| Burning desire part two
Feeling itchy? Get the facts on STIs An STI is any infection that can be passed from one person to another through genital contact or vaginal, oral and anal sex. When it comes to avoiding STIs full-stop, celibacy is the only guaranteed solution. Wearing a condom, however, and limiting your number of sexual partners can reduce the chances of contracting an STI. Here are the facts about some of the most common STIs:
Nicknamed the silent STI because its symptoms are mild to non-existent, chlamydia can have a serious effect on, and even permanently damage, a woman's reproductive and overall health, especially if left untreated. One third of women with untreated chlamydia go on to develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - the dominant cause of chronic pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. In severe cases, men and women with chlamydia can develop arthritis. How do you catch it? • Through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex, or genital contact with an infected partner • An infected person may not have symptoms of chlamydia, but can still infect a partner without knowing it • Genital chlamydia cannot be caught by casual contact, such as sitting on toilet seats or swimming in public pools • Pregnant women can pass on the infection to infants during birth How do you know that you have it? • Most people are unaware of their infection. Up to 50 per cent of infected men and 70 per cent of women are asymptomatic (they show no symptoms) • Women may experience unusual vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, painful urination and lower abdominal pain • Men may experience discharge from the penis, burning and itching in the genital area and painful urination • Symptoms may persist, but in some cases they may only last for a few days and then disappear. If symptoms do occur, they start around one to three weeks after infection Will it affect my chances of having children? Yes, if it leads to PID. Syphilis Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can be caught from an infected partner through vaginal, anal or oral intercourse, or passed from an infected mother to her unborn child. The incubation period is 10 days to three months, but treatment with penicillin can prevent transmission of the disease. How do you know if you have it? The first sign of syphilis is the appearance of painless, but infectious sores anywhere on the body. If the infection remains untreated during the next two years, the following symptoms progress: • A non-itchy rash covers the body in patches • A flu-like illness ensues • Fatigue • Loss of appetite • Swollen glands • White patches on the tongue and roof of mouth • Patchy hair loss • Left untreated, the infection can lead to brain damage, heart failure and can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and congenital defects Will it affect my chances of having children? No, not if you get prompt treatment.
A bacterial infection that sometimes spreads via the bloodstream. Transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner, gonorrhoea can be effectively treated with antibiotics. It is possible to be infected with the disease and have no symptoms. How do you know that you have it? • Men may experience a discharge from the urethra • Symptoms in women include painful urination and yellow, bloody vaginal discharge • Men and women can experience anal discharge and pain during anal sex Will it affect my chances of having children? No, not if you get prompt treatment. Herpes Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of herpes, HSV-type 1 which commonly causes fever blisters on the mouth or face (oral herpes, also known as cold sores), and HSV-type 2 which typically affects the genital area (genital herpes). Both types can cause either genital or oral infections. Most of the time, HSV-1 and HSV-2 are inactive, or 'silent' with no symptoms, but some infected people have sporadic 'outbreaks' of blisters and ulcers. Once a person has contracted HSV, it remains with them for life. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are transmitted through direct contact, including kissing, sexual contact (vaginal, oral or anal sex), or skin-to-skin contact with an infected area. Genital herpes can be transmitted with or without the presence of sores or other symptoms. It is often passed on by people who are unaware that they are infected, or by people who don't realise their infection can be transmitted even when they have no symptoms. The consistent and correct use of latex condoms is the best protection from herpes. However, condoms do not provide complete protection, because a herpes lesion may not be completely covered by a condom and the infection may spread. If you or your partner has genital herpes, it is best to abstain from sex when symptoms are present, and to use latex condoms between outbreaks. How do you know that you have it? • Itching or tingling sensations • Painful blisters filled with fluid in the genital and/or rectal area • Mild fever • Lumps in the groin area • Painful urination • Difficulty urinating • Urgent or frequent urination • Painful sexual intercourse • Incontinence • Genital sores Will it affect my chances of having children? No, but if you have an outbreak at the time of birth, you doctor will advise you to have a Caesarian.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Individuals diagnosed with AIDS have a severely weakened immune system and are susceptible to life-threatening diseases and infections. AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1981 and has since become a major worldwide epidemic. New treatments have greatly improved the survival rates of people with AIDS. How do you know that you have it? The only way to determine for sure whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms for many years. The following may be warning signs of an HIV infection, but do not guarantee that you are infected: • Rapid weight loss • Dry cough • Recurring fever or profuse night sweats • Profound and unexplained fatigue • Swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck • Diarrhoea that lasts for more than a week • White spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth or in the throat • Pneumonia • Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose or eyelids • Memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders Don't assume you are infected if you have any of the above symptoms, as each of these can be related to other illnesses. Again, the only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested specifically for HIV. Will it affect my chances of having children? HIV can be passed from mother to child, a factor to consider when planning a pregnancy. |