Chlamydia

According to some estimates, as many as million individuals in the US alone are infected with Chlamydia, making this one of the most widespread and common of STDs.

If left untreated, Chlamydia can cause several complications and health problems in the long term as well as the short term. The chief Chlamydia causes are:

Sexual intercourse: Even those that practice ‘safe sex’ by using condoms are not certain not to get the disease from a sexual partner.

The use of condoms certainly reduces the risk of getting the disease but it is not guarantee against it. Chlamydia can spread by way of oral, vaginal or anal sex and so obviously a condom is not effective in every case.

The only way to completely avoid Chlamydia causes is of course abstinence from sexual intercourse. Failing this the next best thing is to be in a monogamous relationship with a healthy uninfected person who is also similarly monogamous. Chlamydia causes do not include things such as casual physical contact such as shaking hands etc.

From mother to baby: Since this is an infection of the genital area, Chlamydia can be passed on from a mother to her baby in the case of a vaginal delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal.

Chlamydia causes or can cause several complications for a new born, which may include life threatening conditions such as pneumonia or severe eye infection.

Chlamydia is known as the silent epidemic since as many as 70% of women infected with it show no signs or symptoms of having contracted it. Though this infection is largely asymptomatic, Chlamydia causes several other complications, which have to do with conjunctivitis of the eye, arthritis, urethritis (inflammation of the urethra).

In fact, conjunctivitis form of Chlamydia causes blindness. The infection can spread to the eyes by shared face towels, by the fingers and even due to coughing or sneezing.

Chlamydia causes and risk factors include:

• Sexually active individuals with multiple partners or new partners
• A history of sexually transmitted disease, particularly Chlamydia
• Inconsistent or irregular condom use

It is generally recommended that women who are sexually active and under the age of 25, who are at high risk of infection should be screened to detect Chlamydia particularly since it is typically asymptomatic.

Not only are female genital warts unsightly, in fact fairly disgusting to look at, they have the potential to cause several problems and complications such as certain cancers such as those of the vulva or vagina or the anus as well as penis among men.

Female genital warts are a manifestation or symptom of infection from the HP virus, however in many cases these may be absent; that is to say that there may be an infection but no warts present.

It is therefore possible to be infected but have no knowledge of the infection, thereby spreading the infection to a sexual partner unknowingly.

Female genital warts manifest themselves as pink, red or gray swellings or out – pouchings from the skin that may take on the aspect of a cauliflower. This site exhibits photos of female genital warts as well as male genital warts if one wants to get an idea of what they look like. These may occur in the area of the vulva, the anus and also in areas such as inside the vagina and inside the anus, which may not be able to be seen except by a medical examination.

Also some female genital warts may be present but not visible because of small size or the fact that they are not sufficiently raised to be noticeable. In this case, a medical practitioner using a certain solution may detect them.

Also, sometimes the reason why the warts may not be visible is due to the fact that in spite of the presence of the infection by the HP virus, the warts may not manifest themselves until what may even be years after the actual infection.

The infection of HPV spreads through sexual contact so the best way to steer clear of it is to avoid indiscriminate sex and be very careful of the partner that you choose.

The best way is to be in a safe monogamous relationship and if one is active, it is best to use a condom every time. This however is no guarantee against the spread of the infection unless all warts are covered since it can spread from skin contact.

Female genital warts are not able to be transmitted by shared toilets or through the water of a swimming pool or by sharing towels etc.

The symptoms of Trichomoniasis can be difficult to spot since there may often be no visible or discernable ones. In fact, up to 50% of women infected do not show any symptoms of trichomoniasis.

It is important to remember that the symptoms of trichomoniasis may show themselves as early as 4 days after infection or sexual contact with an infected individual.

On the other hand, it is also possible that the symptoms may not show themselves until years after the infection. Though the infection is often asymptomatic in many women, common symptoms of trichomoniasis include:

• A frothy, malodorous discharge of greenish or yellowish color is commonly noted.
• The discharge may also have some traces of blood
• A redness or swelling of the labia may also be noticed
• There is also a feeling of itchiness in the area of the vulva or the folds of skin there
• There could be pain experienced while urinating or even a burning sensation when passing urine
• Painful sexual intercourse is another one of the symptoms of trichomoniasis. This pain could be localized in the vaginal area or it could be experienced in the lower abdomen area
• The symptoms of trichomoniasis are often seen to intensify and may be felt more sharply during menstruation
• A medical examination also reveals small red ulcerations on the vaginal wall or cervix in some cases

There are certain other facts about trichomoniasis that it is important to know:

• Men generally display no symptoms of the disease
• If untreated, this disease could linger for years
• This infection is a sexually transmitted disease; however it cannot be transmitted though oral or anal sex.
• With this infection, there is an increased risk of HIV transmission
• The infection may also cause some women to deliver prematurely or to deliver lower birth weight infants
• Among males there is the likelihood of the risk for prostate cancer and penis infection as well as inflammation
• As in the case of many sexually transmitted diseases, trichomoniasis is largely preventable through the use of condoms.

