Sexually transmitted infections: signs of the most common STDs and treatments. What is an STD: List of Common Diseases and Symptoms What is an STD?

Quite widely known to everyone due to the method of its distribution. They have haunted humanity for centuries, perhaps millennia, causing serious illness, infertility, neonatal deformities, and untimely death. Doctors have learned to deal with some infections well, but some of them are still either curable in the early stages of the disease or still able to resist our efforts.

Before formulating a complete list of STIs, you need to find out what they are, what they threaten people with and how they affect the body.

Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, are passed from one sexual partner to an uninfected partner through unprotected intercourse in any form. The causative agents can be viruses, bacteria, fungi and.Quite often, a mixed form of infection is observed, especially in people who are promiscuous without protection, prone to antisocial behavior, drug addiction, and alcoholism.

Failure to understand the risk of contracting some types of STIs can cost a person dearly. They can lead to chronic inflammatory processes in the human genital area, cause miscarriage or impotence and prostatitis in men, lesions and the immune system, which can cause severe diseases, even fatal.

Some infections affect only the reproductive system, but they are also able to “settle” throughout the body and cause irreparable harm to health, affecting even the spinal cord and a person.

The only reliable protection against STIs can be caution and care when choosing a sexual partner, high-quality protection and timely full treatment if an infection is detected. Both partners need to be treated.

List of STIs: types, description and signs

The number of sexual infections includes diseases that enter the human body from the outside, from an infected partner, and those whose pathogens in the normal state constantly live on our skin and mucous membranes, without causing any harm. These microorganisms are called conditionally pathogenic flora.

As long as the body is healthy, and the immune system resists the onslaught of infection and keeps the number of microorganisms at a low, non-dangerous level, the disease does not occur. But with sexual contact with a carrier of the same or with a decrease in immunity, the number of pathogens increases sharply and the person falls ill. The well-known thrush, or candidiasis, can be attributed to the number of such diseases. Its pathogens are constantly present in the body of every person, but the disease occurs only when a number of conditions coincide.

A number of causative agents of sexually transmitted diseases are quite well treatable with modern drugs, but it is better to do this as early as possible, until the infection has caused serious inflammatory processes.

As a result, adhesions can occur that threaten a woman with infertility, lesions, unpleasant external rashes, and even oncological tumors. There are some STIs that, if left untreated, are fatal. This is , and . With timely and proper treatment, the life span of such patients can be extended for quite a considerable time.

Useful video - Signs of STDs.

The concept of STIs, or (sexually transmitted diseases) is somewhat broader than the concept of sexually transmitted diseases. "Diseases of Venus" are included in the list of sexually transmitted infections, as an integral part of it.

Full STI list:

• Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, or spirochete, has three stages and can be congenital. Able to affect the skin, mucous membranes, soft and bone tissues, the central nervous system. It is easily transmitted not only through sexual intercourse, but also through blood and household contacts with personal belongings of an infected patient - a carrier of treponema. It is manifested by a rash, ulcers, specific formations - chancres and gums. Secondary and tertiary syphilis can occur with a latent form. If left untreated, it leads to numerous health and mental problems, and then to death.
• Gonorrhea is caused by gonococci, affects the mucous membranes of the urethra and, and when the disease spreads, the bladder, conjunctival membranes, pharynx, and oral mucosa. Manifested by purulent discharge, burning and pain with, frequent visits to the bathroom. It can be acute and chronic.
• Trichomoniasis is very common in all countries of the world and can be transmitted in a household way. In men, it is manifested by painful urination, discharge with blood. In women, there is a sharp reddening of the vulva, burning, itching, copious discharge, pain during intercourse.
• caused by chlamydia and has a very secretive "character". Due to the absence of external manifestations, the level of infection is very high. With advanced forms, women may experience itching, pain and burning, as well as an unpleasantly smelling discharge. In men, burning and itching are mainly manifested when urinating.
• Mycoplasmosis is provoked by opportunistic microorganisms mycoplasmas, more often affects women, causing vaginosis, and inflammatory diseases of the internal genital organs.
• can be transmitted not only sexually, but also during childbirth from mother to newborn. Almost always passes without pronounced symptoms, but with a large number of ureaplasmas in men, signs of prostatitis may appear, classic symptoms of infection may occur - itching, burning and pain.
• Gardnerellosis is a type of bacterial vaginosis associated with the "crowding out" of lactobacilli and replacing them with gardnerella and some other microorganisms. It has several ways of appearance, not only sexual. A very common condition.
• Candidiasis, or thrush, is also extremely common and can occur without external intervention, such as the use of antibiotics. It is manifested by abundant curdled discharge, severe itching, irritation and inflammation. It can affect not only the genitals, but also the oral cavity.
• The human papillomavirus () is transmitted sexually and domestically, has many varieties, some of which are capable of causing cancer and others provoke the formation of genital warts on the genital and anal mucosa. It is manifested by the appearance of wart-like formations on the skin and mucous membranes, which can be single or turn into continuous zones of damage.
• Cytomegalovirus is spread by sexual and household means, through various bodily fluids. It is asymptomatic, especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it affects.
• spreads not only sexually, but also through any contact with infected blood. Develops slowly, affects the immune system, causing AIDS. Patients most often die from secondary infections that have joined, for example, from pneumonia, since the patient's immune system killed by the virus does not resist.
• also have many ways of distribution, including sexual. With these dangerous diseases, a change in structure and functioning occurs, which is manifested by a series of characteristic symptoms.
• Lymphogranuloma venereum affects the skin and lymph nodes of an infected person. It is rare in Europe and the Russian Federation, since the main region of its distribution is Africa, South America. Asia and India. It is caused by a special type of chlamydia, manifested by vesicles, ulcers, inflammation of the lymph nodes, fever, headache and indigestion.

