Sexually Transmitted Diseases

There are many different Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Some are irritating while others are a real threat to life.

STDs can cause major health problems affecting men, women and future offspring. Serious consequences can include cervical cancer, insanity and death. They are a major cause of infertility in men and women. Pregnancies with women with certain STDs can end in the death of the fetus, neonatal death or the birth of a child with serious disease.

RISKS

The risk of acquiring an STD increases as the number of sexual partners increases. It is also important that early diagnosis is performed. If you think that you may have been infected you MUST have a check up immediately.

TYPES

There are many different types of STD. The most common are:

• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Herpes
• HIV

Syphilis

Syphilis is a contagious, systemic disease, transmitted by close personal contact, usually sexual intercourse. An unborn child can be infected through the placenta. The phases, after infection are:

• Incubation - between 10 and 90 days
• Primary Syphilis - lasting between 1 and 6 weeks
• Secondary Syphilis - lasting between 2 and 10 weeks
• Latent, or Tertiary Syphilis - which may not show symptoms until many years later

During the Secondary Stage, the symptoms can include fever, rash and hair loss.

During the Latent stage symptoms include paralysis and insanity.

Gonorrhea

This disease is easily caught through sexual intercourse with an infected person. Newborn infants also have a chance of becoming infected from their mothers, and it can lead to blindness.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is particularly dangerous as, often, it does not produce any symptoms and is, therefore, difficult to diagnose. Chlamydial infections can cause over 20 different medical conditions.Infection can lead to infertility later among other problems including pregnant women passing on the infection to the newborn producing a from of pneumonia.Non treatment in women can lead to development of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. This in turn can lead to ectopic pregnancies, a major factor in pregnancey related deaths, and infertility.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV2)

HSV2 is closely related to the HSV1 virus that produces cold sores and lesions on the face and other non-genital areas. HSV 2 is found predominantly in the genital area. Symptoms are painful inflammation of the vagina in females, and the glans of the penis in males, and inflammation of the urethra. Among other associated problems it can cause spontaneous abortion in pregnant women.

HIV/AIDS

Prevention

The main methods of prevention are reducing the risk of exposure to transmission by

• Having few sexual partners
• Being aware of the sexual history of your partner
• Using Condoms
• Having a check up as soon as possible, if you think that you have been exposed to a risk of transmission of any or all of the STDs.

Treatment

Most STDs can be effectively cured and their possible complications prevented. Even when using Anti-Biotics in the treatment of STDS,it is essential that:

• Treatment begins as soon as possible
• The full and adequate doses of the correct from of medication are prescribed
• The course of medication is completed
• Sexual Partners of the patient are treated simultaneously
• Sexual Intercourse is abstained from until the infection is cured

For help or advice on the subject of STDs please do not hesitate to contact the MFPA or (insert details of STD Clinics and Specialists here)