Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)

Know about STD Testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Safe sex and regular testing can be a preventive measure against sexually transmitted diseases...
Know about STD Testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
People with STDs may have symptoms that can be seen, but many people do not exhibit any symptom at all, and it can take months or even years for them to come face to face with this unpleasant truth. If one is sexually active, it is vitally important to practice safer sex each and every time one is intimate. Going for STD testing when you decide to become intimate with someone new is also imperative to staying sexually healthy.
Testing for sexually transmitted infections is available in the Health Center as well as the Women's Center. The term currently considered most correct to refer to these infections is STI's, however the most common usage continues to be STD's, or sexually transmitted diseases.
An STD test is a medical test for the presence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). I would like to stress on one very important fact at the very beginning, which is that no STD test is 100% accurate. Some STDs do not appear right away. The infection can take anywhere between a couple of days and a few years to show up.

It is also important to know that not all doctors perform the same tests for STD and hence it becomes vital to know what to ask for and the limitations of STD testing.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia screening is done either through a urine test or through a swab inside the penis of the men or from the cervix of a women. The swab test requires collection using a special small q-tip. Women must have a pelvic exam with a q-tip used to collect mucus from the cervix. This exam is occasionally uncomfortable. Specimens are collected from men by inserting the q-tip up inside the urethra, which is the opening where urine comes out. This is usually painful for men, but takes just a few seconds. Tests for syphilis is performed via a blood test or a swab from the genital pores. People in the late stages of syphilis infection need to have the Cerebrospinal Fluid Test performed. For this test, a sample of your spinal fluid will be collected and assessed to determine the extent of your infection. Washing the infected area with prescription shampoos treats Crabs. Tests for HIV and AIDS are performed by blood test, which is also known as the ELISA test. If the results of this test is positive, then a second test called the Western Blot is performed which will confirm if the someone is truly HIV positive. This is done as in some cases; several diseases like syphilis or lupus may cause the ELISA test to return a positive result.

Apart from the tests mentioned above which are performed when you show symptoms of STD or suspect something wrong, it is important to undergo routine tests to rule out the presence of STDs. It is recommended that the women undergo a Pap smear test annually, which is a simple procedure that collects cells from the cervix to test for cancer and pre-cancerous changes. Routine work for men is not recommended unless they have sex with other men. In such cases, the men should undergo tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia annually.
In the case of women, if pregnant, please inform the doctor before hand, as the course of treatment that is to be followed will be different.
Alarming statistics show that ignorance and carelessness are prime reason for STDs, its essential to inform and educate the younger generation that using condoms correctly will reduce the risk of infection. Central role of STD prevention is vital in improving health among women and infants and in promoting HIV prevention.

Here, we can conclude that that while some STDs can be completely treated and cured, other STDs cannot be cured; their symptoms can only be managed. Prevention is better than cure and hence it is imperative to practice safe sex and get your testing done today!

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)

Gonorrhea Symptoms
Gonorrhea, a common sexually transmitted disease, shows different symptoms in both male and female. Gonorrhea symptoms in male include pus like discharge from the urethra with a burning sensation during urination and increase in the frequency of urination…
Gonorrhea Symptoms
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease that can affect both men and women. It is called by a bacterium Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, which grows and multiplies in the cervix, uterus and the fallopian tube in women and in the urethra in both men and women. It can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes and anus.
The gonorrhea symptoms differ from men and women. For women, the primary affected area is cervix. However, if not treated properly, this often spreads to uterus and fallopian tubes. It can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes and anus. Gonorrhea symptoms in the throat may cause a sore throat, or a pus filled growth in the tonsil at the back of the throat, and difficulty in swallowing. Symptoms depend on the site where the bacteria was introduced, the duration of infection and whether the infection has localized or spread.
Symptoms in males and females:
Gonorrhea symptoms in male include pus like discharge from the urethra with a burning sensation during urination and increase in the frequency of urination. Females complaining about vaginal discharge, difficulty in urinating excessive menstrual bleeding or bleeding after sexual intercourse are the initial gonorrhea symptoms. Approximately 15% of females with infection of inside the mouth of the uterus, the infection extend into the fallopian tubes causing what is known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID.
Left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious and permanent health problems and long term organ damage for both men and women. Untreated gonorrhea in women results in serious infection in the reproductive tract. It may cause complicated pregnancy which might prove a life threat to the mother as well as the child. Gonorrhea can lead to various other long term and serious diseases if it is not taken care off at the initial stage. Some of them are:
1. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)-This is perhaps the most serious complaint in women infected with gonorrhea. PID can seriously damage the fallopian tube in a woman, thus resulting in complicated pregnancy where a fertilized egg develops outside the uterus inside the fallopian tube.
2. Epididymitis- In men gonorrhea can lead to painful condition affecting the testicles, which might lead to infertility.
3. HIV/AIDS- Since the immunity level gets lowered, people infected with gonorrhea can easily contract HIV and they can transmit the virus to someone else.
4. Arthritis, Meningitis and Endocarditis- The gonorrhea bacterium blocks the mucous membrane in the different parts of the body, this lead to inflammation of joints (arthritis) inflammation in the brain (meningitis) and infection of the heart (endocarditis).
5. Infant blindness- Mothers with gonorrhea can pass the infection to their babies during childbirth, which if left untreated can lead to permanent blindness.
Risk Factors:
There are many risk factors for gonorrhea. Primary factors are:
-Indulging in unsafe sex
-Having sex with more than one person
-Being in a sexual relationship with someone who has multiple sexual partners
Prevention:
Using condoms during sexual intercourse are a major protection against gonorrhea. And the most important factor is to reduce the number of sex-partners.
Detection and Treatment:
The most reliable method of detecting gonorrhea infection is laboratory culture testing. Special tests must be done in order to detect the bacterial organism responsible for the disease. Different samples of body discharge like the urethra (where you pass urine), the cervix (opening of the womb), the rectum or the throat are taken and incubated in the laboratory so see if gonorrhea bacteria grow from the sample. Normally it takes about two days for the infection to be detected.
There are several antibiotics that can successfully cure gonorrhea in adults and adolescents. Antibiotic treatment varies depending upon where the infection is located. This would not repair whatever damage has been done permanently but prevent further infection. Early detection and immediate medication are the only way to prevent serious and permanent damage. Gonorrhea does not require a follow-up after treatment but patients are advised to stay away from sex during that time.