As can be seen from the list, some infections are of a viral nature (CMV, herpes, papillomatosis and condylomatosis, hepatitis, HIV and others), fungal (candidiasis), bacterial (gonorrhea), or provoked by protozoa (ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis and others). Accordingly, treatment should be selected for a specific pathogen. For mixed infections, combined treatment is used.

STIs (sexually transmitted infections)- a group of diseases that are transmitted from person to person through sexual contact. They affect not only the genitals, but the entire body, and often lead to serious consequences.

STIs have been known to mankind since ancient times, but over time, the number of cases of infection does not decrease, but rather grows. As "familiar" infections are overcome, new ones appear. Almost everyone is at risk, regardless of gender and social status.

Modern medicine has about 30 infections that can be attributed to STIs. Most of them can be asymptomatic, and this makes them very dangerous for the health of various organs and systems.

Kinds

STDs are classified according to the pathogen. In total, there are 4 types of genital infections:

• bacterial;
• viral;
• fungal;
• protozoan.

Ways of transmission of STDs

STIs are spread sexually - vaginal, oral, or anal. The gender of a person does not matter - they can go from a man to a woman, from a woman to a man, from a man to another man, or from a woman to another woman.

Many sexually transmitted infections can be spread through any contact between the genitals, mouth, and anus, even if there is no penetration. For example, genital herpes is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact - microdamages on its surface are enough for infection.

Some STIs are transmitted in other ways. For example, HIV and hepatitis B are transmitted through the sharing of injection needles and blood transfusions.

The use of barrier methods of contraception is not always a guarantee of safety. When using condoms for safer sex, it is important to follow the instructions on the packaging. Proper use of condoms makes them more effective. The following precautions must be observed:

• check the expiration date and integrity of the packaging;
• wear a condom before sex, not during it;
• use lubricant during intercourse with a condom;
• correctly remove and dispose of the condom;
• never take off the condom and try to put it back on;
• never reuse a condom.

Symptoms

There are seven main signs that point to an STI. If they are found, you should immediately consult a doctor: gynecologist or urologist. The doctor will conduct an initial examination and prescribe further tests and examinations.

The presence of an STI may be indicated by:

• rashes and redness in the intimate area;
• swollen lymph nodes.

There are quite a few sexually transmitted infections, and each of them manifests itself in different ways. To describe them, you need a whole medical reference book. Here we will consider only the most common STIs that every person on the planet can contract, regardless of gender, age and social status.

Syphilis- an infectious disease that has been known to mankind since ancient times. The causative agent is a bacterium called pallidum spirochete. You can get syphilis through any sexual contact. The first symptoms appear 10 days after infection - a hard chancre occurs on the genitals or perineum (less often on other parts of the body). Over time, similar rashes appear in the oral cavity and on the fingers. There is a significant increase in lymph nodes, especially inguinal and cervical.

In total, there are three stages of syphilis. In the absence of timely treatment, the disease can become more severe. As a result, ulcers spread throughout the body, including the mucous membranes. The patient is concerned about inflammatory processes, headaches, aching bones, deterioration in general well-being. In the third stage, meningitis can occur - inflammation of the membranes of the brain. Complications of syphilis can lead to paralysis and even death.

Chlamydia is one of the most insidious sexually transmitted diseases. Most people in the early stages of the disease have virtually no symptoms. In women, they are less noticeable than in men, and may not appear at all. However, chlamydia is one of the main causes that leads to ectopic pregnancy, inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs and female infertility.

In male patients, chlamydia presents with a number of characteristic symptoms. They are disturbed by cutting pain during ejaculation and urination. This is due to inflammation of the epididymis and urethra caused by bacteria.

Gonorrhea - another fairly common STI, especially among people aged 15 to 24 years. Like chlamydia, it can be spread through oral, vaginal, or anal contact. And just like with chlamydia, most infected women do not notice any symptoms in the early stages. However, in men, gonorrhea appears almost immediately. Patients are concerned about purulent discharge from the urethra, painful and frequent urination, discomfort in the anus.

