Plain and simple facts about common STDs<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Your best protection against being infected with a sexually
\ntransmitted disease (STD) is adopting responsible sexual
\nbehavior. This, according to physicians, also includes performing
\nsafe sex with a steady, healthy partner.<\/p>\n
Some STDs show no symptoms, meaning the infected person can
\ntransmit the diseases to others without knowing it. Once
\ninfected, the person and his or her partner(s) must be treated
\nimmediately to prevent the disease from developing further and to
\navoid secondary infection.<\/p>\n
Sexually active people, especially those with numerous sexual
\npartners, are also advised to have periodic medical examinations
\nfor STDs. It is advisable not to wait for the symptoms to appear
\nif you are exposed to risk.<\/p>\n
Chlamydia: Is a curable STD caused by the chlamydia bacterium.
\nDon't confuse this condition with gonorrhea, which has similar
\nsymptoms and may occur at the same time. The bacteria exists in
\nsemen, vaginal fluid and blood of the infected person.<\/p>\n
Transmission: Through oral, vaginal or anal sex. A pregnant
\nwoman infected with the disease also risks transmitting chlamydia
\nto her newborn baby during delivery.<\/p>\n
Chlamydia can lead to serious health problems, including
\npelvic inflammatory disease, which may lead to infertility, tubal
\n(ectopic) pregnancy in women and epididymitis (inflammation of
\nthe testicles that may lead to infertility) in men.<\/p>\n
Symptoms: It may show no symptoms (asymptomatic) and if it
\ndoes, symptoms may seem to come and go. In women: Milky or
\nyellowish vaginal discharge with offensive odor and pain during
\nurination. In men: Sticky, milky discharge from penis, irritation
\naround the opening of the penis, testicular pain, swollen testes,
\npain in the groin.<\/p>\n
Infection can occur in the throat (oral-genital contact) and
\neyes, causing inflammation.<\/p>\n
Treatment: Antibiotics.<\/p>\n
Prevention: Avoid sexual relations with more than one partner,
\nuse condoms during sex.<\/p>\n
Gonorrhea: Is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhea bacterium in the
\nvagina, penis, genital tract, throat and rectum. It can lead to
\npelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause infertility and
\ntubal (ectopic) pregnancy and abscesses in women, and
\nepididymitis in men.<\/p>\n
Gonorrhea can spread unless properly treated. A previous
\ninfection may make a new infection develop more rapidly.<\/p>\n
Transmission: Through sexual contact (vaginal, oral and anal),
\nfrom mother to newborn child (may cause blindness if the baby's
\neyes are infected). The infected person can transfer the bacteria
\nto other parts of his or her own body (autoinfection).<\/p>\n
Symptoms: In men: Creamy or greenish discharge, painful
\nurination, testicular pain. In women: Creamy, greenish or bloody
\nvaginal discharge, pain while urinating and having sex, bleeding
\nbetween periods, lower abdominal pain, irritation of the vulva,
\nthroat and rectal infection. Rectal infection can cause
\nitchiness, constipation, bleeding, pus-like discharge and blood
\nin the feces. However, it may also show no symptoms.<\/p>\n
Prevention: Avoid having multiple partners and use condoms. If
\ninfected, avoid any sexual contact. Thorough hygiene (washing of
\nhands etc.) is essential, as the bacteria can be transferred to
\nthe eyes.<\/p>\n
Treatment: Antibiotics. When gonorrhea and chlamydia infect a
\nperson at the same time, a combination of antibiotics.<\/p>\n
Herpes: Is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is
\ncategorized into HSV type I and HSV type II. HSV type I affects
\nthe face (oral herpes\/cold sores or fever blisters) and HSV type
\nII affects the genital area.<\/p>\n
People can be infected for life after the first infection. It
\nis often accompanied by psychological and emotional stress.<\/p>\n
Transmission: Through vaginal, oral and anal sex, and skin to
\nskin contact. Newborn babies can also be infected. Herpes can
\ninfect and kill a fetus. It can be transmitted with or without
\nthe presence of symptoms.<\/p>\n
Symptoms: Blisters and ulcers, but it may also show no
\nsymptoms or can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. Genital herpes
\ncan cause recurrent painful ulcers, which may turn into painful
\nblisters. The disease can't be 100 percent cured and can appear
\nwhen a person is under pressure, fatigued or menstruating.
