Sexually Transmitted Infections

Enjoying Sex Is a Normal, Natural Part of Life. But for that we should not expose ourselves to risk, which might take our life. When we decide to have sex, we want it to be satisfying-whether we're man or woman, married or single, young or old. Most of us have taken risks to have sex-risks that include sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Thus have safe sex and enjoy life. Safer sex is anything we do to lower our risk of sexually transmitted infection. The basic rule for safer sex is to prevent contact with genital sores and prevent the exchange of body fluids, such as semen, blood, and vaginal secretions. Remember protecting yourself against sexually transmitted infections can reduce anxiety and makes sex lot more enjoyable.

For safe sex; sex partners should remember the following points:

• Use a condom every time you have sexual intercourse.
  
  
• Be honest with one another.
  
  
• Protect one another against physical and emotional harm, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infection.
  
  
• Have access to safe and effective means to prevent sexually transmitted infection.
  
  
• Be attentive to one another's pleasure.
  
  
• Have a checkup for sexually transmitted infections every year.
  
  
• Protect your immune system. Eat well, get enough rest, and limit your use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
  
  
• Avoid sex if you have any type of sexually transmitted infection.
  
  
• If you have any kind of doubt then be frank and consult your doctor.

The most important way to reduce your and your partner's risk of getting STI's is to keep body fluids out of both of your bodies. It is very important that while making love keep your partner's body fluids out of your vagina, anus, and mouth. Do not touch sores that are caused by STIs. Also make sure that your body fluids do not get into your partner's body. Thus it is mutual responsibility.

Women are at a higher risk of being infected with STI's than men. A woman's chance of being infected by a man with HIV is twice as great as a man's chance of being infected by a woman with HIV.

If you think you or your partner has a sexually transmitted infection, then see a doctor for testing, diagnosis, and treatment. And do not have sex till you are cured.

Thus if you or your partner has any of the following symptoms in the genital area, see a doctor right away:

• Abnormal or smelly discharges from the vagina, penis, rectum.
  
  
• Burning sensations, irritations, and pain while having sex.
  
  
• Blisters, rashes, swellings, sores and boils.
  
  
• Vaginal yeast infections.
  
  
• Warts and polyps.

HIV/AIDS
A person infected with AIDS has no chance of survival because we haven't found a breakthrough so far. Over time, infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can weaken the immune system to the point that the system has difficulty fighting off any kind of infections, which is life threatening. HIV infects a person during unprotected vaginal sex, intravenously, blood transfusion and neonatally. Early symptoms are almost negligent.




CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia is a curable infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacteria targets the cells of the mucous membrane lining of the eyelid, the surfaces of the urethra, endocervix, endometrium and fallopian tubes. Chlamydia is passed primarily during anal or vaginal sex. Chlamydia can be passed even if the penis or tongue does not go all the way into the vagina, mouth or rectum, and even if body fluids are not exchanged. Eye infections in adults may result when discharge caries the disease into the eye during sex or hand-to-eye contact. For women symptoms include abdominal pain, vaginal discharge and men have symptoms that are discharge from the penis and burning sensation while urinating.




PUBIC LICE

Pubic lice are parasites, which you get when you have skin-to-skin contact with another person. Even when there is no sexual penetration, you can get (or give) pubic lice by using infested towels and from wearing infested clothes. The most common symptom of pubic lice is itching in your pubic area.

GONORRHEA

Gonorrhea is a treatable bacterial infection of the penis, vagina or anus that causes pain, or burning feeling as well as a pus-like discharge. The bacteria infects the uterine cervical canal and tubes, the urethras of men and women, the eyes leading to conjunctivitis and the mouth and the pharynx. Gonorrhea is transmitted by oral, vaginal, or anal sex. It can be passed even if the penis or tongue does not go all the way into the vagina, mouth or rectum, and even if body fluids are not exchanged. Symptoms like pain or burning sensation during urination is common in both men and woman. Women also have symptoms like pain in the abdomen, abnormal bleeding, painful intercourse and vaginal discharge. In both men and women, infection without development of symptoms is common and early symptoms are often mild. Gonorrhea if remained untreated causes serious problems like infertility, chronic menstrual problems, tubal pregnancy, and spontaneous abortion.




HEPATITIS

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a group of viruses. There are more than four types of viral hepatitis, while A and B are the most common. Although many cases of hepatitis are not a serious threat to health, the disease can sometimes become chronic (long-lasting) and may lead to liver failure and death.

Hepatitis A (HAV) is transmitted primarily through oral contact with feces (oral-fecal contact). This includes contaminated food or water sources and sexual contact, especially oral-anal sex. Symptoms of this disease are fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, nausea, dark coloured urine and abdominal pain.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a serious viral infection of the liver. HBV can cause chronic infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure and death. Hepatitis B is transmitted primarily through blood, semen, saliva and vaginal secretions. Thus having unprotected sex is one of the causes of Hepatitis B transmission. HBV may also be transmitted intravenously (sharing injecting drug needles or paraphernalia with an infected person) and neonatally (mother-to-child if the mother is infected with HBV). HBV is not spread through food or water or by casual contact. Symptoms of this disease are loss of appetite, jaundice, nausea, dark coloured urine and abdominal pain.

Hepatitis A and B are preventable through vaccination, though no vaccination currently exists for hepatitis C or E. Since hepatitis D only infects persons with active hepatitis B, the vaccine for hepatitis B prevents hepatitis D. For more information regarding treatment for Hepatitis infection consult your doctor.

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)

PID is a serious infection in the upper genital tract/reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries) of a female. PID can be sexually transmitted or naturally occurring. Chlamydia and gonorrhea, are the most common causes of PID. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, burning sensation while urinating, painful intercourse, fever, increased or changed vaginal discharge and tenderness in the lower abdomen. It can lead to infertility in women (unable to have children), tubal pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain or life-threatening complications.





VAGINITIS

Vaginitis is very common in women. Vaginitis is caused by infection in the vagina, which is caused by several different germs. Vagina has a balance of "good" as well as "bad" bacteria. While "good" bacteria keeps the vagina healthy and clean, "bad" bacteria causes infection resulting into smelly and funny coloured discharge. These "bad" bacteria and other germs that cause vaginitis can be spread through sex. Sometimes these "Bad" bacteria and other germs that cause vaginitis can be spread through sex. Vaginitis can also be caused by pregnancy, taking strong doses of antibiotics, poor diet, tight pants, damp underwear and using vaginal products like lubricants, birth control devices etc. Symptoms include itching, burning sensation and swelling.





SCABIES

Scabies is a skin disease caused by a parasite. The female parasite burrows under the skin and begins laying eggs within 2-3 hours of infection and generally lays 2-3 eggs daily. The eggs hatch and become adult mites within 10 days. Scabies is transmitted through close physical contact or by wearing infested clothing and sleeping in infested bed.