In the absence of timely treatment of gonorrhea, complications arise. Women experience spotting after sex and cutting pain during it, the body temperature rises and the general condition of the body worsens. Gonorrhea at any stage requires prompt and effective treatment.

Trichomoniasis- a bacterial infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. At first, the disease does not show itself. The first symptoms appear about two weeks after infection. Men feel a burning sensation in the urethra, discharge from the penis may appear.

In women, trichomoniasis is more pronounced. Patients are concerned about pain during intercourse, which is due to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the genital organs. One of the characteristic symptoms is a thick yellow-green discharge from the vagina with an unpleasant odor.

Genital herpes- a viral disease with an extremely high susceptibility. It is transmitted not only through sexual intercourse, but also through skin-to-skin contact. The causative agent is herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). A day after infection, small bubbles appear on the external genitalia. They are accompanied by itching and slight tingling. In the next few days, the vesicles turn into painful sores, fever and swollen lymph nodes are observed.

Rashes are only the visible part of the disease. Even after their disappearance, the herpes virus remains in the body for life. The lack of treatment in pregnant women can lead to serious complications, up to the death of the fetus.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)- Sexually transmitted viruses. HPV types 16 and 18 are one of the main causes of cervical cancer in women. Regardless of gender, the disease manifests itself in the same way - in the form of small warts in the perineum and anus. In men, they can hide behind the foreskin and in the urethra. Asymptomatic course of the disease is not excluded. In this case, the presence of infection can be found out only with the help of special tests.

Ureaplasmosis- a disease that is prone to a chronic course. The causative agent is a single-celled microorganism called ureaplasma. Modern medicine classifies it as a conditionally pathogenic flora. This means that a small amount of ureaplasma is also present in a healthy person. The disease begins when the microbes become active and multiply rapidly, thereby crowding out the healthy microflora.

The first symptoms appear after 14-20 days. Patients have inflammation of the genitourinary system, burning during urination, cloudy discharge from the vagina. Women may be bothered by pain in the lower abdomen and cervicitis. Over time, the disease becomes chronic, which entails many complications:

• stricture (narrowing) of the urethra;
• cystitis, etc.

Untimely treatment of infection often leads to infertility, missed pregnancy and premature birth.

Mycoplasmosis - like ureaplasmosis, it is caused by conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that can be in the body of a healthy person in a "sleeping" state. However, sometimes mycoplasmas provoke a number of diseases of the genitourinary system. In women, they are manifested by pulling pains in the lower abdomen, burning during urination and pain during sexual intercourse.

HIV or human immunodeficiency virus - the most dangerous sexually transmitted disease. HIV makes itself felt far from immediately - the incubation period of the disease lasts from 21 to 90 days. Symptoms occur only at the stage of manifestation of the infectious process.

Patients complain of inflammation of the lymph nodes, chronic weakness, headaches and loss of appetite. A characteristic symptom of HIV is inflammation of the palatine tonsils (tonsillitis), which does not go away for a long time. In patients, the body temperature rises to 37-37.5 degrees, while it is not possible to normalize it with the help of antipyretics.

The absence of antiretroviral therapy has an extremely negative effect on the patient's condition. The body is attacked by all kinds of viral and bacterial diseases: pneumonia, herpes, tuberculosis, candidiasis. As a result, AIDS develops.

Diagnostics

There are a lot of pathogens that are included in the STI group. Modern medicine offers many diagnostic methods with which you can detect them and prescribe an effective treatment regimen. Conventionally, they can be divided into several groups:

• microscopic methods;
• cultural methods or crops;
• DNA diagnostics.

After detecting symptoms that indicate the presence of a sexual infection, you should immediately consult a doctor. Women should make an appointment with a gynecologist, male patients with a urologist. If there are clear signs of a sexually transmitted disease (chancres or other rashes on the genitals), you need to go to a venereologist.

Despite the extensive choice of diagnostic methods, an accurate laboratory method does not yet exist. If STIs are suspected, one method cannot be dispensed with - most often they are used in combination for the most reliable result. Often the diagnosis takes a lot of time on the part of the patient.

The first thing a person who is concerned about the symptoms of a sexual infection should do is to take a smear for microflora. This is a standard procedure, which is also performed during a routine examination by a gynecologist or urologist. In men, a swab is taken from the urethra, in women - from the vagina and urethra.

The simplest methods also include bacterial culture. The doctor takes a certain amount of genital secretion for analysis. The taken material is placed in a nutrient medium that promotes the rapid reproduction of bacteria: both “correct” and pathogenic.

In addition to microbiological analysis, if necessary, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is prescribed. With it, you can identify antibodies with which the body fights STIs. For some diseases that affect the entire body (syphilis, HIV), a blood test is performed (HIV determination and Wasserman reaction).