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)

Want to know more about Sexually transmitted diseases? Here is some information that you will find useful…
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
Each and everyone of us has heard the dangers of STDs, but how many of us really know everything there is to know about Sexually Transmitted Diseases? Sexually transmitted diseases are those that are transmitted from people to each other during sexual intercourse. These diseases are transmitted during any form of sexual intercourse, be it vaginal, anal or even oral. But remember that an STD can be contracted only when a person indulges in sexual intercourse with another person who already had an STD, but there are some like scabies, which can be passed through contact as well. So the next question you will ask is what is an STI? STI is sexually transmitted infection, which is just another name for sexually transmitted disease. The reason this term is used is because there are cases like those in chlamydia, where a sexually transmitted disease is similar to an infection. But how does one know if they have a sexually transmitted disease? A person may become aware of certain symptoms, or may find out that their partner has a sexually transmitted disease. It is best to get a sexually transmitted disease treated as soon as possible so as to avoid any further complications that may arise out of non-treatment, such as infertility. In some cases an STD can be transmitted from a mother to her unborn child, which can be avoided through proper treatment.

Different types of STDs
There are several types of STDs that a person can get, right from crabs, herpes to gonorrhea and syphilis. But how does one what they have? The best thing to do is get as much information as you can so that you can be proactive. Here are some types of STDs and some information about them:

Bacterial Vaginosis – though this cannot be in strict terms be called an STD, it is a disease that cannot be transmitted though sexual intercourse, but can be aggravated because of it. BV is an STD that affects only women and can be detected only because of the strange fishy smelling discharge. No one knows how BV starts, but it is said that it can be caused due to the acidic imbalance in the vagina, and this could be because of semen or intrauterine contraceptives. BV cannot be passed on to a man, but treatment has to be prompt so as to avoid serious damage to the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Chlamydia – This Sexually transmitted infection is the most common, and occurs because of the presence of chlamydia trachomatis bacterium in the body. It can affect both men and women and if it is not treated properly can cause infertility. Chlamydia is transmitted through sexual intercourse and also through genital contact. The best way to cure chlamydia is to get help as soon as possible.
Crabs – crabs are pubic lice that are called so because of their crab like appearance. These lice are extremely tine and can barely be seen by the naked eye, and are found on rough body hair like the pubic hair, armpit hair and even facial hair. These crabs or lice are grayish yellow in color and grab at hair strands with their claws. Crabs can easily be passed on through sexually intercourse and sharing of clothes, bedding and towels. Symptoms of crabs are – itching of the skin, inflammation of skin and spots of blood from where the lice have been feeding. Treatment of crabs is easy and does not require removal of hair.
Genital Warts – these are warts or bumps caused on the skin, normally in the genital area by some form of human papillomavirus (HPV). These warts are large, flesh colored and painless. They will itch and may be difficult to find and this is why most people do not even realize they have genital warts. In case a woman has genital warts on the cervix, it can lead to discharge and bleeding. It is important to get the right medical attention for genital warts.
Gonorrhea – this sexually transmitted disease once known, as clap is an infection that can infect the urethra, cervix, rectum, anus and even the throat. The symptoms are:
* Burning while urinating.
* Discharge from penis that is white or yellow in color.
* Change in color of vaginal discharge.
* Discharge from the anus along with irritation.
Herpes – heroes can be cause by two different types if viruses. The HSV-1 virus affecting the genital and anal regions and the HSV-2 affecting the mouth and lips a lot like cold sores. HSV-2 is a more common from of STD and research claims that one out of every five Americans gets herpes. There are some symptoms of herpes, these are:
* Itching and tingling of the genital and anal area.
* Blisters and sores.
* Pain while urinating, especially in women.
* Headaches and backaches, also accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Syphilis – this is a common bacterial infection that is caused by the bacteria treponema pallidium, which was once known as pox. It is a sexually transmitted disease but can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child. There are various stages of syphilis. There are symptoms of syphilis, these are:
* Ulcers that are painless but occur on the genital region, anus and mouth.
* Lumps in the groin.
* Rash that isn’t itchy.
* Fever and other flu-like symptoms.
If syphilis is not treated in time, it can become more severe and sometimes lead to death.