Sexually Transmitted Infections STI’s Sexually Transmitted Infections

Wait, I thought they were STD’s??? Technically, diseases cause symptoms and affect the functioning of the body…But many sexually transmitted infections might not show symptoms for years

So what is an STI? An infection passed from person to person through intimate sexual contact STIs are spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex or during genital touching -> possible to get some STIs without having intercourse Not all STIs are spread the same way

Chlamydia Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. Chlamydia may be difficult for you to detect because early-stage infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms - - known as the “silent infection” Symptoms usually start one to three weeks after you've been exposed

Symptoms Painful urination Lower abdominal pain Vaginal discharge in women Discharge from the penis in men Pain during sexual intercourse in women Testicular pain in men

Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. The first gonorrhea symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days after exposure. Some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur

Symptoms Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina Pain or burning sensation when urinating Abnormal menstrual bleeding Painful, swollen testicles Painful bowel movements Anal itching

Treatment Gonorrhea and chlamydia are bacterial STDs/STIs that can be treated with antibiotics given either orally or by injection. Because the infections often occur together, people who have one infection are typically treated for both by their health care provider

Trichomoniasis common STI caused by a microscopic, one- celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. The organism usually infects the urinary tract in men, but often causes no symptoms in men. Trichomoniasis typically infects the vagina in women.

Symptoms Clear, white, greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge Discharge from the penis Strong vaginal odor Vaginal itching or irritation Itching or irritation inside the penis Pain during sexual intercourse Painful urination

Treatment Trichomoniasis can be treated with a single dose of an antibiotic

Genital Herpes Genital herpes is highly contagious and caused by a type of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes. Most people with HSV never know they have it, because they have no signs or symptoms. Some people never experience a second episode, while other people have recurrent episodes over a period of decades

Symptoms Small, red bumps, blisters (vesicles) or open sores (ulcers) in the genital, anal and nearby areas Pain or itching around the genital area, buttocks and inner thighs

Treatment Genital herpes outbreaks can be treated with antiviral drugs. does not cure the infection. can reduce the likelihood of transmission to partners.2 

HPV Human papillomavirus - the most common type of STI more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of males and females In women, genital warts can grow on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, and the cervix. Most people infected with HPV do not know that they have it

Symptoms Some strands can cause genital warts or even mouth and throat warts. Other strands cause normal cells to become abnormal which in time leads to cancer In 90% of cases, the body’s immune system will clear HPV within 2 years

Treatment A person who has an HPV infection cannot be cured. However, many HPV infections can be prevented with vaccination.  health care provider can treat genital warts caused by the virus as well as monitor and control a woman's risk of cervical cancer through frequent screening with Pap smear tests

Hepatitis Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all contagious viral infections that affect your liver. Hepatitis B and C are the most serious of the three, but each can cause your liver to become inflamed

Symptoms Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the area of your liver on your right side beneath your lower ribs Loss of appetite Fever Dark urine Muscle or joint pain Itching Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

Treatment Hepatitis A virus - Usually the infection gets better on its own without requiring treatment. Hepatitis B virus - can cause a lifelong infection but can be treated with antiviral medications. People with HBV infection will need to see a liver specialist with experience treating individuals with chronic liver disease. Hepatitis C virus - can cause immediate illness affecting the liver or, more commonly, it can be a silent, chronic infection. As with hepatitis B, individuals may have a lifelong infection

Syphilis Syphilis is a bacterial infection. The disease affects your genitals, skin and mucous membranes, but it may also involve many other parts of your body, including your brain and your heart. The signs and symptoms of syphilis may occur in four stages — primary, secondary, latent and tertiary

Symptoms Primary  These signs may occur from 10 days to three months after exposure: A small, painless sore (chancre) on the part of your body where the infection was transmitted, usually your genitals, rectum, tongue or lips. A single chancre is typical, but there may be multiple sores. Enlarged lymph nodes.

Secondary  Signs and symptoms of secondary syphilis may begin two to 10 weeks after the chancre appears, and may include: Rash marked by red or reddish-brown, penny- sized sores over any area of your body, including your palms and soles Fever Fatigue and a vague feeling of discomfort Soreness and aching

Latent  In some people, a period called latent syphilis — in which no symptoms are present — may follow the secondary stage. Signs and symptoms may never return, or the disease may progress to the tertiary stage.

Some of the signs and symptoms of tertiary syphilis include: Tertiary Without treatment, syphilis bacteria may spread, leading to serious internal organ damage and death years after the original infection. Some of the signs and symptoms of tertiary syphilis include: Neurological problems. These may include stroke and infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Other problems may include poor muscle coordination, numbness, paralysis, deafness or visual problems. Personality changes and dementia also are possible. Cardiovascular problems. These may include bulging (aneurysm) and inflammation of the aorta — your body's major artery — and of other blood vessels. Syphilis may also cause valvular heart disease, such as aortic valve problems

Treatment If recognized within the first year of infection, syphilis can be treated with a singular intramuscular injection of antibiotic. If a person does not recognize the infection early, or does not seek treatment immediately, longer treatment with antibiotics may be required. If left untreated, the infection can progress even further and potentially cause death

Numbers

Testing If you are sexually active, talk to your doctor about STI screening Remember - Any time you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have been with before you, and everyone that person has been with and so on…. Testing (or screening) for STIs can involve: Pelvic and physical exam to look for signs of infection, such as warts, rashes, discharge. Blood sample Urine sample Fluid or tissue

Telling a Partner If the test was positive, one of the first steps is to tell any sexual partners — past, present, and future. Why? Their health is at risk, so they need to know what's going on.  Also… Not telling a partner about an STD after a confirmed diagnosis may be a criminal offense in some states. Some STDs can affect fertility later in life if they're not treated early on. Some STDs can cause life-threatening infections, especially if they're not recognized and treated. If you're treated for a curable STD but your partner hasn't been, you can get reinfected. Telling a past or current partner gives that person the opportunity to get checked out and, if necessary, treated

Fact vs. Myth Myth: Only "trashy" people get STDs. Fact: STDs don't discriminate. Myth: If your partner has an STD, you'll see it. Fact: There's often no sign that a person has an STD. Myth: You can avoid STDs by having oral or anal sex. Fact: Where there's sex (oral, anal, vaginal, or even just sexual contact), there can be STDs Myth: Once you've had an STD, there's no chance of getting it again. Fact: You can get some STDs more than just once Myth: If you get checked and you're STD free, your partner doesn't need to get checked as well. Fact: Your partner could have an STD and not know it