The most accurate diagnostic method is PCR (polymerase chain reaction). It allows you to identify hidden diseases characterized by an asymptomatic course. The infection is detected by DNA testing. This method is effective for suspected HPV and other diseases that can be in the body in a “sleeping” state for a long time.

In addition to examining highly specialized specialists, patients with STIs may sometimes need the help of other doctors. Some diseases affect not only the genitourinary system, but also other organs. This applies to infections such as:

• syphilis;
• HPV, herpes, etc.

They can affect vision, joints, skin, circulatory system, anus. Depending on the type of complications, it is necessary to contact an immunologist, proctologist, dermatologist, infectious disease specialist and other specialists.

It is important to remember that in the case of STIs, only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Many diseases have almost identical symptoms, so self-medication can only aggravate the situation and lead to dangerous complications.

Treatment

Treatment of STIs implies an individual and comprehensive approach to each patient. The main treatments include the following therapies:

• antibacterial;
• immunostimulating;
• antiviral;
• physiotherapy;
• vitamin therapy.

Effective treatment is impossible without a combination of several of its types. It should be aimed at correcting the state of the whole organism, and not just the genitals. Local treatment gives only a short-term result and, as a rule, does not get rid of the infection by 100%.

A stable therapeutic effect can be achieved with the help of complex drug therapy. In this case, local antibacterial agents (candles, creams, gels or ointments) and oral medications for oral administration are prescribed. Sometimes invasive treatments such as injections or drips may be needed.

Before taking any medication, it is necessary to pass tests for susceptibility to antibiotics. Modern pharmacology offers a huge selection of antibiotics against STIs of various forms of release and price category. But not all of them are equally effective - it is necessary to select drugs based on individual factors. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to self-medicate.

Properly selected treatment with antibiotics and antiviral drugs lasts from 7 to 10 days. In the case when the disease takes a chronic form, therapy is extended to 21 days. As a rule, at the time of treatment, the patient is shown sexual rest. Sometimes a second course of therapy may be prescribed, but the treatment regimen changes.

Both partners must be treated, otherwise re-infection cannot be avoided. Do not be shy about sexually transmitted diseases - it is easy to get infected with them and every person who is sexually active is at risk. The main method of prevention is trusting sexual relations, the rejection of promiscuity and the use of barrier contraception. Even after a complete cure, it is necessary to pass a control smear and undergo regular examinations.

To date, according to the World Health Organization, the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are trichomoniasis, chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, and herpes. WHO statistics show that every day more than 1 million people become infected with STIs. HIV infection can also be attributed to this group of diseases, however, it stands somewhat apart, if only because this disease is incurable. Very often, STIs enter the body along with HIV, so they develop side by side. We will examine the interaction of HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases in this article.

Trichomoniasis

About 300 million people fall ill with this disease every year. It is called by protozoa, which are called Trichomonas vaginalis. If this disease is detected in one of the partners, it is necessary to check the second one as well, since the pathogens take root very easily on the mucous membranes.

Studies show that women with trichomoniasis are at twice the risk of contracting HIV. Biologically, this is explained by the fact that in trichomoniasis, CD4 lymphocytes and macrophages, which are the main targets of HIV, actively fight pathogens. Scientists say that when trichomoniasis is treated, the risk of infection is reduced.

Prevention of trichomoniasis is the exclusion of promiscuity, the use of a condom, and ideally, fidelity to one partner.

Chlamydia

You can become infected with this disease through sexual contact, both classic - vaginal and anal. It is very dangerous due to the fact that it usually proceeds without symptoms. A person can carry this disease for years and not suspect that he is sick. And if detected late, it can lead to serious complications.

Urogenital chlamydia significantly increases the chances of HIV infection. In addition, weakened HIV immunity is much more difficult to resist chlamydia, which means that it is much more difficult to treat it.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

In total, there are more than 100 types of the virus that affect the skin and mucous membranes. The most dangerous for humans are HPV types 16 and 18. Not all types of HPV are transmitted through sexual contact. But those that are transmitted can cause papillomas on the genitals, both in men and women. In addition, HPV can cause bowel cancer and other serious diseases.

With HIV infection, HPV becomes very widespread in the body, and it becomes very difficult to treat it. Studies show that more than 25% of HIV-positive people are diagnosed with cervical dysplasia and invasive carcinomas.

Gonorrhea

This disease is also transmitted sexually, if one of the partners has a gonococcus, the causative agent of the disease. When infected, the genitourinary system is primarily affected, however, some other organs also suffer: eyes, oral cavity and pharynx, joints, etc.

People with gonorrhea more than double their risk of contracting HIV. This is due to the fact that rashes occur on the surface of the genital organs with gonorrhea, which greatly facilitate the entry of HIV into the body.

Avoiding the complications associated with STDs can be very simple - use condoms, both the most common male and female, which are not yet popular. Casual and promiscuity should also be avoided. And if such prevention is used, then the likelihood of HIV infection will be significantly reduced.

Venereal diseases are the group of the most common pathologies on the planet. They often have a latent course, they do not manifest themselves in any way. To denote the pathologies of this group, the abbreviation STD is often used - what kind of pathology it is, how it manifests itself, patients do not always know.

What is an STD?

Venereologists often use the term STI in everyday life - what kind of disease it is, how it manifests itself, patients may not even guess. This term stands for infections that are predominantly sexually transmitted. Today in medicine, the abbreviation STDs are more often used - sexually transmitted diseases. The fact is that not all pathologies have an infectious origin.

At the moment, doctors have identified and described about 30 types of STDs. According to existing statistics, about 1 million people fall ill with this type of disease every day. The main route of infection is sexual, but this does not exclude the possibility of transmission of the pathogen by contact and household. Most STDs have a sluggish onset, latent symptoms, and therefore are detected at the height of the disease.

What diseases are sexually transmitted?

Sexually transmitted diseases are conventionally divided into several groups, according to the type of pathogen:

1. Viral infections- one of the pathologies dangerous in their consequences. Common diseases in this group include:

• Hepatitis B;
• genital herpes;
• cytomegalovirus;
• molluscum contagiosum;

2. Bacterial infections- provoked by bacterial microorganisms:

• gonorrhea;
• inguinal granuloma;
• venereal lymphogranuloma.

3. fungal- provoked by a colony of multiplying fungi: candidiasis.

4. Protozoan- provoked by the simplest microorganisms: trichomoniasis.

STIs - a list of infections in women

It should be noted that women are more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections than men. So, with a single unprotected intercourse, the probability of infection for a woman is 50%, and for the representatives of the stronger sex - 25%. This difference in the body's susceptibility to sexual infections is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the genitourinary system in women. Among the common in the first place, experts put forward fungal diseases, sexually transmitted diseases (candidiasis).

The list of the most commonly reported STDs in women is as follows:

• chlamydia;
• ureplasmosis;
• mycoplasmosis;
• syphilis;
• herpes;
• gardnerellosis.

List of STIs in men

Sexually transmitted diseases are more common in men than in women. This is often due to higher sexual activity, the presence of several sexual partners at the same time. At the same time, STDs (what this is described in the article) do not always have a stormy clinical picture: the disease can occur in episodes, with periods of exacerbation and recovery. This greatly complicates the effective therapy of diseases. Among the sexual infections more common in men:

• gonorrhea;
• syphilis;
• chlamydia;
• genital herpes;
• ureaplasmosis.

STD symptoms

The clinical picture of STDs is varied. There are no single symptoms, the presence of which allows you to accurately determine the pathology. Often, STIs, the list of infections is given above, have hidden symptoms, a sluggish course, so patients do not attach importance to temporary deterioration in general well-being.

It is worth noting that most sexually transmitted diseases have an incubation period - the symptoms of STIs appear after a while from infection. The lack of competent and timely medical care causes the transition of pathology to a chronic, latent stage, with a minimum of symptoms. Symptoms of STDs (what it is indicated above) may differ in symptoms in men and women.

STDs - symptoms in women

Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases in the fair sex are directly related to changes in the vaginal environment. The introduction of a pathogen into the reproductive system disrupts the microflora of the vagina, resulting in abnormal vaginal discharge. They are abundant, often yellow or green, foamy, with impurities and an unpleasant odor. By the nature of the discharge, in some cases it is possible to suggest the type of pathological process. Other symptoms of STDs in women include:

• itching and burning in the vulva;
• painful urination;
• pain in the lower abdomen, lower back;
• the appearance of rashes in the vulva;
• pain during sexual intercourse;
• the appearance of bleeding, not associated with menstruation.

STDs - symptoms in men

The first signs of sexually transmitted diseases appear in men some time after infection. The incubation period of STDs can last up to 14 days, the intensity, severity of symptoms is often inferior to the nature of STD symptoms in women. In general, the severity of the signs of the disease depends on the type of pathogen and the state of the male immune system. Among the main signs of the development of STDs (what it is, named above) in men:

• discharge of white or yellow color from the opening of the urethra with an unpleasant odor;
• severe itching and burning when urinating;
• frequent urge to urinate;
• rash, redness on various parts of the body, often in the inguinal region;
• pulling pain in the lower abdomen or in the testicles;
• ulcers, growths on the glans penis, foreskin.

Tests for STDs

It is impossible to independently identify the presence of the disease. Sexual infections often have blurred symptoms or are disguised as other pathologies. In order to accurately diagnose, establish the type of pathogen, a comprehensive examination for STIs is prescribed. The need for its passage arises in the presence of the following factors indicating a high risk of infection:

• feeling of discomfort, burning or pain during urination, pathological discharge from the genitals;
• identification of STIs in a sexual partner;
• having casual sex.

Diagnosis of STDs is carried out according to clinical manifestations and laboratory results. Testing for STIs is done using the following body fluids:

• blood;
• discharge from the vagina or urethra;
• smear.

STD tests for women

To identify the type of pathogen in case of suspected STDs (what kind of disease we have already considered), doctors prescribe several types of laboratory tests. PCR and ELISA are used as the main ones, as the most accurate and sensitive tests. They help not only to establish the presence of a pathogen in the body, but also to determine its type by fragments of the pathogen's genetic material. In this case, a sample of venous blood is used for research.

For a quick diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections, a swab for STIs in women is often prescribed. After taking the material, it is subjected to microscopy or placed on nutrient media. Bacterial culture helps to establish the type of pathogen, the size of its colony and the stage of development of the pathogen. The material is taken from the mucous membrane of the vagina and urethra.

STD tests for men

To determine genital infections in men, the same diagnostic methods are used as in women. At the same time, PCR for STIs is one of the main ways to detect latent forms of the disease. As a material for research, venous blood or discharge from the urethra is used. The sampling is carried out by scraping, when a sterile stick with a brush at the end is inserted into the urethra. The resulting sample is placed in a sterile tube, labeled and sent to the laboratory. The test for STDs in men is carried out using:

• bacterial culture.

STD treatment

STD therapy is a long, multi-stage process, the success of which depends on the correct diagnosis and timely detection of the disease. Treatment is always carried out in a complex manner, the selection of drugs, dosages is carried out on the basis of the results of the tests. Antibiotics are used as the main means of therapy. Sexually transmitted viral diseases are treated with antiviral agents.

Consequences of STDs

Regardless of the gender of the patient, complications in the absence of therapy are possible in men and women. At the same time, their nature, severity and frequency of development have differences. Among the main consequences of STDs in men, doctors call:

• inflammation of the genitourinary system: urethritis, prostatitis, cystitis;
• narrowing of the urethra (stricture);
• reproductive dysfunction;
• decreased sex drive.

Complications are more common in women. Of particular concern to doctors are STIs during pregnancy. The presence of infection adversely affects not only the condition of the pregnant woman, but also the development of the fetus. According to observations, in 40% of the presence of syphilis during pregnancy, spontaneous abortion develops. Other effects of sexually transmitted infections in women include:

• infertility;
• inflammation of the internal genital organs (oophoritis, salpingitis, adnexitis, vaginitis)
• changes in the uterus and cervix;
• violation of the pregnancy process: miscarriage, fetal fading, premature birth.

Prevention of STDs

Prevention of STIs is based on the timely visit to the doctor, the passage of preventive examinations. Early diagnosis of genital infections eliminates the risk of complications.

Diseases that can be contracted through sexual contact are dangerous for both men and women. First of all, infections affect the organs of the genitourinary system. A sick person not only suffers himself, but is also a source of infection for those with whom he has sexual intercourse, and sometimes even just contacts in everyday life. Many STDs have hidden symptoms. Some pathogens are able to spread through the blood throughout the body, which leads to severe, often irreparable consequences. An important role is played by the early diagnosis of such infections.

Content:

General characteristics of STDs

The prevalence of diseases transmitted to people through sexual contact is due to the fact that the symptoms of infection appear only after 1-4 weeks after sex. All this time, the carrier of the infection is able to transmit it to other people, without even suspecting that he is contagious. The incubation period can be much longer, and sometimes the disease is almost asymptomatic until complications arise.

The infectiousness of diseases transmitted mainly through sexual contact is very high. In women, the risk of infection is increased due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the genitourinary organs. The likelihood of the disease increases with repeated intercourse with the same infected partner or with contacts with different sexual partners. The most important factor that increases the body's susceptibility to sexual infections is the weakening of the immune system. Therefore, the likelihood of infection is increased in pregnant women or in people who have undergone any operations (especially if organ implantation has been performed, after which drugs that reduce immunity are usually prescribed).

Addition: Adolescents are at an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. About the signs and consequences of such diseases, even many adults have only a vague idea. What to say about boys and girls who are just beginning to gain sexual experience. They receive information about the prevention of diseases mainly from each other.

Ways of spread of infections

Transmission of STIs from one person to another is possible in the following ways:

1. Sexually. Moreover, the likelihood of infection is high with any method of sexual contact.
2. In contact with areas of the patient's skin on which there are characteristic rashes or sores.
3. Through contaminated blood. For example, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis can be contracted from a dentist, surgeon, gynecologist when using insufficiently sterile instruments, as well as when transfusing blood, using syringes and reusable needles. The risk of infection by the hematogenous route is especially high among homosexuals and drug addicts.
4. Household way when using common towels, washcloths, bed linen. Such infection occurs much less frequently, since most STD pathogens quickly die outside the human body, and their transmission requires direct bodily contact with the patient.

Intrauterine infection of the fetus or when it passes through the birth canal is possible, as well as infection of the baby if infected adults are caring for it.

What is the danger of STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases vary in severity. Some of them (for example, gardnerellosis, thrush, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis) are quite easily curable. Their pathogens are considered conditionally pathogenic, that is, they are present in the healthy microflora of organs. They have a morbid effect only when the content is excessive, and one of the mandatory methods of treatment is the appointment of drugs containing lactobacilli, which normalize the composition of the microflora. Other STDs, such as HIV or advanced syphilis, are deadly and have no cure.

There are sexually transmitted infections that remain permanently in the human body (for example, herpes viruses or HPV). Often, they do not pose an immediate threat to life, but they occur with frequent painful relapses. The human papillomavirus can cause genital warts and cervical cancer.

Getting into the genitals of a woman, the infection causes the development of severe inflammatory processes in the uterus and appendages. The consequences may be the inability to become pregnant or miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy, complicated childbirth. In addition, infection of a pregnant woman affects the intrauterine development of the fetus and the health of the child in the future.

The consequences of sexually transmitted diseases are not only physical suffering, but also a complication of sexual life.

Types of sexually transmitted infections

Currently, there are approximately 30 known sexually transmitted infections. According to the type of pathogens, they are divided into the following types:

The most common diseases in women are gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, genital herpes, bacterial vaginosis, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis. In men, infection with syphilis, gonorrhea, genital herpes, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis is most often observed.

Symptoms in men and women. When a visit to the doctor is required

The severity of the symptoms of such diseases may depend on the general health of the woman or man, individual susceptibility to infection, the number and degree of activity of pathogens that have affected the body. Sometimes the presence of one infection (for example, fungal) provokes the reproduction of other pathogens transmitted through sexual contact, which complicates the symptoms.

Symptoms in women

The development of various sexually transmitted infectious and inflammatory diseases leads to a change in the vaginal environment and damage to the mucous membranes of the external and internal genital organs, as well as the urinary tract. Manifestations of such processes can be:

• burning and itching in the vulva and vagina;
• pain and increased urination;
• the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back;
• pain during sexual intercourse;
• violation of the nature of menstruation and the appearance of bleeding between them;
• the appearance of unusual rashes or ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes.

Particular attention should be paid to vaginal discharge. If they become plentiful, foamy, have a yellow-green color due to impurities of pus, a sharp unpleasant odor appears, it is necessary to undergo an examination.

Symptoms in men

When infected with infections transmitted during sex, after a while, just like in women, inflammation of the urethra (urethritis), bladder (cystitis) develops. In addition, the process in men extends to the prostate gland and genitals. This leads to pain in the scrotum and testicles. It becomes painful urination, sexual intercourse. Pus exudes from the urethra.

The severity of symptoms is often weaker than in women. Often, inflammatory diseases in men occur in a latent (hidden) form. This does not reduce the degree of contagiousness and severity of the consequences of such diseases.

What to do if you suspect an infection

It is necessary to pay attention to the appearance of alarming signs and symptoms, even if a decent amount of time has passed since the "doubtful" sexual relationship. If infection is suspected, women should contact a gynecologist as soon as possible, men - to an andrologist, urologist. If a rash is found, it is necessary to visit a dermatovenerological dispensary and be tested for sexually transmitted infections.

Many clinics have anonymous rooms where you can undergo an express examination and get advice from a dermatologist-venereologist about treatment.

Video: By what signs can you guess about infection with sexually transmitted diseases

Overview of the most common diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases often occur together in a person. So, for example, syphilis is often accompanied by gonorrhea, and thrush or gardnerellosis facilitate the reproduction in a weakened body of many other infections transmitted during sex.

HIV infection

HIV infection leads to suppression of the immune system. The disease lasts for years, the person's condition invariably worsens. The last stage of the disease is AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The patient develops severe bacterial, fungal and other infections that a healthy body can easily cope with.

Without maintenance therapy, irreversible changes occur in the tissues of vital organs, numerous malignant tumors are formed. AIDS is often fatal. Drugs used in the last stages of the disease can only slightly alleviate the symptoms.

Syphilis

This is one of the sexually transmitted diseases known since ancient times. The causative agent is the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The disease develops in stages.

The incubation period continues depending on the state of immunity for 3-30 days. However, there are no signs of infection.

primary syphilis. On the genitals (in women on the labia or in the vagina, in men - on the penis or foreskin), a small round ulcer of a dense consistency (hard chancre) appears, which does not increase in size, but does not heal either. It can also appear on 1 or 3 fingers, in the mouth or on the lips. Sometimes there are symptoms of angina (sore throat, high fever). But unlike it, inflammation of the tonsil occurs only on one side. Swollen lymph nodes near the ulcer or inflammation. Primary syphilis is cured with antibiotics.

