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Advicenators discussion: STDs
karenR wrote Tuesday April 14 2009, 7:22 am:
Overview
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The term sexually transmitted disease (STD) is applied to any group of diseases spread by sexual contact (sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact or anal sex). According to the American Social Health Association, about 19 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases are reported in the United States every year. About half of these were contracted by males and females between 15 and 24 years of age. That means one in four teens will contract an STD.
The impact of STDs is particularly severe for women. Since many STDs often cause few or no symptoms in women, they may go untreated. Women are at serious risk for complications from STDs. Some of these complications include ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, cervical cancer and infertility. In fact, the American Journal of Public Health reports that 15 percent of women who are infertile cannot conceive solely because of an untreated STD.
Symptoms
It is important to remember that many STDs do not have noticeable symptoms so you must get tested for STDs regularly. The most common diseases and their symptoms (when and if they appear) are:
Genital Herpes
• Itching, tingling or burning sensation in the genitals
• Fluid-filled blisters on genitals
Chlamydia
• Usually has no symptoms
• Pain during intercourse (females)
• Clear, watery discharge (males)
Genital Warts (HPV, or Human Papillomavirus)
• Cauliflower-like growths in clusters on genitals or anus
HIV/AIDS
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Headaches
Gonorrhea
• Cloudy vaginal discharge and vaginal itching (females)
• Yellowish discharge (males)
• Painful urination
Candidiasis (Yeast Infection)
• Cloudy vaginal discharge and vaginal itching (females)
• Yellowish discharge (males)
• Painful urination
Hepatitis B
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Nausea
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Affects females only
• Lower abdominal pain
• Fever
• Bleeding between menstrual periods
Crabs (pubic lice)/Scabies
• Intense itching
• Tiny but visible crab-like insects in hair on genitals
Syphilis
• Sores on genitals, mouth and/or anus
• Rash
• Fever
• Sore throat
Trichomoniasis
Vaginal itching and greenish foul-smelling discharge (females)
Clear discharge (males)
Treatment
To avoid STDs, stay abstinent or use a condom every time you have sexual contact. Most contraceptives prevent pregnancy but not STDs.
In order to treat STDs that are treatable with antibiotics, they must be accurately diagnosed. This means that if you become sexually active or are considering becoming sexually active, you need to have regular gynecological (for females) or male genital examinations. Testing can be done without parental consent in the United States.
STDs that are not treatable include HIV/AIDS, genital warts (although there is now a vaccine available to prevent genital warts), genital herpes and advanced PID. For females, it is important to remember that Pap smears do NOT test for these (or any other) STDs.
Ask Your Physician
If you think you have an STD, or if you had sexual contact with someone who might have an STD, you should see a health care provider right away. Ask your partner to be tested also.
karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:15 am:
How are STDs spread?
STDs are spread through contact with infected body fluids, such as blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. They can also be spread through contact with infected skin or mucous membranes, like sores in the mouth. You may be exposed to infected body fluids and skin through vaginal, anal or oral sex if you don't correctly use a latex condom. Anal sex is very risky because it usually causes bleeding. Sharing needles or syringes for drug use, ear piercing, tattooing, etc. can also expose you to infected fluids.
Most STDs are only spread through direct sexual contact with an infected person. However, pubic lice and scabies can be spread through close personal contact with an infected person, or with infested clothes, sheets, or towels.
karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:17 am:
What are the symptoms of a STD?
Many STDs may not cause any symptoms. If you do have get symptoms caused by a STD, you may think you have another disease, since STD symptoms are similar to those caused by other diseases.
Symptoms vary for each STD, but they include sores or blisters on or around the genital area or in the mouth, pain or burning during urination, unusual discharge from the vagina, itching, swelling, pain in or around the vagina, pain in the pelvic area or abdomen (sometimes with fever or chills), or bleeding other than your menstrual period.
If you have any of these symptoms, you could have a STD, but they might also not mean anything serious. Talk to your health care provider right away and get checked out to be safe.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:18 am:
How can I prevent getting a STD?
