always use a male condom or female condom during vaginal, oral, and anal sex
- Try to use a dental dam (a square of plastic) during oral sex
- Avoid sharing sex toys
- Do not share your needles with others.
Treatment
Syphilis can spread to the brain or other parts of the body and cause serious long-term problems if left untreated for years.
Syphilis is usually treated with:
- An injection of antibiotics into your buttocks. Usually, people will only need 1 dose, although 3 injections given at weekly intervals may be recommended if you have had syphilis for a long time.
- A course of antibiotics tablets if you are unable to take the injection – this will usually last 2 or 4 weeks, depending on how long you have had syphilis
You should avoid any kind of sexual activity for at least 2 weeks after your treatment finishes.
5. Gonorrhea
Name of the causing bacteria: Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus
Symptoms
Symptoms of Women:
- An abnormal vaginal discharge, which may be thin or watery, green, or yellow.
- Pain or burning feeling while urinating.
- Pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen.
- Bleeding between periods and after-sex bleeding.
Symptoms Of Men:
- An unusual discharge from the penis tip, which can be white, yellow, or green.
- Pain or burning sensation when you urinate.
- Inflammation of the foreskin.
- The discomfort or tenderness of the testicles is uncommon.
Transmissions: Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease spread through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected partner. It can be spread from mother to baby during birth.
Prevention Of STDs
Precautions will help prevent the spread of gonorrhea. Preventive measures can keep the infection from occurring in the first place.
To prevent gonorrhea:
- Abstain from sexual intercourse
- Use a condom each time during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse.
- Have a sexually trusted partner who doesn’t have the infection
Treatment
- Ceftriaxone (250 milligrams) is injected into the muscle as a single dose.
- Azithromycin (Zithromax) a single dose taken orally
The recommended alternative treatment is:
- Cefixime (Suprax) a single dose taken orally
- Azithromycin (Zithromax) a single dose taken orally
The above-mentioned information is for reference only. Please do not self-diagnose and always visit a healthcare provider before coming to any conclusions.
