A sexually transmitted disease is transmitted from person to person through sexual intercourse when leading a hectic intimate life, lack of barrier protection, or in contact with personal hygiene items of the patient. Infectious diseases of the genital area are studied by the science of venereology.
Reasons for the development of diseases
The main reason for the spread of sexually transmitted infections is an erratic relationship with unverified partners. Sexually transmitted diseases are the result of damage to the body by viruses, infections, bacteria or protozoal microorganisms.
Some infections can be transmitted during childbirth, breastfeeding, the use of personal hygiene items of the patient, poorly sterilized medical or cosmetic instruments.
What are the most common sexually transmitted diseases
Among a large number of STIs, the most common are:
- syphilis;
- gonorrhea;
- trichomoniasis;
- chlamydia
- mycoplasmosis and ureaplasmosis;
- genital herpes;
- papilloma virus;
- cytomegalovirus;
- HIV and AIDS.
Each of these diseases in its own way affects the human body, manifesting itself with specific symptoms and provoking the development of serious complications.
Stages of sexually transmitted infections
There are two main stages of the course of a venereological disease - acute and chronic. The acute form develops in the first days after infection. It is characterized by the presence of specific symptoms (discharge, discomfort, redness, rash, itching, painful urination).
After this, the stage comes when the symptoms cease to manifest, the person thinks he is healthy and does not undergo examination and treatment. In fact, the pathogen continues to settle in the body, only suppressed immunity no longer fights it. A venereal disease in the chronic stage is dangerous not only with serious complications, but also with the likelihood of infection of relatives who are in daily contact with the patient and his personal belongings.
Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases
Quite often, sexually transmitted diseases can occur in a mild form and are almost asymptomatic. Experts believe this phenomenon is very dangerous, since the disease affects the human body, actively progresses and becomes chronic, which is not amenable to effective treatment.
You can calculate a sexually transmitted disease by the following symptoms:
- the appearance of specific secretions from the genitals, the secret may have a different texture and smell;
- redness, burning, or itching in the groin area;
- frequent and painful urination;
- minor hyperthermia;
- pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, groin (in men, pain can spread to the scrotum);
- pain during intercourse;
- in women, the menstrual cycle is disturbed.
A venereal infection in chronic form causes the development of inflammation of the uterus and appendages, infertility and prostatitis in men. In addition, the disease has a negative effect on the functioning of the body as a whole, there are violations in the work of the adrenal glands, the cardiovascular system, and atherosclerosis develops.
STDs provoke a decrease in immunity, as a result of which the body becomes unstable to the effects of external adverse factors, viruses and bacteria. Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases can not be ignored. It is better to visit a doctor once more, take tests and start timely treatment.
Diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases
The disease makes itself felt not immediately, but after a certain time after infection, so a person may not even suspect that a dangerous virus or infection has "settled" in his body. Similar symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases cause difficulty in diagnosing.
It is very important for a specialist to take a responsible approach to the choice of research methods, otherwise you can make the wrong diagnosis, treat the wrong sexually transmitted disease and thereby aggravate the situation. Most often, for the diagnosis of STDs, laboratory tests are carried out:
- A smear from the urethra, vagina or cervical canal allows you to determine the presence of gonococci and Trichomonas, in some cases chlamydia and ureaplasma are detected. This is the simplest and most affordable research method, but it has a very low information content and a high degree of error in determining the pathogen.
- Blood test - according to the main indicators in the biomaterial, one can also detect the presence of pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases in the body. A blood test allows you to monitor the development of pathology and its treatment.
- Sowing - bacterial inoculation of microflora on a nutrient medium is the most accurate research method that allows you to determine the presence of infection, its shape, pathogen and its sensitivity to certain drugs.
Before collecting material for laboratory research, it is necessary to refrain from sexual intercourse for three days and not visit the toilet for 3 hours before taking a smear. In this case, the result of the study will be as accurate and informative as possible.
Treatment for sexually transmitted diseases
Timely diagnosis several times increases the chances of a favorable outcome. The main active substances in the treatment of venereal diseases are antibiotics and sulfonamides.
Most bacteria eventually develop resistance to certain antibiotic drugs, therefore it is recommended that an antibiotic be taken during laboratory tests. This will allow the doctor to build a competent treatment regimen and cure the patient much faster.
If the disease was not detected on time, this is fraught with serious troubles, malfunctions in the functioning of the reproductive system of men and women. In this case, the danger is no longer caused by the fact of the infection itself, but by its possible consequences for the body.
The consequences of sexually transmitted infections
Treatment of sexually transmitted diseases should be carried out on time. If this does not happen, the virus or infection settles in the body and cause the development of serious consequences. Each infection has its own specific effect on the body or its individual systems:
- genital herpes virus causes a decrease in sperm quality, infertility, intrauterine infection of the fetus, leads to the development of persistent pain in the pelvic area;
- trichomoniasis provokes the development of diseases of the prostate, testicles and urinary tract;
- mycoplasmosis causes inflammation of the prostate gland;
- papilloma virus provokes the activation of cancer cells in the body;
- chlamydia affects the sexual sphere of women and men, causing diseases of the urethra, prostate gland, provokes ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, infertility, fetal infection and developmental pathology;
- gonorrhea causes inflammation of the testicles, prostate, impotence, infertility, pyelonephritis, inflammatory processes in the ovaries and fallopian tubes, which leads to impaired reproductive function;
- syphilis negatively affects all body systems, it is considered slow death, the absence of an effective and timely treatment leads to death.
HIV is a topic for a separate article. This virus infects the entire human body - from the lymphatic system to the cornea of the eye. As already mentioned, signs of sexually transmitted diseases do not appear in the first weeks of infection, which greatly complicates the examination of the patient. The human immunodeficiency virus is no exception. The patient does not start timely treatment and, not knowing about the presence of infection, infects loved ones who are constantly in contact with him.
Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases
The most common way to protect yourself from being infected with sexually transmitted diseases is by using a condom. It is very important to be able to properly use this barrier method of contraception and use it for all sexual contacts.
Only with regular observance of preventive measures, you can not worry about such troubles as sexually transmitted diseases. Photos of the effects of such infections, presented on medical information resources, stimulate people to take care of their health.
You can protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections thanks to a discriminating intimate life. It is optimal to have contact with only one regular partner, but he must be checked.
If there is unprotected contact with a person who may have an STD, the genitals must be treated with antiseptic agents during the first two hours.
What to do after unprotected intercourse
It is important to understand that not all infections can manifest with specific symptoms. Sexually transmitted diseases in women and men can be asymptomatic. That is why, after unprotected sex, it is necessary to undergo an examination to detect the presence of infections and treat them before the diseases become chronic.
Acceptance of any pharmacological preparations intended for the treatment of pathologies with similar symptoms is strictly prohibited. Prevention should be regular and carefully observed with every sexual intercourse.