DIGITAL ASSIGNMENT-IIII

Elaborate your knowledge on various Sexually

Transmitted Diseases

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE

MEANING

 Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are

infections that are passed from one person to
another through sexual contact. The contact is
usually vaginal, oral, and anal sex. But
sometimes they can spread through other
intimate physical contacts. This is because some
STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-
to-skin contact. In the past, they were
called venereal diseases (VD). STDs can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Aside from colds and the flu, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are some of the
most widespread infections in the world. STIs affect both men and women, and almost half of all
STIs occur in people younger than 25 years old. 

Exposure to an STI can occur any time you have sexual contact with anyone that
involves the genitals, the mouth (oral), or the rectum (anal). Exposure is more likely if you have
more than one sex partner or do not use condoms. Some STIs can be passed by nonsexual
contacts, such as by sharing needles or during the delivery of a baby or during breastfeeding.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

SYMPTOMS

 STIs often do not initially cause symptoms, which results in a greater risk of passing
the disease on to others. Symptoms and signs of STIs may include vaginal discharge, penile
discharge, ulcers on or around the genitals, and pelvic pain. STIs can be transmitted to an infant
before or during childbirth, which may result in poor outcomes for the infant. Some STIs can
cause infertility.
Symptoms of STDs in Men
It’s possible to contract an STD without developing symptoms. But some STDs
cause obvious symptoms. In men, common symptoms include:
 pain or discomfort during sex or urination
 sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
 unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis
 painful or swollen testicles
Specific symptoms can vary, depending on the STD.
 
Symptoms of STDs in Women
In many cases, STDs don’t cause noticeable symptoms. When they do, common STD
symptoms in women include:
 pain or discomfort during sex or urination
 sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the vagina, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
 unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina
 itchiness in or around the vagina
The specific symptoms can vary from one STD to another.

CAUSES
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be caused by:
 Bacteria (gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia)
 Parasites (trichomoniasis)
 Viruses (human papillomavirus, genital herpes, HIV)
Sexual activity plays a role in spreading many other kinds of infections, although it's
possible to be infected without sexual contact. Examples include the hepatitis A, B and C viruses,
shigella, and Giardia intestinalis.
While usually spread by sex, some STIs can be spread by non-sexual contact with
donor tissue, blood, breastfeeding, or during childbirth.

COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

 There are at least 20 different STIs. They can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and
protozoa. Some of the most common
STIs are:
Caused by virus
 Genital warts or
human
papillomavirus
(HPV). Certain
high-risk types of
HPV can cause
cervical cancer in women.
 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. Having other
STIs, such as genital herpes, can increase your risk of HIV.
 Hepatitis Virus
 Herpex simplex virus


Caused by bacteria
 Chlamydia.
 Genital herpes.
 Gonorrhea.
 Syphilis.

Caused by parasites
 Trichomoniasis.

Other STDs
Other, less common STDs include:
 chancroid
  lymphogranuloma venereum
 granuloma inguinale
 molluscum contagiosum
 scabies

Bacterial STIs can be treated and cured, but STIs caused by viruses usually cannot be
cured. You can get a bacterial STI over and over again, even if it is one that you were treated for
and cured of in the past.

CAUSED BY VIRUS
 HIV
HIV can damage the immune system and raise the risk of contracting other viruses or
bacteria and certain cancers. If left untreated, it can lead to stage 3 HIV, known as AIDS. But
with today’s treatment, many people living with HIV don’t ever develop AIDS.
In the early or acute stages, it’s easy to mistake the symptoms of HIV with those of
the flu. For example, the early symptoms can include:
 fever
 chills
 aches and pains
 swollen lymph nodes
 sore throat
 headache
 nausea
 rashes
These initial symptoms typically clear within a month or so. From that point onward,
a person can carry HIV without developing serious or persistent symptoms for many years.

There’s no cure for HIV yet, but treatment options are available to manage it. Early
and effective treatment can help people with HIV live as long as those without HIV.
 Proper treatment can also lower your chances of transmitting HIV to a sexual partner.
In fact, treatment can potentially lower the amount of HIV in your body to undetectable levels.
At undetectable levels, HIV can’t be transmitted to other people.

 HPV (human papillomavirus)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can be passed from one person to
another through intimate skin-to-skin or sexual contact. There are many different strains of the
virus. Some are more dangerous than others.
The most common symptom of HPV is warts on the genitals, mouth, or throat.
Some strains of HPV infection can lead to cancer, including:
 oral cancer
 cervical cancer
 vulvar cancer
 penile cancer
 rectal cancer
While most cases of HPV don’t become cancerous, some strains of the virus are
more likely to cause cancer than others. According to the National Cancer Institute Trusted
Source, most cases of HPV-related cancer in the United States are caused by HPV 16 and HPV
18. These two strains of HPV account for 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases.
There’s no treatment for HPV. However, HPV infections often clear up on their own.
There’s also a vaccine available to protect against some of the most dangerous strains, including
HPV 16 and HPV 18.
 Hepatitis virus
Hepatitis is an infection of the liver. There are three common types of hepatitis:
hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Hepatitis A causes a short-term liver infection. It can be spread by having sex, though
this is not the most common way to get hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C cause much more serious, long-lasting liver problems.
Both can cause very bad liver disease, like cirrhosis, and death. They are more likely than
hepatitis A to be spread by having sex.
  Herpex simplex virus
The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes genital herpes. Genital herpes can cause
painful blisters on the genitals and anus. Herpes can also cause sores on the mouth.
There is no cure for herpes.

