WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF VENEREAL DISEASES?
Depending on the disease, STDs can be spread with any type of sexual activity. STDs are most often caused by viruses and bacteria.
HOW SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES SPREAD?
One reason STDs spread is because people think they need to have sexual intercourse to become infected. That's wrong. A person can get some STDs, like herpes or genital warts, through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area or sore.
Another myth about STDs is that you can't get them if you have oral or anal sex. That's also wrong because the viruses or bacteria that cause STDs can enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth and anus, as well as the genitals.
WHEN SHOULD I SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE?
A medical examination may be necessary if a person believes he or she may have an STD or if he or she may have been exposed to someone with an STD. Being seen by a doctor as soon as possible after exposure to an STD is important; these infections can easily spread to others and can have serious complications.
HERPES: SYMPTOMS, SIGNS, TREATMENT & FACTS
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUSES (HSV)
Genital herpes is caused by infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV, HSV-1 and HSV-2, both of which belong to a wider group called Herpesviridae. Another well-known virus in this group is varicella zoster virus, which causes chicken-pox and shingles.
In general:
HSV-2 is acquired during sexual contact and affects the genital area.
Although genital herpes used to almost always be caused by HSV-2 infection, HSV-1 is accounting for an increasing number of cases of genital herpes in developed countries.
Only around 10-25 percent of people infected with HSV-2 are aware they have genital herpes. This is because genital herpes will often produce mild symptoms or no symptoms at all (asymptomatic infection). As a result, many cases of genital herpes go undiagnosed and frequently people unknowingly pass the virus on to their sexual partners.
GENITAL HERPES SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
If symptoms do occur, they will usually appear 2 to 7 days after exposure and last 2 to 4 weeks. Both men and women may have one or more symptoms, including
• Itching or tingling sensations in the genital or anal area;
• Small fluid-filled blisters that burst leaving small painful sores (see STD pictures);
• Pain when passing urine over the open sores (especially in women);
• Headaches;
• Backache;
• Flu-like symptoms, including swollen glands or fever.
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP?
If you have any symptoms or you are worried you may have been infected with an STD, you should discuss your worries with a doctor. They may be able to run tests or offer you treatment themselves, or else will refer you to someone who can.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrheoae. Gonorrhea affects both men and women and can infect the cervix, urethra, rectum, anus and throat. Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the global gonorrhea statistics show that an estimated 62 million cases of gonorrhea occur each year, affecting more women than men. Gonorrhea is easily curable but if left untreated it can cause serious health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to abdominal pain and ectopic pregnancy in women. Untreated, gonorrhea can also lead to infertility, meningitis and septicaemia.
GONORRHEA SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of gonorrhea infection may appear 1 to 14 days after exposure, although it is possible to be infected with gonorrhea and have no symptoms. Men are far more likely to notice symptoms as they are more apparent. It is estimated that nearly half of the women who become infected with gonorrhea experience no symptoms, or have non-specific symptoms such as a bladder infection.
Gonorrhea symptoms can include:
MEN :
• A white or yellow discharge from the penis.
• A burning sensation or pain whilst passing urine.
• Irritation and/or discharge from the anus.
WOMEN :
• A change in vaginal discharge; it may appear in abundance, change to a yellow or greenish colour, and develop a strong smell.
• A burning sensation or pain whilst passing urine.
• Irritation and/or discharge from the anus.
COMPLICATIONS
MEN :
• Gonorrhea can cause painful inflammation of the testicles and the prostate gland, potentially leading to epididymitus, which can cause infertility.
• Without treatment, a narrowing of the urethra or abscesses can develop after time. This causes considerable pain and problems whilst urinating.
WOMEN :
• Gonorrhea can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), an inflammation of the fallopian tubes (the tubes along which an egg passes to get to the womb), which increases the future risk of ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb) or premature birth.
• If a woman is pregnant and has gonorrhea when giving birth, the infection may be passed on to her child. The baby could be born with a gonoccocal eye infection, which must be treated with antibiotics as it can cause blindness. It is better for the woman to get treatment before giving birth.