I RECEIVED an email from a teenager asking me to explain what Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are. I will answer because STDs are highly correlated with mental health issues, especially in youth.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases which are spread by sexual activity and intercourse. These can include HIV, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhoea, some forms of hepatitis, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Some STDs can also be spread through the use of unsterilised drug needles, from mother to infant during childbirth or breastfeeding, and blood transfusions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 1 million new STDs acquired each day globally and those between the ages of 15 and 24 years acquire half of all new STDs

You can contract an STD from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The germs that cause STDs hide in semen, blood, vaginal secretions, and sometimes saliva.

You can also be infected with certain ones such as trichomoniasis through contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or toilet seats, although it is more commonly spread by sexual contact. You are at especially high risk of contracting if you are engaging with more than one sexual partner, you don’t use protection such as condoms or you share needles if and when using drugs

Most STDs have similar signs and symptoms, some have none at all.
However, the most common signs include sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area, painful or burning urination, vaginal or penial discharge, unusual bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse, abdominal pain, fever or rashes Signs and symptoms may appear a few days after exposure, or it may take years before you have any noticeable problems, depending on the organism. However, if you have any of these signs, you should see a doctor immediately as having an STD may weaken the immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to other infections.

I’m going to talk about the most common STDs around as by learning more about them, you can learn ways to protect yourself.

Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STD caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis). This bacterium infects only humans and is the most common infectious cause of genital and eye diseases globally. Women with chlamydia do not usually show any symptoms. If they do, these may include bladder infection, vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain. If someone does not seek treatment for chlamydia, it may lead to painful sexual intercourse, bleeding between periods and pelvic pain.

Crabs or pubic lice
Pubic lice manifestations are primarily spread through sexual contact. Pets do not play any part in the transmission of human lice. The lice attach to the pubic hair, and may also be sometimes found in the armpits, moustache, beard, eyelashes, and eyebrows. The common term “crabs” comes from the crab-like appearance of the lice, to which they feed on human blood.

Genital herpes
This STD is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus affects the skin, cervix, genitals, and some other parts of the body. There are two types: HSV-1, also known as herpes type 1 and HSV-2, also known as herpes type 2. A significant number of individuals with herpes never show symptoms and do not know about their herpes status. However, it is an easily transmissible, chronic condition. Typically, red blisters may occur on the external genital area, rectum, thighs, and buttocks. These can be painful, especially if they burst and leave ulcers. This is a treatable but not curable STD.

Gonorrhoea
This sexually transmitted bacterial infection usually attacks the mucous membranes. It is also known as the clap or the drip. The disease is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria can survive in the vagina, penis, mouth, rectum, and even the eye.The highly contagious bacterium stays in the warmer and moister cavities of the body.
The majority of women with gonorrhoea show no signs or symptoms. If left untreated, females may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Males may develop inflammation of the prostate gland or urethra.

As soon as a person contracts gonorrhoea, they risk spreading the bacteria to other parts of the body. An individual may accidentally rub their eye and spread the infection. A woman who is pregnant can pass the infection on to the infant during childbirth.

Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common STD and while it affects both sexes, women are more likely to experience symptoms. The infection is caused by a single-celled protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. For women, the vagina is the most common site of infection, while for men it is the urethra. Transmission may occur either by sexual intercourse or vulva-to-vulva contact. While women may acquire the infection from either male or female sexual partners, men nearly always become infected from having sex with women. Those with trichomoniasis are more likely to acquire HIV once exposed to the virus.

HIV and AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, leaving its host much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. If the virus is left untreated, the susceptibility to infection worsens. HIV can be found in semen, blood, breast milk, and vaginal and rectal fluids. HIV can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, sexual contact, breastfeeding, childbirth, the sharing of equipment to inject drugs, such as needles and syringes, and, in rare instances, blood transfusions.
With treatment, the amount of the virus present within the body can be reduced to an undetectable level. This means the amount of HIV within the blood is at such low levels that it cannot be detected in blood tests. It also means that HIV cannot be transmitted to other people. A person with undetectable HIV must continue to take his/her treatment as normal, as the virus is being managed, not cured.
If HIV progresses without treatment and reaches stage three, known as AIDS, it can be fatal. However, modern medicine means that HIV need not reduce life expectancy.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus is a name for a group of viruses that affect the skin and mucous membranes, such as the throat, cervix, anus, and mouth. There are over 100 types of HPV, of which, about 40 can affect the genital areas. These types may also transmit to the mouth and throat. HPV is most commonly transmitted through vaginal or anal sex, oral sex, and genital-to-genital contact. People with an HPV virus but no signs and symptoms can still infect others.

HPV infection can lead to genital warts as well as abnormal cell growth and alteration within the cervix, significantly increasing the risk of cervical cancer.

Prevention of all STDs can be done through the use of condoms, having one sexual partner, abstinence (no sexual activity at all) and some vaccinations.

If you want to test for an STD, these are usually done through blood tests or urine samples. Treatment usually calls for antibiotics or antiviral drugs. Without treatment, STDs can lead to serious health problems. But the good news is that getting tested is no big deal, and most STDs are easy to treat. If tests show that you have an STI, your sex partners, including your current partners and any other partners you’ve had over the last three months to one year, should be informed so that they can get tested and potentially treated.

Thank you for reading. Please send any topics you would like to discuss to caitlinvieira@gmail.com

If you would like to make an appointment with me, please message or WhatsApp 623-0433