CAUSED BY BACTERIA
 Chlamydia
A certain type of bacteria causes Chlamydia. It’s the most commonly reported STD
among Americans. Many people with Chlamydia have no noticeable symptoms. When
symptoms do develop, they often include:
 pain or discomfort during sex or urination
 green or yellow discharge from the penis or vagina
 pain in the lower abdomen

 If left untreated, Chlamydia can lead to:
 infections of the urethra, prostate gland, or testicles
 pelvic inflammatory disease
 infertility

Antibiotics can easily treat Chlamydia. 

 Syphilis
Syphilis is another bacterial infection. It often goes unnoticed in its early stages.
The first symptom to appear is a small round sore, known as a chancre. It can
develop on your genitals, anus, or mouth. It’s painless but very infectious.
Later symptoms of syphilis can include:
 rash
 fatigue
 fever
 headaches
 joint pain
  weight loss
 hair loss

If left untreated, late-stage syphilis can lead to:

 loss of vision
 loss of hearing
 loss of memory
 mental illness
 infections of the brain or spinal cord
 heart disease
 death

Fortunately, if caught early enough, syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics.

However, syphilis infection in a newborn can be fatal. That’s why it’s important for all pregnant
women to be screened for syphilis. The earlier syphilis is diagnosed and treated, the less damage
it does. 
 Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is another common bacterial STD. It’s also known as “the clap.”
Many people with gonorrhea develop no symptoms. But when present, symptoms
may include:
 a white, yellow, beige, or green-colored discharge from the penis or vagina
 pain or discomfort during sex or urination
 more frequent urination than usual
 itching around the genitals
 sore throat
If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to:
 infections of the urethra, prostate gland, or testicles
 pelvic inflammatory disease
 infertility
 It’s possible for a mother to pass gonorrhea onto a newborn during childbirth. When
that happens, gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in the baby. That’s why many doctors
encourage pregnant women to get tested and treated for potential STDs.
Gonorrhea can usually be treated with antibiotics. 

CAUSED BY PARASITES
 Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is also known as “trich.” It’s caused by a tiny protozoan organism
that can be passed from one person to another through genital contact.
In most cases, less than one-third of people with trich develop symptoms. When
symptoms do develop, they may include:
 discharge from the vagina or penis
 burning or itching around the vagina or penis
 pain or discomfort during urination or sex
 frequent urination

In women, trich-related discharge often has an unpleasant or “fishy” smell. Trich can
be treated with antibiotics. 
If left untreated, trich can lead to:
 infections of the urethra
 pelvic inflammatory disease
 infertility

PREVENTION

There are several ways to avoid

or reduce the risk of sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The prevention methods can be as follows:
 Abstain. The most effective way to avoid STIs is to not have (abstain from) sex.
  Stay with one uninfected partner. Another reliable way of avoiding STIs is to
stay in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship in which both people have sex only with
each other and neither partner is infected.
 Wait and test. Avoid vaginal and anal intercourse with new partners until you
have both been tested for STIs. Oral sex is less risky, but uses a latex condom or dental dam to
prevent direct (skin-to-skin) contact between the oral and genital mucous membranes.
 Get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated early, before sexual exposure, is also
effective in preventing certain types of STIs. Vaccines are available to prevent human
papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given to newborns, and the hepatitis A
vaccine is recommended for 1-year-olds. Both vaccines are recommended for people who
aren't already immune to these diseases and for those who are at increased risk of
infection, such as men who have sex with men and IV drug users.
 Use condoms and dental dams consistently and correctly. Use a new latex
condom or dental dam for each sex act, whether oral, vaginal or anal. Condoms made from
natural membranes are not recommended because they're not as effective at preventing STIs.
 Keep in mind that while condoms reduce your risk of exposure to most STIs,
they provide less protection for STIs involving exposed genital sores, such as HPV or
herpes. Also, non-barrier forms of contraception, such as birth control pills (oral
contraceptives) or intrauterine devices (IUDs), don't protect against STIs.
 Don't drink alcohol excessively or use drugs. If you're under the influence,
you're more likely to take sexual risks.
 Communicate. Before any serious sexual contact, communicate with your partner
about practicing safer sex. Be sure you specifically agree on what activities will and won't be
OK.
 Consider male circumcision. There's evidence that male circumcision can help
reduce a man's risk of acquiring HIV from a woman who is infected (heterosexual transmission)
by as much as 60%. Male circumcision may also help prevent transmission of genital HPV and
genital herpes.
 Consider preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has approved the use of the combination drugs emtricitabine plus tenofovir disoproxil
fumarate (Truvada) and emtricitabine plus tenofovir alafenamide (Descovy) to reduce the risk of
sexually transmitted HIV infection in people who are at very high risk.