STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

<p>STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)</p><p>STDs are also called venereal diseases. They are caused by germs that live on the skin or in body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluid or blood. The germs are passed from an infected person often through sexual contact with skin, blood or body fluids. These germs can enter the body through the vagina, mouth, anus and open sores or cuts. STDs are not spread by casual contact, by being in swimming pools or by sitting on toilet seats.</p><p>While adolescents represent approximately 25% of the sexually active population, they account for about one-half of all new sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexually active adolescents and young adults are more susceptible to STIs for biological, behavioral and cultural reasons.</p><p>Syphilis, gonorrhoea and chancroid are generally considered as the main sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but a wide variety of pathogens also are sexually transmissible, including Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), <br>Chlamydia trachomatis<br>, human papillomaviruses (HPV), human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Women, particularly adolescents, are disproportionately vulnerable to STDs, many of which remain asymptomatic, favouring spread of infection. The risk of acquiring an STD is highest in urban areas, in low socioeconomic groups, in the young, and in association with illicit drug use and prostitution.</p><p>When presented with a child with an STD,law enforcement officials must attempt todetermine absolutely if the infection was associated with sexual contact and, for the purposes of prosecution, whether</p><p>appropriate diagnostic methods were used. The following facts should be kept</p><p>in mind:</p><p>✹ STD’s may be transmitted during sexual assault.</p><p>✹ Multiple episodes of abuse increase the risk of STD infection,</p><p>probably by increasing the number of contacts with an infected</p><p>individual, and rates of infection also vary by the type of assault.</p><p>For example, vaginal or rectal penetration is more likely to lead</p><p>to detectable STD infection than fondling.</p><p>✹ Sexual assault is a violent crime that affects children of all ages,</p><p>including infants.</p><p>✹ The majority of children who are sexually abused will have no</p><p>physical complaints related either to trauma or STD infection.</p><p>Most sexually abused children do not indicate that they have</p><p>genital pain or problems.</p><p>✹ In children the isolation of a sexually transmitted organism may</p><p>be the first indication that abuse has occurred.</p><p>✹ In most cases, the site of infection is consistent with a child’s</p><p>history of assault.</p><p>✹ Although the presence of a sexually transmissible agent in a</p><p>child over the age of 1 month is suggestive of sexual abuse,</p><p>exceptions do exist. Rectal and genital chlamydia infections in</p><p>young children may be due to a persistent perinatally acquired</p><p>infection, which may last for up to 3 years.</p><p>Types of STDs</p><p>• Gonorrhea</p><p>• Syphilis</p><p>• Herpes</p><p>• Chlamydia</p><p>• Hepatitis (HBV)</p><p>• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)</p><p>• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV or genital warts)</p><p>• Chancroid</p><p>Signs of STDs</p><p>Signs may occur days, weeks or months after exposure. Some men and women have no signs but have a STD and can pass it onto others.</p><p>Common signs include:</p><p>• Burning with urination</p><p>• Genital ulcers such as open sores or blisters</p><p>• Warts</p><p>• Skin rash</p><p>• Discharge from the penis or vagina</p><p>• Abdominal pain, most often in women</p><p>Are STDs a big problem?</p><p>• Yes, each year there are nearly 19 million new cases of</p><p>STDs and approximately 9 million (48%) occur among</p><p>teenagers and young adults.</p><p>• Approximately one in four teenagers and young</p><p>adults get an STD each year.</p><p>What are the health effects of STDs?</p><p>• Sexually transmitted diseases can make you sick or</p><p>cause permanent harm to your body.</p><p>• They may cause problems ranging from mild</p><p>irritation to severe pain, illness, cancer, and even</p><p>death.</p><p>• Untreated infections can cause infertility or harm to</p><p>a fetus when a women is pregnant.</p><p>• Sexually transmitted diseases may have no noticeable</p><p>symptoms at first but may cause problems later, such</p><p>as cervical cancer.</p><p>Limit the number of sexual partners</p><p>- Talk to your partner about previous sexual experiences,</p><p>STDs and STD symptoms, and number of</p><p>partners.</p><p>- Avoid sex with people who might have an STD.</p><p>- <br>Avoid sex with those who have had multiple</p><p>partners.</p><p>- Avoid “one night stands.</p><p>-Use a condom correctly and consistently (every</p><p>time you have vaginal, anal, and oral sex).</p><p>- Avoid risky sexual practices, such as unprotected</p><p>anal intercourse.</p><p>• Visit the doctor for STD counseling, screening,</p><p>diagnosis, and treatment</p><p>- Every year.</p><p>- Every time you have a new partner.</p><p>- With your new partner before starting a sexual</p><p>relationship with him or her.</p><p>- If you have STD symptoms or just need to talk.</p><p>Common STDs</p><p>• <br>Chlamydia and gonorrhea</p><p>- These are caused by bacteria that may infect</p><p>the cervix in women or the urethra in men and</p><p>women.</p><p>- <br>Teens with these diseases often have no symptoms</p><p>or may have vaginal, penile, or rectal discharge,</p><p>itching, pelvic pain, joint pain, or sore throat.</p><p>- These diseases can spread to the uterus, fallopian</p><p>tubes, and ovaries, causing severe illness, pain,</p><p>and infertility.</p><p>- Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be cured easily with</p><p>antibiotics.</p><p>- All young women under the age of 25 years who</p><p>have had sex should be tested for chlamydia at</p><p>least once per year.