SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STD)

{NOW YOU CAN CHAT DIRECTLY WITH US VIA OUR FAN PAGE HERE ===> CHAT WITH FGICLINIC •WE REPLY WITHIN MINUTES•}

INTRODUCTION

PATIENT: Doctor I've been hearing of "sexually transmitted diseases" for a while now but I don't seem to have a good grasp of what it actually entails.

DOCTOR: Sexually Transmitted Diseases are simply those diseases that are transmitted through sexual intercourse from an infected person to his or her partner.

PATIENT: But I used to think that it is caused by using public toilets too often because ladies usually refer to it as "TOILET DISEASES"

DOCTOR: Very rarely, almost NEVER. In fact the term "Toilet Disease" does not exist in the medical world. Though can be transmitted through other means but not toilet. Let me explain what you should know to you.

.............................................................................................................................................

MISCONCEPTION

Most people refer to infections around the vaginal causing serious discharge as "toilets diseases" but it's not. you can read about NORMAL and ABNORMAL vaginal discharge  here ===> http://www.fgiclinic.com/2015/09/vaginal-discharge-what-it-means-and.html

WHAT CAUSES SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES?

Sexually transmitted diseases are caused by microorganisms;

1. viruses 
2. bacteria 
3. parasites

SO WHAT DISEASES DOES THESE MICRO ORGANISMS CAUSES?

VIRUSES are responsible for;

1. HIV/AIDS (Human immunodeficiency virus /Acquired immune deficiency syndrome) [Read about HIV/AIDS here ===> http://www.fgiclinic.com/2016/06/hivaids.html#more]
2. Genital Herpes- caused by herpes simplex virus. 
3. Hepatitis- caused by Hepatitis B and C virus.
4. Cervical cancer- caused by Human papilloma virus. 

BACTERIA are responsible for; 

1. Gonorrhoea
2. Syphilis

PARASITES are responsible for; 

1. Trichomoniasis

Sexually Transmitted Diseases is a big umbrella name for diseases that are worth discussing individually. 

WHO IS AT RISK OF THESE DISEASES?

Risk factors that are common to all STD are.

1. Having Multiple Sexual partner.
2. Having unprotected sexual intercourse with a partner that is not faithful to you. 

However some of these diseases listed above (especially viral diseases) can also be contracted through;

1. Transfusion of infected blood (e.g with HIV). This occurs when the person donating the blood (i.e the blood donor) is not properly screened (i.e tested) for the presence of the virus in his/her blood before tranfusing it to an uninfected person.
   
2. Sharing of sharps like pin, needles, razors.

   

   A Razor.

3. Babies of infected mothers can also get infected from their mums. This could occur during child birth and breastfeeding. 

HOW CAN STD BE PREVENTED?

The ABC strategy of prevention of STD.

1. ABSTINENCE- abstain from sexual intercourse.

2. BE FAITHFUL- being faithful to the partner that you're sure of his/her infection status.

3. CORRECT AND CONSISTENT USE OF CONDOM- Speaking of condom, Studies have shown that condoms cannot totally prevent diseases caused by Human Papilloma Virus.

Specific preventions for each disease, like vaccination (as in the case of hepatitis) will be discussed alongside it.

PATIENT: last question doc, is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) thesame as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)?

DOCTOR No it's not. When your body system is colonized by these microorganisms but you're not showing adverse effects to it, then it is STI. But by the time their colonization start to affect you adversely and impairing your function then it's STD.
Simply put, infections with these microorganisms if not detected and treated early enough will eventually lead to disease.

CONCLUSION

Sexually transmitted diseases is an umbrella name for diseases that are transmitted sexually. These diseases will be discussed into details individually under the label "Infectious Diseases". Thank you.