The problem often is that the symptoms of gonorrhea are often difficult to detect among women. 50% of the women infected with this sexually transmitted disease do not display any symptoms of gonorrhea.

It is however important to watch out for the symptoms of gonorrhea because women have a higher risk of infection: women who have sex with an infected person have 60 to 90% chance of contracting the disease as against a 30 to 50 % chance for men. A woman could also transmit the disease to her child if she has it when she delivers.

It is also important to watch out for the symptoms of gonorrhea because left untreated it can lead to a number of problems such as tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and chronic pelvic pain. Studies have also shown that gonococcal infections assist the transmission of HIV as well.

Highest incidence of gonorrhea can be seen among groups that display casual sexual activity or behavior and it can be spread from person to person through any kind of sexual activity. There is an incubation period for this disease, of about 30 days and symptoms if any will manifest themselves about 4 to 7 days after infection.

Though often asymptomatic, the symptoms of gonorrhea to watch out for among women are as follows:

• Vaginal discharge or a change in vaginal discharge, which could be yellow or greenish in color and which may also have a strong smell, could be one of the symptoms of gonorrhea. At time, there could be discharge from the anus as well
• Pain or a burning sensation while passing urine or even projectile urine
• Irritation in the vaginal area
• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding after intercourse

If a woman is asymptomatic, but spots any of these male symptoms of gonorrhea in her sexual partner(s), then she should be careful :

• A yellowish discharge much like pus
• Stinging sensation while passing urine or more than normal frequency of urination
• Passing blood along with urine
• Swelling in the groin area or painful, swollen testicles
• Redness or soreness in the genital area
• Anal discharge, itching, bleeding, soreness, or painful bowel movements.

An untreated syphilis rash could result in death or at any rate cause lasting and irreparable damage to some of the body’s vital organs.

The syphilis rash is not the first noticeable symptom[syphilis symptom] of the infection by the disease; rather the first indication of presence of the bacteria in the body is usually a single red firm and round bump in the genital area that is painless and may not even be noticed to begin with but which later ulcerates.

If there is no treatment received for treating syphilis in this first stage, then some weeks later, the disease progress to the next or secondary stage and will manifest itself in a widespread syphilis rash.

A syphilis rash is usually reddish or brown spots and rough to the touch. While the rash could be anywhere on the body, the syphilis rash is more commonly found on the palms of the hand or the soles of the feet. The rash is often innocuous seeming; it may not be very prominent and may not even cause any discomfort or itching.

The syphilis rash also takes on a different form and appears in other parts of the body as white or gray patches in the groin or inner thighs or in areas having folds such as underarms or under the breasts.

The fact that a syphilis rash can disappear without treatment should not lull a person into believing that one has been cured of the disease or infection; rather it indicates that the disease has progressed to the next stage.

So, as soon as the first indications of a syphilis rash appear, treatment should be obtained so that the disease does not progress to the next stage.

After the secondary stage when the syphilis rash typically manifests itself the most, is the dormant stage of syphilis where the disease is present in the body for many years but only manifests its symptoms occasionally.

This does not mean that the disease has been cured, rather it means that it will progress to the next and last stage which could result in widespread damage including organs like the eyes, heart, liver, the bones and joints and even the brain.

It is therefore important to get treatment for a syphilis rash as soon as possible in order that permanent damage or even death does not result.

Trichomoniasis

This infection can also be passed on through shared towels, wash cloths and bathing suits since the parasite is known to be able to survive in damp conditions for about an hour or so.

Women who contract the trichomoniasis infection typically display symptoms such as inflammation, itching or burning of the vaginal area and/or the inflammation of the cervix and the urethra.

Some women experience pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse and also when going to the bathroom. Additionally some women also experience the symptom of a foul smelling, greenish yellow, frothy discharge.

The most common symptom among women is itchiness and tenderness of the vaginal [Vaginal Problems] and genital area as well as itching of the outer genital area such as the labia and the inner thighs. Sometimes women may also experience swelling of the labia.

In contrast with women, men who have the infection may very often not exhibit any noticeable symptoms, though some men who have the infection may display mild symptoms such as irritation while urinating.

