All you need to know about STI’s:
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) also known as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are diseases that spread through vaginal, anal, oral, or any kind of sexual contact. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 340 million new cases are reported every year. About 6% of the total population in India is affected by STIs annually.
Dr. Sangeeta, Consultant - Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Sarjapur, Bangalore, says, “Since women are more susceptible to serious health problems from STIs than men, it holds a direct impact on the sexual and reproductive health of women leading to complications in pregnancy, a high risk of HIV, or even infertility. As per reports, 1 million women have been diagnosed with STIs previously, resulting in more than 4,00,000 adverse birth outcomes.”
Most common types of sexually transmitted diseases
Human papillomavirus
Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Genital herpes
Among these, HPV is the one that is mostly acquired in females and is one of the primary causes of cervical cancer as well.
Common symptoms one with STI can experience are:
A change in urination- A female with a sexually transmitted infection can undergo pain while urinating, there is a need to pee more often, or urine might be accompanied by blood.
Abnormal discharge from the vagina- Vaginal discharge of a female can appear differently regardless of the woman’s health cycle. If a female observes a thick whitish discharge, it can be possibly due to a yeast infection. If one observes a green or yellowish discharge, it can indicate underlying symptoms of gonorrhea or trichomoniasis.
An itchy vagina- Though itching is not directly associated with STI, there are a few causes responsible for sex-related vaginal itching:
Genetic warts
Public lice
Allergic reaction to a latex condom
Experiencing pain during sex- Pelvic pain can be a cause of alarm as it can be a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID usually depicts the primary or advanced stage of chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Rashes- The prevalence of rashes or sores near the vagina or the mouth can be an indicated sign of HPV or syphilis.
STIs during pregnancy:
“A female can acquire a sexually transmitted disease while she is pregnant. Sometimes, it is hard to predict the disease so a doctor might conduct a complete STI panel at the start of a female’s pregnancy. Such conditions can be life-threatening for both the female and the baby. Therefore, a test at the earliest is recommended to prevent any serious consequences,” advises Dr. Sangeeta.
STIs due to a sexual assault:
There are possibly high chances for a female getting diagnosed with an STI because of a sexual assault. The disease might transfer from a male during forced intercourse. A healthcare provider might prescribe antibiotics, and HIV antiviral medication followed by an HPV vaccine to evaluate an individual’s condition.
Treatments available for STIs are:
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis are the three bacterial STIs and one parasitic STI that is curable with single-dose regimens of antibiotics.
For HIV and Herpes, there are antivirals available for medication that can modulate the disease but unfortunately cannot cure it.
Antivirals can also help in fighting Hepatitis B, slowing down the damage caused to the liver.