Sexually Transmitted Diseases STDs

A few questions to think about … Which STDs do you know? What do you know about STDs? What is the problem with STDs? What are the symptoms? How common are STDs?

An overview Bacterial infections : chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis Viral infections: hepatitis B, herpes, genital warts, HIV Parasites: scabies, trichomoniasis Fungi: candida

How are STDs passed from one person to another?

How are STDs passed from one person to another? Sexual intercourse: sperm, vaginal fluid, contact between mucous membranes Blood: wounds, needles From mother to shild: pregnancy, breast milk Skin-to-skin contact: with an infected area (herpes, scabies) Common use of sheets genital warts

How can you protect yourself?

How can you protect yourself? By using a condom: limited risks Get informed: www.sensoa.be www.gezondheid.be Get tested: general practitionor (doctor), gynecologist smear (vagina, throat, anus), blood test, urine sample

What are the symptoms?

What are the symptoms? No complaints or rather blurred → PROBLEM ! Itch Burning feeling Pain Secretion Warts A bad smell

Consequences

Consequences Infertility Inflammations (testicles) Pregnancy loss and ectopic pregnancy Genital cancers Organ damage Enhanced transmission of HIV/AIDS

Treatments Medication Antibiotics (bacteria) Special treatments for viral infections (unpredictable) Sometimes incurable (herpes, HIV) Vaccination (hepatitis B, HPV)

Spreads Most common in Belgium: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis Since 2013: less HIV Quotes from the American Sexual Health Association: More than half of all people will have an STD/STI at some point in their lifetime Each year, one in four teens contracts an STD/STI One in two sexually active persons will contract an STD/STI by age 25 One out of 20 people in the United States will get infected with hepatitis B (HBV) some time during their lives.9 Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV.

Chlamydia (Flanders)

Chlamydia Probably no symptoms pain or burning while peeing pain during sex lower belly pain abnormal vaginal discharge (may be yellowish and have a strong smell) bleeding between periods pus or a watery/milky discharge from the penis swollen or tender testicles pain, discharge and/or bleeding around the anus

Gonorrhea (Belgium 2015)

Gonorrhea Sometimes no signs Pain or burning feeling when you pee Abnormal discharge from the vagina that may be yellowish or bloody Bleeding between periods Yellow, white, or green discharge from your penis Pain or swelling in your testicles

Syphilis (Belgium 2015)

Syphilis SUPER contagious Primary stage: a syphilis sore (called a chancre) pops up — that sore is where the syphilis infection entered your body. Chancres are usually firm, round, and painless, or sometimes open and wet. There’s often only 1 sore, but you may have more. Secondary stage: rashes on the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, or other parts of your body, you may feel sick and have mild flu-like symptoms, like a slight fever, feeling tired, sore throat, swollen glands, headache, and muscle aches. You can also have sores in your mouth, vagina, or anus, and weight or hair loss Late stage: serious health problems, tumors, blindness, and paralysis, it can damage your nervous system, brain and other organs, and may even kill you

Human Papillomavirus

Human Papillomavirus Highly contagious (extensive physical contact) A group of more than 200 related viruses (two of these, HPV types 16 and 18, are responsible for most HPV-caused cancers) Can cause cervical cancer Scientists estimate that more than 90% and 80%, respectively, of sexually active men and women will be infected with at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives 190 deadly cancer in Belgium each year, 90% can be avoided by screening Vaccination (70% protection)

AIDS HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome