April is National Sexually Transmitted Disease, or Infection (STI) Awareness Month, a time set aside to call attention to the need for education about the various sexually transmitted infections that are harmful. Most people are at least somewhat familiar with the most common STIs; however, few people understand the prevalence of many of these infections and the extent of the negative affects they can have on your health. STIs don’t discriminate. They affect people of all ages and backgrounds. In 2000, there were 18.9 million new cases of STIs in the United States, 9.1 million cases of which affected people ages 15 to 24. Chlamydia, Trichomoniasis and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) accounted for 88 percent of the new STI cases for those people between the ages of 15 and 24. Here’s a brief description of the most common STIs:
Chlamydia
This is the most common and most invisible STI in the United States. At least 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men have no symptoms; however, if they do have symptoms, they normally occur within 5-10 days of infection. Symptoms for women can include abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, painful urination and painful intercourse. Symptoms for men can include pain or burning while urinating, pus, watery or milky discharge from the penis, swollen or tender testicles and rectal inflammation. Chlamydia is spread through vaginal and anal intercourse, and infects more than 3 million men and women nationwide each year. If left untreated, Chlamydia can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in up to 40 percent of infected women, which can cause scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility. Fortunately, Chlamydia is easily curable with medication. Condoms will greatly reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
Gonorrhea
It affects about 600,000 men and women in the United States each year. It often has no symptoms, especially in women. If symptoms do appear, they usually occur within 14 days of infection, and can include abdominal pain, bleeding, fever, painful intercourse, vomiting and yellowish discharge in women. Men may have burning urination or pus-like discharge from the penis. If left untreated, Gonorrhea can also cause PID in women, as well as infertility in men. Luckily, Gonorrhea is also easy to treat with antibiotics. Condoms will greatly reduce the risk of contracting the infection.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
This is also one of the most common STIs. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, with more than 40 of them transmitted through sexual contact. There are two types of HPV, referred to as low-risk strains and high-risk strains. Some of the low-risk strains may cause genital warts in both women and men. The high-risk strains are especially dangerous, as they can lead to the precursors of cervical cancer in women. HPV is so common, that as many as three out of four people may have at least one strain at any given time. Most strains leave the body undetected after eight to 13 months; however, some can hide in the body for years causing problems later in life. In order to protect oneself, women must have annual Pap tests and treatment for anything abnormal found. Women between the ages of 9 and 26 are also encouraged to receive the HPV vaccine called Gardasil, which protects against the four strains that cause 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts cases. Condoms help to reduce some risk of contracting HPV, although the virus can be present on portions of the skin that are not covered by the condom.
Trichomoniasis
This is an STI that is caused by a protozoan. Common symptoms in women include frothy discharge, itching in and around the vagina, spotting, swelling of the groin and the need to urinate more frequently. Men often have no symptoms. Trich can be easily treated with drugs, and condoms will greatly reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
Herpes
Herpes is a very common infection caused by two different, but closely related viruses. Both are easy to catch, remain in the body for life, and can produce symptoms that come and go. Herpes can infect the oral area, the genital area, or both. Between 50 and 80 percent of American adults have one form of HSV. Millions of people do not know they have herpes because they never had, or noticed, the symptoms, which may include blisters, burning urination, inability to urinate if severe swelling of sores blocks the urethra, itching, open sores and/or pain in the infected area Herpes is spread by touching, kissing, and sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Brief skin-to-skin contact is all that’s needed to pass the virus. Because herpes may have no symptoms for years, sometimes it is very difficult to know who passed it to whom.
Other STIs, such as Syphilis, Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS are less common, but still dangerous and potentially life-threatening. It’s important to remember that not all STIs have symptoms, so it’s imperative to be tested every six months to a year, depending on your level of sexual activity. It’s never too early or too late to be tested!
Erin R. Zabel is Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia. For more information, or to be tested, call your closest Planned Parenthood health center: Virginia Beach-473-8116; Norfolk-624-9224; Hampton-826-2079 or visit http://www.ppsev.org
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