\nFlu-like symptoms like fever, swollen glands or mild symptoms can
\nappear, and are often mistaken for insect bites or a rash.<\/p>\n
Prevention: Use condoms, avoid sexual contact if you are
\ninfected, avoid having more than one sexual partner.<\/p>\n
Treatment: There is no medication for the disease, but
\ninfected people can be treated to soothe pain. They are given
\nvitamins to improve their stamina and nutrition levels, while
\nother medical sources claim that some drugs (including zovirax),
\nherbs and essential oils have been used to treat herpes.<\/p>\n
Syphilis: Is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum.<\/p>\n
The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection
\nbut over time the bacteria moves throughout the body, causing
\ndamage to many organs. If untreated, it can cripple, cause
\nblindness, heart abnormalities, skin and bone disorders,
\nneurological problems and death. Mothers can transmit the
\nbacteria to their unborn babies, who may possibly develop mental
\nor physical problems, or can even be stillborn.<\/p>\n
Transmission: Through sexual and physical contact. The
\nbacteria can also be transmitted through broken skin on other
\nparts of the body.<\/p>\n
Symptoms: During primary syphilis, the ulcers develop on
\ngenitals, around the anus and mouth. With secondary syphilis,
\nlumps appear throughout the body, accompanied by a mild fever and
\nfatigue. It may disappear without treatment but may recur. During
\nthe late stages of syphilis, the lesions are produced but may
\nalso show no symptoms.<\/p>\n
Prevention: Avoid contact with infected sores, infected
\ntissues and body fluids, use condoms during sex, avoid having
\nmore than one sexual partner.<\/p>\n
Treatment: Penicillin and other antibiotics.<\/p>\n
Chancroid: Is a curable disease, caused by Hemophilus ducreyi
\nbacteria. If left untreated, the sores can result in painful
\nurination or erections and may develop into abscesses and leave
\ndeep scars around the groin.<\/p>\n
Transmission: Sexual contact or autoinfection.<\/p>\n
Symptoms: Tender but painful sores around genitals or mouth,
\nswollen lymph nodes around the groin. In women, sores may be
\ninvisible if they develop inside the vagina and they can
\nunknowingly transmit the disease.<\/p>\n
Prevention: Use condoms, avoid having sex with more than one
\npartner.<\/p>\n
Hepatitis B: Is caused by the hepatitis B virus and is often
\ncalled inflammation of the liver. This disease is spread through
\nsexual contact but there are no symptoms in the genital area.<\/p>\n
Transmission: Through blood, vaginal and seminal fluid, feces,
\nsaliva, urine, sweat and sexual contact. It can spread through
\nkissing, sharing a toothbrush, razors, nail clippers, body
\npiercing instruments, syringes, other items contaminated by an
\ninfected person's blood or body fluid, and through consuming
\ncontaminated drinking water, ice or food.<\/p>\n
Symptoms: Fever, fatigue, nausea, jaundice of the whites of
\nthe eyes and skin, pain in the abdomen.<\/p>\n
Prevention: Use condoms, don't share things that may be
\ncontaminated by an infected person's blood, get vaccinated.<\/p>\n
Treatment: Get vaccinated because there is no medical
\ntreatment. But Interferon and Lamivudine are used to treat the
\ndisease.<\/p>\n
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome): Is caused by the human
\nimmunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the body's ability
\nto fight infections, making it prone to disease-causing bacteria,
\nviruses and other microbes.<\/p>\n
Transmission: Through sharing of syringes, sexual contact
\n(vaginal, oral and anal sex), blood transfusions or contact with
\ninfected blood or genital secretions. Pregnant women can also
\ntransfer the disease to an unborn child.<\/p>\n
Symptoms: Asymptomatic people with AIDS may not look sick but
\ncan transmit HIV. Loss of the immune system may make the body
\nprone to various infections and can lead to death.<\/p>\n
Prevention: Abstinence from sex, avoid unprotected sex and
\nneedle sharing. You will not get HIV by touching an infected
\nperson, embracing them, sharing utensils, clothes, towels and
\ntouching objects like toilet seats or door knobs.<\/p>\n
Treatment: There is no cure for HIV, but there are a number of
\ndrugs to treat HIV infection, like lamivudine and stavudine.<\/p>\n
The information presented above has been collected from the
\nFamily and Reproductive Health Clinic (KKRK), and other sources.<\/p>",
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