The best way to prevent getting a STD is to not have sex. There are many other ways to be intimate in a romantic relationship without having sex. Try massaging, cuddling, or kissing (this is safe as long as both partners don't have cuts or sores in the mouth).
If you do decide to have sex, you should have sex with only one partner who only has sex with you and who has never injected drugs. Remember, the more partners you have, the greater risk of being exposed to a STD. You should ask your partner if he/she has a STD, has been exposed to one, or has physical symptoms that could mean a STD. You should not have sex with anyone that has signs of a STD (sores, rashes, or discharge from the genital area). It is also possible that your partner may have a STD without having any symptoms and could pass it on to you. If you think your partner could have a STD, even if he/she doesn't show symptoms, have him/her get tested before the two of you have sex. You should also get yearly Pap smears and tests for STDs, even if you have no symptoms.
You need to make sure that you use a new latex condom correctly every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. If you are allergic to latex, use a polyurethane male or female condom. Condoms are your best and only protection against STDs, although they still aren't 100% effective. Along with a condom, you should also use a water-based lubricant to keep the condom from breaking. Never use lubricants that contain oil or fat, like petroleum jelly or cooking oil. These products weaken latex and can cause the condom to break. Some STDs can't be cured, so you should always practice safer sex. Safer sex means finding ways to be intimate while lowering the risk of spreading a STD. This means preventing the passing of body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluids, and avoiding direct oral, anal, or genital contact (by using a latex condom).
Other ways you can prevent getting a STD include:
* Don't inject drugs.
* Avoid alcohol or drugs, since they can make you more likely to take chances with sex.
* Don't douche, since this can cause germs to travel further up into your vagina.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:19 am:
Are STD tests always accurate?
No test for any STD is 100% accurate. Some STDs don't show up right away. It could take an infection anywhere from a couple of days to a few years to show up in testing. But if you think you have a STD, get tested. You may have to go back again to get tested if you test negative. Even if you test negative, keep practicing safer sex. Talk to your health care provider about speaking with a counselor if you have concerns.
What about confidentiality?
Anything you tell your health care provider is confidential. By law, your health care provider can't talk about anything you tell him/her, unless he/she seriously believes that you are a danger to yourself or others, or that you aren't able to make decisions on your own. So your parents, teachers, partners, or friends can't find out any information from your health care provider about STDs. But you may find it very helpful to talk to your parents about your health and your worries. This can be a scary time for you and it is always good to have someone to talk to.
What should I do if I have a STD?
You need to tell all sex partner(s) who may have been exposed. Try to get them to get tested. If you feel that you cannot tell your partner(s), talk to your health care provider. He/she will help you to tell your partner(s) or will help you find another way to let your partner(s) know he/she has been exposed. You and your current sexual partner(s) need to get treated at the same time to prevent re-infecting each other. Make sure you follow your health care provider's directions on taking medication and make sure you finish all of the medicine, even if you feel better. Schedule a follow-up exam with your health care provider after you have finished treatment. Don't have sex again until your health care provider says you are cured. If you are concerned or upset about having a STD, think about getting counseling. Your health care provider can help you find a counselor.
If I've had a STD, can I get it again?
Yes! You can get the same STD again if you have sex, especially without a condom. You can also have more than one STD at a time.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:20 am:
What serious problems can STDs cause?
If STDs aren't treated, they can have serious side effects such as:
* Infertility (being unable to have children)
* Increased risk for some types of cancer
* Brain damage
* Heart disease
* Birth defects
* Death
What is the relationship between STDs and HIV?
Pregnant women with STDs may have spontaneous abortions or may pass on their STD to their baby. STDs can also cause low birth weight and premature babies. Babies with infected mothers can have problems like pneumonia, eye infections, and permanent brain damage.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:23 am:
How HIV Is and Is Not Transmitted
HIV is a fragile virus. It cannot live for very long outside the body. As a result, the virus is not transmitted through day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, drinking fountain, doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. You also cannot get HIV from mosquitoes.
