Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread predominantly by unprotected sexual contact. Some STIs can also be transmitted during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding and through infected blood or blood products. STIs have a profound impact on health.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They are spread mainly by sexual contact. Bacteria, viruses or parasites cause STIs. A sexually transmitted infection may pass from person to person in blood, semen, or vaginal and other bodily fluids.
STIs can cause serious health problems if left untreated. For example, chlamydia can lead to issues that can cause women not to be able to have children (infertility). HPV can lead to cancer of the cervix or penis. Syphilis can lead to paralysis, mental problems, heart damage, blindness, and even death.
There are five symptoms of an STI. Bumps, sores or warts on or near your penis, vagina, mouth or anus, swelling or severe itching near your penis or vagina, discharge from your penis, vaginal discharge that has a bad odour, causes irritation or is a different colour or amount than usual and vaginal bleeding that’s not your period.
You can treat an STI by using antibiotics. Antibiotics, often in a single dose, can cure many STIs caused by bacteria or parasites, such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Once you start antibiotic treatment, you need to finish the prescription.
An STI can be indicated by pain or a burning sensation during urination, the need to pee more frequently, or the presence of blood in the urine and abnormal vaginal discharge. The look and consistency of vaginal discharge changes continually through a woman’s cycle or even in the absence of a cycle.
The upshot is that it’s possible for some — not all — STDs to go away by themselves, but it’s also possible for STDs to persist for months, years, or the rest of your life. If you could have been exposed to an STD, the best thing to do is get tested — not to hope that if you did get something, it’ll just go away.
Hepatitis B and HPV have the potential to go away on their own, especially if your immune system is robust, according to Planned Parenthood. However, it adds that these STIs will often stay in your body long term to develop into serious diseases that increase your risk for cancer.
All STIs can either be treated or managed. If you are living with a STI, you can still have healthy, pleasurable, and fulfilling sexual relationships.
STIs have a profound impact on health. If untreated, they can lead to serious consequences including neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and increased risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
You can buy at-home STI testing kits through local health clinics and pharmacies. Some kits test for one STI, while others test for more than one. The kit will come with instructions on how to do the testing yourself at home. Follow these closely and call a healthcare provider if you have questions.
In some cases, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or infections (STIs) cause no noticeable symptoms. When they do occur, STI symptoms in males can include discharge, bleeding, painful blisters, and more. It is crucial for everyone who is sexually active to be aware of STD and STI symptoms.
A yellow, grey or green discharge may suggest a bacterial or sexually transmitted infection (STI). A brown or red discharge is usually related to irregular menstruation or pregnancy (implantation bleeding).
Antibiotics can be used to treat for bacterial STIs. Zithromax (azithromycin) Vibramycin (doxycycline) is used to treat chlamydia. Ceftriaxone or, if allergic to ceftriaxone, Gentak (gentamicin) plus azithromycin is used to treat gonorrhoea.
Some STIs are curable, and some aren’t. For example, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis are, hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus, HIV and HPV are not. However, all STIs can be treated, and the symptoms managed.
There are three major causes of STDs/STIs: Bacteria, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. Viruses, including HIV/AIDS, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Zika. Parasites, such as trichomonas vaginalis, or insects such as crab lice or scabies mites.
Only the rapid HIV test done with an oral swab and a new syphilis test provide at-home results. All other home STI tests involve collecting the samples yourself and sending them to a lab that will analyse them and provide the results. This can take a few days to a week or so once you’ve sent the sample back.
The only way to be 100% certain you and your partner are clean is to get tested for STDs.
Fluid-filled blisters that burst and crust over are a sign of herpes. Painless flat or cauliflower-like lesions that form alone or in clusters can be a sign of human papillomavirus. A firm, red, painless sore can be an early symptom of syphilis.
Do STIs go away on their own? Not usually. It’s very unlikely that an STI will go away by itself, and if you delay seeking treatment there’s a risk that the infection could cause long-term problems. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, there’s also a risk of passing the infection on to partners.
Don’t try to treat a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, yourself. These diseases are contagious and serious. You must see a doctor. Bacterial STDs can be cured with antibiotics if treatment begins early enough.
Some STIs, like chlamydia or gonorrhoea, can be cured with a short course of antibiotics, but others can remain with an individual for life. Examples of this include viral STIs like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or herpes.
Source
All information and scientific evidence gathered from the World Wide Web.
