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Sexual Health and Well Being 

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are cause by infections that can be spread from one person to another during sexual contact. These infections often do not cause any symptoms. Medically, infections are only call disease when they cause symptoms that is why, STD are also called sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

There are many kinds of sexually transmitted disease and infections, they are very common, and more than half of all of us will get one at some time in our lives. Below are some commonly sexually transmitted diseases with their signs, symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

HIV and AIDS: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It breaks down the immune system, our body protection against disease. HIV causes people to become sick with infections that normally would not affect them. AIDS is the most advanced stage of the HIV disease.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Rash
  • Night sweat
  • Muscle aches
  • Sore throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath

PREVENTION:

  • Use a condom every time you have sex
  • Use a clean needle (IV users)
  • Tell your sexual partner if you have HIV and AIDS
  • Know your status

TREATMENT:

  • Antiretroviral therapy drugs

GONORRHEA: Patients often have no symptoms, easily treated, and easily spread with or without symptoms.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

IN WOMEN:

  • Yellowish or yellow green vaginal discharge
  • Painful urination
  • Painful sexual intercourse
  • Fever
  • Swelling or tenderness of the vulva

IN MEN:

  • Pus-like discharge from the penis
  • Pain or burning feeling while urinating
  • More frequent urination than usual

PREVENTIONS:

  • Inform your sex partner about the infection
  • Do not have sex until treatment is complete
  • Be sure your sex partner(s) is/are tested and treated before having sex again.

TREATMENTS:

  • Antibiotic prescribes by your physician
  • Both partner need to be treated.

Medications include:

  • Cefixime ( suprax)
  • Ceftriaxone ( Rocephin)
  • Azithromycin (Zithromax)
  • Doxycycline ( Dorxy)

TRICHOMONIASIS: Commonly called “Trich”, is an infection cause by a protozoan- a microscopic, one-Cell animal called trichomona.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

IN WOMEN:

  • Itching in and around the vagina
  • Blood spotting in discharge
  • Swelling in the groin

IN MEN:

  • Discharge from the urethra
  • The urge to urinate frequently, often with pain and burning

PREVENTION:

  • Used condoms
  • Abstain from vaginal or anal intercourse

TREATMENT:

  • Prescription medicine from your physician
  • If you have more than one sexual partner, each partner and their partners should be treated also

Medications:

  • Metronidazole
  • Flagyl
  • Tindamax
  • Tinidazole

SYPHILIS: Sexual transmitted disease caused by bacteria that are passed sexually. It can affect the vagina, anus, urethra, penis, and lips and mouth.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS:

  • Painless sore, can appear up to ten days to three months after exposures
  • Skin rash with rough, red or reddish-brown spot (often on palm of hands or sole of the feet)

PREVENTION:

  • No vaginal, oral, or anal sex
  • Have sex with one person that have tested negative
  • Used condoms every time you have sex and get tested

TREATMENT:

  • Antibiotics given to you by your physician

MEDICATION:

  • Penicillin

CHLAMYDIA: Is an infection caused by a kind of bacteria that is passed during sexual contact. It affects the vaginal, anus, mouth and throat.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS:

IN WOMEN:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Painful intercourse
  • Vaginal bleeding after intercourse
  • Bleeding between menstrual cycles

IN MEN:

  • Pain or burning feeling while urinating
  • Pus
  • Watery or milky discharge from penis
  • Swollen or tender testicles

PREVENTION:

  • Abstain from vaginal, anus, and oral sex
  • If you choose to have sex, use condoms

TREATMENT:

  • Antibiotics prescribe by your physician
  • Make sure your partner is treated before having sex again

MEDICATION:

  • Doxycycline
  • Azithromycin (Zithromax)

HPV: Stand for Human papillomavirus. There are more than one hundred types of HPV. About forty types of HPV can affect the genital area, the Vulva, Vaginal, Cervix, Rectum, Anus, and penis.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS: Most people with HPV do not develop symptoms or health problems. Ninety percent (90%) of cases, the body immune system clears HPV naturally within two years. But, some time, HPV infections are not clear and can caused, Genital warts, cervical cancer, RRP (condition in which warts grow in the throat).

PREVENTION:

  • Get the HPV vaccine, it protect women against two types of HPV that causes seventy percent of all cases of cervical cancer
  • Abstain from sex plays that involve skin to skin contact
  • If you choose to have vaginal or anal intercourse used condoms every time

TREATMENT:

There are no treatments for the virus itself, but there are treatments for the problems that HPV can cause, as listed above.

MEDICATIONS:

  • Imiquimod
  • Podofilox
  • Trichloroacetic acid

HERPES 1 AND 2: Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is referred to as type 1 (HSV1) or type 2 (HSV2). It causes painful blisters on the mouth and genital area. HSV1 is acquired orally, while HSV2 is acquired through sexual contact and affects mainly the genital area.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

  • Itching or tingling sensation in the genital or anal area.
  • Small fluid-filled blister that burst leaving small sores.
  • Pain when passing urine over the open sores ( especially in women).
  • Backache and headaches.
  • Flu like symptoms, including swollen glands or fever.

PREVENTION:

  • Do not kiss or perform oral sex when cold sore is around the mouth
  • Do not have oral sex, when oral or genital sores are present
  • Do not touch the sore, if you do wash your hands with soap and water because it kills the virus

TREATMENT:

Even though there is no cure for herpes, the symptoms and discomfort can be treated in a numbers of ways.

  • Painkillers such as paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen may help to ease pain
  • Anesthetic ointments relieve itching and pain
  • Antiviral medication may be prescribed in persistent cases

Genital Warts: are growths on the skin of the genital area and around the anus. They are cause by certain human papilloma virus (HPV).

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS:

  • Fleshy growth
  • Bumps or skin problems which may appear anywhere in the genital or anal area

IN WOMEN:

  • On upper thighs
  • The inside or outside of the vagina
  • On the cervix

IN MEN:

  • Penis
  • Scrotum
  • Groin area
  • Thighs
  • Inside or around the anus

PREVENTION:

  • Have sexual intercourse with one partner that is disease free
  • Used condoms
  • Get HPV vaccine

TREATMENTS:

  • A skin treatment done in a doctor office
  • Prescription medicine like: Imiquimod ( Aldara),Podophyllin, Podofilox, Trichloroacetic acid ( TCA)

The warts may also be removed with surgeries like:

  • Cryosurgery
  • Electrocauterization
  • Laser Therapy
  • Surgical excision ( cutting them out)