HIV is primarily found in the blood, semen, or vaginal fluid of an infected person. HIV is transmitted in 3 main ways:
* Having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone infected with HIV
* Sharing needles and syringes with someone infected with HIV
* Being exposed (fetus or infant) to HIV before or during birth or through breast feeding
HIV also can be transmitted through blood infected with HIV. However, since 1985, all donated blood in the United States has been tested for HIV. Therefore, the risk for HIV infection through the transfusion of blood or blood products is extremely low. The U.S. blood supply is considered among the safest in the world.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:24 am:
Risk Factors for HIV Transmission
You may be at increased risk for infection if you have
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injected drugs or steroids, during which equipment (such as needles, syringes, cotton, water) and blood were shared with others
*
had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (that is, sex without using condoms) with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners
*
exchanged sex for drugs or money
* been given a diagnosis of, or been treated for, hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as syphilis
* received a blood transfusion or clotting factor during 1978–1985
*
had unprotected sex with someone who has any of the risk factors listed above
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:25 am:
Preventing Transmission Of HIV
Your risk of getting HIV or passing it to someone else depends on several things. Do you know what they are? You might want to talk to someone who knows about HIV. You can also do the following:
* Abstain from sex (do not have oral, anal, or vaginal sex) until you are in a relationship with only one person, are having sex with only each other, and each of you knows the other’s HIV status.
o Image of condoms.If both you and your partner have HIV, use condoms to prevent other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and possible infection with a different strain of HIV.
o If only one of you has HIV, use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex.
* If you have, or plan to have, more than one sex partner, consider the following:
o Get tested for HIV
+ If you are a man who has had sex with other men, get tested at least once a year.
+ If you are a woman who is planning to get pregnant or who is pregnant, get tested as soon as possible, before you have your baby.
o Talk about HIV and other STDs with each partner before you have sex.
o Learn as much as you can about each partner’s past behavior (sex and drug use), and consider the risks to your health before you have sex.
o Ask your partners if they have recently been tested for HIV; encourage those who have not been tested to do so.
o Use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex.
o If you think you may have been exposed to another STD such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or Chlamydia trachomatis infection, get treatment. These diseases can increase your risk of getting HIV.
o Get vaccinated against hepatitis B virus.
* Even if you think you have low risk for HIV infection, get tested whenever you have a regular medical check-up.
* Do not inject illicit drugs (drugs not prescribed by your doctor). You can get HIV through needles, syringes, and other works if they are contaminated with the blood of someone who has HIV. Drugs also cloud your mind, which may result in riskier sex.
* If you do inject drugs, do the following:
o Use only clean needles, syringes, and other works.
o Never share needles, syringes, or other works.
o Be careful not to expose yourself to another person's blood.
o Get tested for HIV test at least once a year.
o Consider getting counseling and treatment for your drug use.
o Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B viruses.
* Do not have sex when you are taking drugs or drinking alcohol because being high can make you more likely to take risks.
To protect yourself, remember these ABCs:
A=Abstinence
B=Be Faithful
C=Condoms
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:30 am:
Which body fluids transmit HIV?
These body fluids have been shown to contain high concentrations of HIV:
* blood
* semen
* vaginal fluid
* breast milk
* other body fluids containing blood
The following are additional body fluids that may transmit the virus that health care workers may come into contact with:
* fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord
* fluid surrounding bone joints
* fluid surrounding an unborn baby
HIV has been found in the saliva and tears of some persons living with HIV, but in very low quantities. It is important to understand that finding a small amount of HIV in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that HIV can be transmitted by that body fluid. HIV has not been recovered from the sweat of HIV-infected persons. Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:34 am:
HIV & Oral Sex
It is possible for either partner to become infected with HIV through performing or receiving oral sex. There have been a few cases of HIV transmission from performing oral sex on a person infected with HIV. While no one knows exactly what the degree of risk is, evidence suggests that the risk is less than that of unprotected anal or vaginal sex.
