03 Jun 2020 |

Stay Away from Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections

Are you all set to keep your health protected from different types of sexually transmitted diseases and infections? If yes, then you must be aware about gonorrhea, chlamydia, HPV and genital herpes. You can protect yourself and your family from different health problems in future by knowing about these common STDs. You will also know the right treatments for HIV, hepes, Chlamydia and other STIs for improved health condition.

Genital Warts or HPV

Human papillomavirus or HPV is a disease that leads to genital warts. It may spread due to close contact with the skin from one person to the other. Some kinds of HPV are anal or cervical cancer and vaccines that can protect against these risky kinds. Other types of HPV may cause genital warts that can either be cauliflower or flat shaped. HPV may even transmit from people who do not show any warts or other symptoms.

Symptoms of HPV

Genital warts may be big or small, raised or flat that appears in the form of a small bump or bumps in the genital area. They have the shape of a cauliflower.

HPV Vaccine

There is a vaccine available for the prevention of HPV which is provided in three shots. The second shot is given in a month or two just after the first shot. The third shot is available in six months after the first shot.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, both boys and girls should be given vaccination at the age of 11 or 12 years. If they do not take the vaccine on time, then women may get the vaccine by 26 years. Similarly, men may take this vaccine by the age of 21.

Pubic Lice or Crabs STD

Pubic lice or "crabs” is the shape of parasites that is quite different from body lice. They remain in pubic hair and can spread among people at the time of close contact. You may treat public lice by taking over-the-counter lice-killing medications.

Symptoms

• Extreme itching
• Visible crawling lice
• Eggs attached to pubic hair

Scabies

This is another parasitic STI that is not necessarily sexually transmitted, as it may affect any part of your skin. However, scabies can usually spread at the time of sexual contact.

Symptoms

• Extreme itching which might become worse during night time
• Skin seems to get pimple-like rash.
• Both the rash and itching might occur throughout the body across or limited to your armpit, elbow, wrist, webbing between the fingers, penis, nipple, buttocks, belt-line or waist.
• Scales and small blisters (vesicles) might appear.
• Small burrows left by the female scabies mites might be there on your skin.

The only way to stay away from sexually transmitted infection is to avoid touching anyone since skin-to-skin contact may spread this highly contagious mite. Though condoms are good in preventing many diseases, they will not keep you away from scabies.

Luckily, this kind of STI can be treated with prescription creams. It is advised to visit a doctor and stay protected before you might get this sexually transmitted infection.

Gonorrhea or The Clap

Gonorrhea is another sexually transmitted disease that can affect both men and women. It may cause harm to your health by causing infertility in men and women, if left untreated. You might not find any symptoms of this STD at an early stage.

Symptoms

• Burning at the time of urination
• Urethral or vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain in case of women
• Men might suffer from discharge from the penis and swelling of the testes

Syphilis

Syphilis can be treated by taking antibiotics, but many people do not detect its symptoms early. It can be the reason for blindness, damage to your nerves, paralysis, and death if left treated.

Symptoms

• A firm, round or painless sore on the anal area or genitals
• A rash might develop later on the palms, feet or other parts of your body
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Hair loss
• Late-stage syphilis might be the reason for damage to different organs.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STD that may lead to infertility if it is not treated. The symptoms might not be noticed and some people won’t experience any health effects.

Symptoms

• Itching or burning of the genitals
• Painful urination
• Sudden discharge

Oral Herpes or Herpes Simplex 1 Virus

If there are "fever blisters" or cold sores on your lips, then they are a sign of herpes virus infection. This generally takes place due to type of herpes virus called human herpes virus 1 or oral herpes.

Oral herpes may get transmitted from household contact or kissing but it can spread to your genitals. There isn’t any treatment for this kind of infection but medications may lessen the severity and duration of these outbreaks.

Symptoms

• Itching of your lips or skin around the mouth
• Burning near mouth area or lips
• Tingling near the lips or mouth area
• Swollen glands
• Sore throat
• Painful swallowing
• Rash might occur on the mouth, lips, throat or gums

The symptoms generally appear within 1 to 3 weeks after first infection. When they come back, they are milder than the outbreak of initial herpes.

Genital Herpes (Herpes Simplex 2 Virus)

Genital herpes occur due to different virus known as HSV-2 HHV-2. The virus of this herpes may spread due to direct genital contact and is known as an STD.

Symptoms

• Fluid-filled, painful blisters and crusted sores on the thoughts, arms, buttocks and genital area.
• Shooting pain or mild tingling in the buttocks, hips or legs might occur for several hours to days before there is genital herpes.

A genital herpes infection may spread to your lips due to oral contact. Proper medications may lessen the severity of genital herpes, but there isn’t any remedy.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus which passes through direct contact with blood and body fluids. It can also be transmitted during sexual intercourse. This kind of infection can occur through sharing of needles, toothbrushes and razors. Babies may get infected at the time of birth from their infected mother.

• Symptoms
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Jaundice
• Scarring of the liver or cirrhosis and liver cancer might develop over time

There is a vaccine available for the prevention of hepatitis B infection.

You need to visit a reputed walk-in STI clinic in London where the doctors will conduct necessary tests to detect your health condition. Thus, get treated on time and avoid getting sexually transmitted diseases and infections in future.