Archive for the 'Sexually Transmitted Diseases' Category

The most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States is Chlamydia with over one million cases reported every year.

If left untreated it can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive organs, exposure to the bacteria will increase a female’s chance of getting the HIV virus by five fold.

For men however there are rarely any complications, although the passing on of the disease through all types of sexual contact means routine testing is a must. Chlamydia can be spread by oral, anal and normal intercourse. The risks are far greater if someone has multiple partners.

Despite increasing numbers being screened the rate is still far too low. Overall in the United States screening is sporadic and often depends on where you live and also the ability to pay for the test. The age range of those most at risk is between sixteen to twenty five.

Awareness is key and it is believed that more could be done within the education system to make young people more accountable for their actions and create a better level of understanding.

Many do not comprehend the seriousness of the infection and the traumatic effect that it can have.

Going under a plastic surgeon’s knife could soon be a thing of the past for women who would like a bigger bust line.

Instead they could avail of the results of a study that shows that stem cells could be implanted successfully into the chest.

Currently all efforts in this area are concentrating on those who have had mastectomy after contracting breast cancer. Hopefully it will offer these women another option, other than implants for trying to get their lives back on track.

Similar techniques have been used very successfully in Japan where it has followed the same path. In the UK, Professor Kefah Mokbel is soon to start a trial of ten of his patients and is excited about these advances in breast surgery.

Although the treatment may not create the massive increase that some women might prefer, the procedure is much more natural and likely to be permanent rather than having to be redone after a period of time.

Mokbel says that an implant is an alien object to the body and there are many drawbacks including leakage and adverse reactions.

Each year thousands of women worldwide are infected with the HIV virus, this is particularly true amongst black women between the ages 19 to 35, who do not understand the importance of protecting themselves during a sexual relationship with their male partners.

In March, there will be a national day dedicated to HIV and AIDS alertness, organised throughout the U.S. in order to bring more information to all those women who still do not understand how important it is to protect themselves from the virus.

During the National Women and Girls Awareness Day, there will be the possibility to have HIV screening tests and collect as much information on the virus as possible.

It is essential that all women abstain from unsafe sex or use a condom every time they have sex with a partner they do not know well enough.

Unfortunately there are also cases of regular partners who in turn have unsafe sex with other infected people, thus spreading the virus to those who do take precautions; this is why one must be tested regularly.

These tests available to all women will help them find out if they are infected, and if so they may be treated at an early stage and be helped to keep healthy.

A recent study on products that can protect women from contracting HIV has finally achieved a breakthrough with PRO 2000. This vaginal gel has been tested and has revealed its effectiveness against HIV infection in 36% of cases.

Although this study is not yet definite it is extremely promising, for no other products tested had ever given such positive results.

However this research sponsored by the NIH has still to confirm the effectiveness of PRO 2000, it will be up to a more extended test, which is being carried out on 9,400 African women.

The research involved 3,000 women with a dynamic sex life from African countries and the U.S.; four separate groups used diverse gel products to determine the different level of effectiveness against HIV infection.

Amongst those women who used PRO 2000, 36 were infected by HIV, while 54 of those using BufferGel and 51 using placebo contracted the disease. 53 women who used no gel at all were infected by HIV.

During the research the women were given preservatives and were advised to use them in addition to the protective gels, though many amongst those using the gel admitted they had not done so.

As a woman, if you really want to keep better sexual and reproductive health, it is very essential for you to protect yourself from trichomoniasis.

The parasite responsible for trichomoniasis mainly affects your vagina and cervix; as a result you can experience various health complications.

Here are few ways that you can adopt in your routine life to stay away from various sexually transmitted diseases, including trichomoniasis.

Don’t share things: Particularly when you go for swimming or gym, don’t share your things like swimsuits or towels of other persons.

Do you know parasite responsible for trichomoniasis can live outside the body for up to 45 minutes and can be easily transmitted through damp or moist objects? So, be aware of it!

Practice safe sex: Practicing safe sex is one of the best ways to stay away from all types of sexually transmitted diseases. As men can also have trichomoniasis, it is always suggested to encourage your partner to follow safe sex methods.

Even it is very important for you to wash before and after sexual intercourse to prevent STDs. This way you can protect yourself and also your partner from trichomoniasis.

Women having unsafe sex may be at more risk of HIV than thought after tests revealed the HPV virus could breach even healthy vaginal tissue.

It had been believed that only damaged skin inside the vagina could provide a route to infection.

However, US-based researchers say HIV infection can get past this intact barrier within hours.

UK HIV charities said it reinforced the need for women to avoid unprotected sex unless their partner’s health is known.

The lining of the vagina - the squamous epithelium - had been believed by many to be capable of keeping HIV at bay.

While transmission of the virus from men to women through unprotected sex is commonplace in many parts of the world, it was thought that HIV was most likely traveling through cuts or sores in the vaginal tract (vaginal problems), or penetrating a much thinner layer of skin further up the reproductive tract.

The scientists from Northwestern University in Chicago found that, far from this being the truth, HIV could move quickly between the skin cells themselves.

Read more at BBC News

Are you aware of sexually transmitted diseases (STD)? How much do you know about STDs? Now-a-days, sex education has become widespread, so many of you no longer believe in certain misconceptions about STDs.

But there are few people who still fail to distinguish between the fact and fiction.

If you want to avoid the health consequences associated with sexually transmitted diseases, certainly you should have clear knowledge regarding STDs.

Here are few common myths about sexually transmitted diseases that you have to be essentially aware of.

You can’t be exposed to STD because you had oral sex!

Actually, there are 3 possible ways for the infectious micro organisms to transmit. These 3 ways mainly include vaginal or anal intercourse, oral sex or even through contact with infectious body fluids.

So, don’t deceive yourself that you are on safe side because you just had oral sex. Being sexually active orally can put you in risk of STDs. So, just be cautious with it.

Oral contraception protects you from STD!

This is the common misconception most of you can certainly have about sexually transmitted disease. But, actually birth control pills or oral contraception can protect you against unplanned pregnancy.

A U.S. study says women who have more than five alcoholic drinks at one sitting are at increased risk of having unsafe sex and contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Researchers at John Hopkins University medical school in Baltimore looked at the correlation between binge drinking and risky sexual behaviors in women.

They interviewed patients at an urban clinic for sexually transmitted infections to explore the link.

In their study, the researchers found that women who binge drink are at increased risk of practicing unsafe sex, including having multiple partners and engaging in anal sex, leading to high rates of gonorrhea (gonorrhea symptoms)

“The link between binge drinking and risky sexual behavior is complex,” said Heidi Hutton, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the medical school and an author of the study.

“We wanted to examine one component of that relationship, whether binge drinking increased the risk of engaging in sexual behaviors and having STDs. We found … that binge drinking increased STD risk for women.”

“Binge drinking results in a decreased ability to make clear decisions,” noted Geetanjali Chander, assistant professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, “and can enable individuals to engage in behaviors that they would not if sober.