How To Treat Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Essay Example

Introduction

This paper examines how you recognise and treat sexually transmitted diseases.  The important aspect of recognition, diagnosis and treatment.  A sexually transmitted disease is one that is acquired through sexual contact.  The most obvious means of not acquiring such a disease is to abstain from this practice.  Failing that you can take certain precautions that minimise the risk.

Types of Disease and Recognition

Chlamydia has been identified as one of the most common and widespread transmitted diseases in the UK.  The disease comes from a bacterium – Chlamydia trachomatis. The symptoms start to appear 7-21 days after infection for both men and women.  Pregnant women diagnosed with the disease can pass this to the newly born infants.  Symptoms of the disease are classified between men and women as follows : “Symptoms in men: inflammation of the urethra (the bladder duct within the penis), stinging feeling when passing water, clear discharge from penis and possible itchiness around the opening, pain or tenderness in the testicles. ”  (Dr Jeni Worden). Symptoms in women: Stinging feeling when passing water, unusual vaginal discharge, pain caused by pelvic inflammation (pelvic inflammatory disease), pain during intercourse in some cases, bleeding between periods.  (Dr Jeni Worden).  Treatment in this case is by antibiotics after being referred for tests by your GP.

Gonorrhoea is another form of bacterium  that grows and multiplies quickly in moist, warm areas of the body such as the cervix, urethra, mouth, or rectum. The Cervix being the most common site of infection in women. In addition the disease is capable of spreading to the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease leading to infertility. ” Gonorrhoea is most commonly spread during genital contact, but can also be passed from the genitals of one partner to the throat of the other during oral sex. ”  (Dr Jeni Worden). Gonorrhoea of the rectum can occur in people who practice anal intercourse. Early signs of the disease are often mild and normally show 2-10 days after sexual contact with the partner. Symptoms in women : painful, burning sensation when urinating , yellowish or bloody discharge from the vagina,  bleeding between periods abdominal pain. Symptoms in men: burning sensation during urination,  yellowish-white discharge from the penis. As with Chlamydia treatment is by anti-biotics.

HIV/Aids: Perhaps the most serious of all the diseases as there currently is no know cure. However, early detection is key towards easing discomfort and longer term survival. Aids is a virus and destroys the immune system and thereby makes you vulnerable to all other types of infections.  The disease is most widespread in poorer countries like the Sahara, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. The disease is more common amongst homosexual orientation and has also been nicknamed ” the gay plague”.  The virus is found in bodily fluids such as blood, sperm and vaginal secretions, and can pass through little scratches that may occur during sexual intercourse.  Symptoms include : fever, diarrhoea, sweating at night, loss of weight, swollen glands, general discomfort. Diagnosis is made roughly 6-12 weeks after infection. Anyone who is infected with HIV should only have safe sex using barrier protection and inform all previous partners about their infection.  This news can be psychologically devastating particularly given the fact that you need to disclose this information to friends and family.  There are help groups to support people although there is a stigma attached to the disease and the stereotyping of homosexuality and HIV/Aids.

Other types of sexually transmitted diseases include:

• Genital Herpes
• Genital Warts
• Syphilis

Works Cited

Dr Jeni Worden, GP and Dr Flemming Andersen. Sexually transmitted diseases. 16 2 2005. 18 12 2009 <http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/venerealdiseases.htm>.