Though the infection itself is not dangerous or life threatening, and is usually able to be cured by antibiotics such as Metronidazole, it can cause substantial discomfort and is also known to increase a person’s susceptibility to HIV and AIDS.

This is because it is said to increase the risk of transmission of the HIV virus. Trichomoniasis, it is also understood, could cause a woman to deliver a premature baby or one with low birth weight. Among men, this infection could increase the chances of developing prostate cancer.

Since Trichomoniasis is a fairly common sexually transmitted disease, it is important to understand the modes of its transmission in order that one may guard against it.

The only way to make sure that one won’t contract the disease is to abstain from sexual activity however even sexually active individuals can prevent the spread of this infection by using prophylactics such as latex condoms.

The disease of Trichomoniasis is found to be most commonly prevalent among those who are used to having unprotected sex, particularly those who have multiple partners. So it is generally seen that those who behave responsibly about their sexual activities, can limit their exposure to the infection to a very large extent.

While the infection is treatable in that the symptoms are able to be controlled and even negated, there is no way to rid the body of the virus once it enters and establishes itself into the system.

Typically herpes sufferers experience outbreaks or periods when the active disease is active. This will show up in the form of blisters containing infectious virus particles.

These periods may last 2 to 21 days, and then the sufferer will typically experience a remission period; during this time the sores disappear.

Though there is no herpes cure as such, many people do become asymptomatic over a period of several years and even though they may no longer be experiencing outbreaks, they could well still be infectious to others.

In the absence of a herpes cure, there have been clinical trials attempted to try and develop an effective herpes vaccine, however nothing demonstrably effective has emerged so far.

What is important to remember is that what commonly is termed as a herpes cure is in fact a treatment that will control the reproduction and shedding of the virus and/or ease the symptoms and outbreaks that sufferers encounter.

What is usually prescribed for treatment of herpes is antiviral drugs that are able to reduce the severity of symptoms, and reduce or even eliminate the occurrence of outbreaks whereas the medications reduce the severity of the symptoms, they also reduce the rate at which the virus reproduces and so the immune system of the body is better able to cope.

Herpes sufferers also have periods of asymptomatic viral shedding which such medications can control.

Topical herpes cures are those treatments that are applied directly to the affected area to reduce inflammation or sores or making them reduce in size or by preventing entrance of the virus into the skin.

Such topical herpes medications are usually gel or cream form and can help in reducing symptoms and helping by quickening the healing process.

Additionally of course one can take pain relievers to help control painful symptoms, avoid use of perfumes and cosmetics that contain chemicals that could exacerbate symptoms, wear suitable clothing which will not chafe or irritate skin conditions and also avoid excessive heat exposure so that irritation and reaction can be reduced.

Most infections can be avoided by the safe use of a condom; however some can be passed on during oral sex. Genital herpes only requires skin touch to spread to others.

The most common disease is Chlamydia, of which the symptoms appear over three weeks after the unprotected intercourse took place. For women, a vaginal discharge can occur although many experience no obvious signs of the disease.

Men are more likely to feel pain while passing urine, a discharge from the penis or occasionally a burning sensation in the eyes.

The lack of  symptoms of chlamydia could be the reason for the increase in the infection, the most risk groups being homosexual men and youngsters who have multiple sexual partners.

Confidential services are available where people can be discreetly tested and sent for further treatment. There is even one aimed specifically for young adults called Brook.

A simple urine test is all that is required for men and women have a vaginal swab taken, occasionally a blood test will also be taken. Treatment is usually in the form of a course of antibiotics which if taken as prescribed will effectively cure the infection. Genital warts are usually removed by creams.

It is important that sex does not take place during the treatment process and you will be advised, where possible, to inform any known sexual partners of your condition. Usually the process is completed by giving out information encouraging the use of condoms in any future sexual acts.

You can use either birth control pills or Depo-Provera injections to prevent frequent vaginal infections.

Researchers conducted a study in 330 women with a mean age of nearly 25 who are diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases at least twice from April 2005 to October 2006. Almost 40.3% of women were diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis. The women were prescribed a contraceptive, either progestin only (such as Depo-Provera) or estrogen-progestin combination (a birth control pill).

Women who were taking an oral contraceptive that included estrogen and progestin were 34 percent less likely to have a recurrence of bacterial vaginosis than women not taking a contraceptive.

Read full story at HealthDay

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.

Known as the silent disease, Chlamydia often has no obvious symptoms and if they do occur it is usually several weeks after sexual contact [Chlamydia symptoms]. In recent years rates of screening had increased but for some unfathomable reason this trend is being reversed.

Public service announcements similar to those around the time of the Aids epidemic could be a good way of increasing awareness, which is obviously lacking all round.