If the person performing oral sex has HIV, blood from their mouth may enter the body of the person receiving oral sex through
* the lining of the urethra (the opening at the tip of the penis);
* the lining of the vagina or cervix;
* the lining of the anus; or
* directly into the body through small cuts or open sores.
If the person receiving oral sex has HIV, their blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), or vaginal fluid may contain the virus. Cells lining the mouth of the person performing oral sex may allow HIV to enter their body.
The risk of HIV transmission increases
* if the person performing oral sex has cuts or sores around or in their mouth or throat;
* if the person receiving oral sex ejaculates in the mouth of the person performing oral sex; or
* if the person receiving oral sex has another sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Not having (abstaining from) sex is the most effective way to avoid HIV.
If you choose to perform oral sex, and your partner is male,
* use a latex condom on the penis; or
* if you or your partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms can be used.
Studies have shown that latex condoms are very effective, though not perfect, in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently. If either partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the male or female can be used.
If you choose to have oral sex, and your partner is female,
* use a latex barrier (such as a natural rubber latex sheet, a dental dam or a cut-open condom that makes a square) between your mouth and the vagina. A latex barrier such as a dental dam reduces the risk of blood or vaginal fluids entering your mouth. Plastic food wrap also can be used as a barrier.
If you choose to perform oral sex with either a male or female partner and this sex includes oral contact with your partners anus (analingus or rimming),
* use a latex barrier (such as a natural rubber latex sheet, a dental dam or a cut-open condom that makes a square) between your mouth and the anus. Plastic food wrap also can be used as a barrier.
If you choose to share sex toys with your partner, such as dildos or vibrators,
* each partner should use a new condom on the sex toy; and
* be sure to clean sex toys between each use.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:36 am:
Is there a connection between HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?
Yes. Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase a person's risk of becoming infected with HIV, whether the STD causes open sores or breaks in the skin (e.g., syphilis, herpes, chancroid) or does not cause breaks in the skin (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea).
If the STD infection causes irritation of the skin, breaks or sores may make it easier for HIV to enter the body during sexual contact. Even when the STD causes no breaks or open sores, the infection can stimulate an immune response in the genital area that can make HIV transmission more likely.
In addition, if an HIV-infected person is also infected with another STD, that person is three to five times more likely than other HIV-infected persons to transmit HIV through sexual contact.
Not having (abstaining from) sexual intercourse is the most effective way to avoid all STDs, including HIV. For those who choose to be sexually active, the following HIV prevention activities are highly effective:
* Engaging in behaviors that do not involve vaginal or anal intercourse or oral sex
* Having sex with only one uninfected partner
* Using latex condoms every time you have sex
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:37 am:
Are lesbians or other women who have sex with women at risk for HIV?
Female-to-female transmission of HIV appears to be a rare occurrence. However, there are case reports of female-to-female transmission of HIV. The well documented risk of female-to-male transmission of HIV shows that vaginal secretions and menstrual blood may contain the virus and that mucous membrane (e.g., oral, vaginal) exposure to these secretions has the potential to lead to HIV infection.
In order to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, women who have sex with women should do the following:
* Avoid exposure of a mucous membrane, such as the mouth, (especially non-intact tissue) to vaginal secretions and menstrual blood.
* Use condoms consistently and correctly each and every time for sexual contact with men or when using sex toys. Sex toys should not be shared. No barrier methods for use during oral sex have been evaluated as effective by the FDA. However, natural rubber latex sheets, dental dams, cut open condoms, or plastic wrap may offer some protection from contact with body fluids during oral sex and possibly reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
* Know your own and your partner’s HIV status. This knowledge can help uninfected women begin and maintain behavioral changes that reduce the risk of becoming infected. For women who are found to be infected, it can assist in getting early treatment and avoiding infecting others.
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karenR wrote Friday April 24 2009, 8:41 am:
Lots of useful information for those caring for an HIV patient at home.
From Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
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