Secondary syphilis. It develops approximately 2-4 months after infection. At the same time, a rash appears on different parts of the body, the patient has a fever. Not only the nearest, but also distant lymph nodes increase and become painful. Hair loss on the head begins, extensive merging warts appear on the genitals and in the anus.

Tertiary syphilis. Bones (in particular, the bones of the face), skin, nervous system, and internal organs are affected. Tumors (gummas) appear in various parts of the body in soft tissues, and syphilitic meningitis develops. Damage to the brain leads to deterioration of vision and hearing, loss of the ability to normal orientation in space. Often, the aggravation of the disease ends in the death of the patient.

Gonorrhea (clapper)

Typical manifestations of this disease in women and men are abundant purulent discharge. In women, they appear due to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the vagina, cervix and uterine cavity, as well as tubes and ovaries. In men, inflammation of the epididymis, as well as the prostate and seminal vesicles, leads to the development of impotence and infertility.

Possible damage to the rectum gonococci, mucous membranes of the eyes.

The incubation period averages 4-7 days. In some women, the symptoms of the disease may be absent for a long time, then menstrual irregularities appear, bleeding between periods, and infertility develops.

Trichomoniasis

Activation of Trichomonas that have entered the mucous membranes of the urogenital organs occurs approximately 5-21 days after infection. As a result, intense yellowish-white discharge with an unpleasant odor appears. Typical symptoms are also itching and burning in the genitals, especially during urination. Inflammation of the uterus, ovaries and urinary tract in women can go into the peritoneum and cause peritonitis.

In men, sometimes the symptoms of the disease are smoothed out. The development of infection in the body is indicated by weak purulent discharge from the urethra, decreased potency, soreness and frequent urination.

Chlamydia

The incubation period lasts from several days to 1 month, after which the acute stage of the disease begins. There are signs of purulent inflammation of the genitourinary organs, and among them - abundant discharge of greenish mucus.

In women, inflammation of the uterus and appendages occurs. There are pains in the lower abdomen and in the lower back. There may be bleeding between periods. Infection with chlamydia leads to pregnancy complications or infertility.

In men, inflammation of the testicles (orchitis), prostate gland (prostatitis) can develop, which leads to a weakening of potency.

Infected people of both sexes develop cystitis and urethritis. Inflammation can spread to other internal organs (spleen, liver), as well as to bones and blood vessels. Possible damage to the conjunctiva and as a result - loss of vision.

Video: How to get infected with chlamydia. Possible consequences

Genital herpes

You can become infected with herpes viruses when you have vaginal or anal intercourse with a partner who has herpes sores in the genitals or in the rectum. Sometimes there are no external signs of infection, but the person is an asymptomatic virus carrier. During oral sex, herpes viruses can enter the genitals and the surrounding area.

Painful bursting vesicles appear at the site of the lesion. The resulting ulcers do not heal for a long time. Outbreaks of the disease are periodically repeated, accompanied by fever, aching muscles, and sometimes a sore throat.

Infection can occur during fetal development or during the passage of the child through the birth canal. Sometimes this leads to a deadly condition in a newborn. In order to reduce the risk of infection during childbirth, a woman is given a caesarean section.

Cytomegalovirus infection

The causative agent belongs to the herpesvirus family. In an infected person, the virus is found in semen, genital mucus, and other body fluids (urine, saliva, breast milk, tears, and blood). In most healthy adults, the infection does not manifest itself in any way. With a deficiency of immunity, viruses infect the salivary glands, penetrate into the lymph nodes. Atherosclerosis and hypertension are provoked.

In adult patients, complications are hepatitis, inflammation of the colon, esophagus, lungs, brain (development of encephalitis). Infection with cytomegalovirus accelerates the growth of malignant tumors.

STD diagnosis

To detect sexually transmitted diseases, blood and urine tests are usually performed. Smears from the external genital organs, from the cervix in women, and also from the urethra in men are examined. A secret from the prostate gland is taken for analysis. Methods such as bacterioscopy (detection of microorganisms under a microscope), seeding of biomaterial to determine the type of bacteria and their sensitivity to antibiotics are used. The most accurate methods for determining the type of infections transmitted through sex are a genetic blood test (PCR) and the detection of antibodies to pathogens by ELISA. The same methods control the process of treatment.

Video: STD symptoms. How is the diagnosis carried out

Measures to prevent infection

It is possible to completely avoid infection only by refusing sexual contact. To reduce the risk of infection, casual sex should be avoided. It is desirable to have a permanent partner who can be trusted. Either way, it won't hurt to be vigilant. If a person with whom an intimate relationship is supposed to have suspicious external signs indicating a possible sexually transmitted disease, it is better not to risk it and refuse to have sex.

When engaging in sexual intercourse with an unfamiliar person, a condom should be used. An important role is played by personal hygiene, the use of antiseptic agents for the treatment of the genitals after intercourse.