</p><p>- Testing for gonorrhea is recommended for anyone</p><p>who is sexually active.</p><p>• Genital herpes</p><p>- Genital herpes is caused by a virus.</p><p>- It may cause painful or itchy sores in the genital</p><p>area that can last from a few days to weeks.</p><p>- The sores heal, but the virus may remain in your</p><p>body, and the sores may come back again.</p><p>- Treatment can help the sores heal, but there is no</p><p>treatment to kill the virus.</p><p>- Infected individuals can shed virus and transmit</p><p>infection even if they do not have any sores.</p><p>• Hepatitis B</p><p>- Hepatitis B is a virus spread by blood and body</p><p>fluids and can destroy the liver.</p><p>- It can be prevented by vaccination. Many teens</p><p>and young adults in the United States have received</p><p>the vaccine as children or as adolescents.</p><p>Make sure you have received it.</p><p>• Human Immunodeficiency Virus</p><p>- Human immunodeficiency virus is the virus that</p><p>causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome</p><p>(AIDS). When HIV infection becomes advanced,</p><p>it is referred to as AIDS.</p><p>- Human immunodeficiency virus enters the blood</p><p>stream through bodily fluids and invades and kills</p><p>cells of the immune system, which will lead to AIDS.</p><p>- Although new medicines may slow the progression</p><p>of HIV and AIDS, there is no cure.</p><p>- Because it can take several years after infection</p><p>with HIV to develop AIDS, many people who are</p><p>infected do not know their status.</p><p>- It is important to ask your doctor about getting</p><p>an HIV test if you are sexually active.</p><p>• Human Papillomavirus</p><p>- Human papillomavirus is a common viral infection</p><p>in teens that can cause genital warts and cervical</p><p>cancer.</p><p>- Most infections have no symptoms.</p><p>- Warts may show up long after infection and may</p><p>come and go for many years.</p><p>- Warts can be removed in several ways.</p><p>- A Pap test is highly effective at detecting abnormal</p><p>cells on the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer.</p><p>In doing so, it helps to prevent cervical cancer.</p><p>Your first pap test should be done at age 21 years.</p><p>- Two vaccines to prevent cervical cancer (one of</p><p>them also prevents genital warts) caused by certain</p><p>HPV strains is approved for use in girls and young</p><p>women ages 9 - 26 years. The vaccine works best if</p><p>you get it before you have sex for the first time.</p><p>• Syphilis</p><p>- Treponema pallidum is a type of bacteria that</p><p>causes syphilis.</p><p>- Syphilis can infect many parts of the body.</p><p>- Syphilis may not cause symptoms, but sometimes a</p><p>painless, smooth sore on the genital area can be an</p><p>early sign of disease.</p><p>- If found early, by the use of a blood test, syphilis</p><p>is treated easily.</p><p>- If not treated, all signs may disappear, but could</p><p>return years later in advanced stages that can cause</p><p>severe disease.</p><p>• Trichomonas</p><p>- Trichomonas infection can cause an unpleasant</p><p>smelling discharge and vaginal discomfort and can</p><p>be seen with other STDs.</p><p>- It can be easily cured with antibiotics.</p><p>• Hepatitis C</p><p>- Hepatitis C is a dangerous infectious disease that</p><p>affects the liver and often results in death.</p><p>- It is transmitted mainly from the blood of one</p><p>person to the blood of another person (blood to</p><p>blood transmission).</p><p>- Various risky behaviors may place teens at risk</p><p>of getting hepatitis C infection, including sharing</p><p>straws during cocaine use. Other ways to get</p><p>hepatitis C infection include being tattooed with</p><p>unsterilized needles, body piercing, and using</p><p>intravenous drugs.</p><p>- Hepatitis C usually is not spread by having sex</p><p>with an infected person, but it can happen. It is</p><p>important to use a condom with your partner</p><p>to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases</p><p>Preventing STDs</p><p>Abstinence<br>, or no sexual relations, is the best way to prevent the spread of STDs. If you choose to have sexual relations, <br>have one partner and always use condoms.</p><p>Who is at risk of STDs?</p><p>• Those <br>who are having sex<br> or sexual contact</p><p>• Young people who have <br>multiple partners<br> (<br>more than</p><p>one partner in a lifetime<br>) or if a partner has had<br> multiple partners.</p><p>• Those whose partner is infected with an STD</p><p>• Those who abuse alcohol or other drugs because they</p><p>are more likely to have unprotected sex.</p><p>venereal affections are serious health problem. If left untreated, they can lead to many complications and even death. Homeopathy and remedies for stds allows easing and treating many of sexual affections practically without side-effects. Homoeopaths explain that remedies for stds that they use in their practice act on the patient’s constitution. It means that state of the mind, emotions and feelings as well as physical condition of the body are taken into consideration when prescribing remedies for stds. These effective remedies for stds address physical and psychological symptoms</p><p>The homeopathic approach recognizes the unique way each person reacts to illness as an expression of disharmony at the vital force level (energy level). Physical as well as mental and emotional signs and symptoms of disease, specific to each person, are recognized as attempts on the part of the body to heal itself. These signs and symptoms manifest themselves because the body has been unable to restore balance from its inner resources and needs help. Homeopathy works by enhancing the body’s natural ability to heal itself. A single, carefully chosen homeopathic remedy offers the help needed to restore a state of balance and well-being.</p><p>Homeopathy can make a real difference in relieving the symptoms and improve your overall health.</p>