Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are still spoken about in a very “hush-hush” manner in our society. A lot of people suffer silently because of the taboo and stigma associated with this topic. Even worse, the majority of people don't know about STDs. Worse, far from what we may expect, their prevalence is on the rise these days. So, it becomes imperative to talk about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and understand what you can do to prevent getting an STD. Remember that awareness is always better than ignorance.

STDs are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact which could be either vaginal, anal, or oral contact. Contrary to popular belief, men and women from all socioeconomic backgrounds may be affected by these infections.

Symptoms of STDs

So how do you know whether you have got an STD or not? Well, as the name indicates, these diseases may be acquired after sexual contact and hence you need to be aware of any unusual symptoms developing within a few hours or days of intercourse. Sometimes, if the infection has been persisting for a long time in one’s body, there may be spontaneous recurrence of symptoms even without intercourse and these people usually need a prolonged course of treatment to completely remove the disease from the body.

Hence, it is very important to be aware of the symptoms of STDs so that one can take corrective measures & seek medical advice as early as possible. The common symptoms include:

• Unusual vaginal discharge.
• Itching or redness in the vulva, perineum or anal region.
• Pain or burning sensation during intercourse.
• Urination that is painful or occurs frequently.
• Pain, itching, or bleeding in the anal region.
• Genital warts or sores i.e small, irregular eruptions in the genital area.
• Pain in the abdominal region, especially lower abdomen & above the pubic bone, pelvic region.
• Ulcers or eruptions in the vulva or perineal region.
• Unusual vaginal odour.
• Sometimes fever, vomiting, chills & shivering may be present in cases of severe disease.

Some people with STDs may not show any symptoms and as such, they may be unaware of their condition. They are known as asymptomatic carriers. However, remember that infections can still be transferred from an asymptomatic carrier to their sexual partner.

How does infection get transmitted from one person to another sexually?

Sexually transmitted diseases are transferred from one person to another through different modes

1. Intermingling of body fluids- Commonly, STDs are transferred from one sexual partner to another by the intermixing of body fluids like semen, vaginal secretions, saliva etc. These secretions may contain viruses or bacteria that may get transferred to the sexual partner & cause active disease in the partner. So any kind of sexual contact- vaginal/anal/oral can lead to the transfer of infection among sexual partners and cause an STD.
2. Transmission through blood- Many STDs like HIV, Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C, etc are transferred through body fluids as well as through contaminated blood. So one can get these diseases through sexual contact with an infected person or through the interchange of blood or blood products which may happen through infected blood transfusion or sharing of the needles/ razors etc between people.
3. Close skin to skin contact- Diseases like Herpes Simplex, Scabies, Syphilis, Chancroid, Molluscum Contagiosum etc are passed on from one person to another by close skin to skin contact which causes transfer of the virus, protozoa, or bacteria from one person to another. So anybody who has an open ulcer/ sore in the genital region, anus or near the mouth can transfer the causative organism to the person who is in close contact. Usually, prolonged contact is required for this kind of transfer but sometimes, short contact with a highly infectious person can lead to cross-infection. As such, the chances of transmission are higher for people living in crowded, unhygienic conditions or those who share the beddings, clothes, towels, etc.
4. Close personal contact- Diseases like Lice, Scabies, etc can be caused by the transfer of the pubic lice or mites from the infected partner to the other during sexual contact. Transfer can also occur through non-sexual routes like sharing the same bed/ clothes/ personal items etc.
5. Mother to Child Transmission- Certain diseases like Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis, HIV etc can be transferred from the mother to the unborn baby during pregnancy. Transmission can also happen during delivery when the baby gets exposed to the mother’s infected secretions during birth or occasionally during breastfeeding if there are open lesions/ cuts in the breast & nipple area of an infected mother.

Complications of STDs

STDs can be extremely bothersome & can significantly affect your quality of life. Although there are many treatments available and your doctor can help to relieve the symptoms & manage the condition, it is important to remember that some of the STDs for eg. HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, etc may not be completely cured ever and may persist for life. Besides, many diseases, even though treated once, may recur again if unhealthy sexual practices persist. However, remember that most STDs can be completely cured if treatment is initiated in time and hence it is important to consult your doctor & get tested if you are in an active sexual relationship. STD’s can cause various complications which include:

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
• Reproductive & fertility problems, difficulty in getting pregnant.
• Pregnancy complications include Ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, preterm delivery, birth defects in the baby, transfer of infection to the baby, growth restriction in baby, etc.
• Certain cancers such as cervical cancer & cancer of rectum/anus.
• The infection may spread to various other organs of the body & cause damage to the liver, heart, kidney, eyes, or brain

Prevention of STDs

As we discussed, many of these illnesses have very mild or maybe no obvious symptoms, and they can be passed from one person to another without being noticed. Importantly, these infections can be difficult to treat once they advance and some people may suffer from recurrent symptoms & repeated bouts of infections over months/years if the primary infection is not treated completely. This makes it necessary for us to be aware of the preventive steps that we can take to avoid getting an STD after sexual contact.

So, while contracting an STD is quite scary, there are some ways you can protect yourself against it.

• Well, of course, it seems that the best approach to avoid STDs is to avoid sexual contact. There are, however, ways to make vaginal, anal, or oral sex safer. Condoms provide good protection against several STDs when used appropriately. Condoms should always be used during vaginal, anal, and oral sex for maximum protection. However, remember that condoms cannot protect 100% against all STDs, and diseases such as Herpes, Scabies, Lice etc can still be passed between partners through skin-to-skin contact.
• Avoid having sexual contact with multiple partners.
• If you're dating someone new, wait until you've both been tested for STDs before having vaginal, oral or anal intercourse.
• Wash up before & after sexual contact to clear off & decrease the load of any infective agents that might have been cross transmitted
• Strictly avoid sharing towels, intimate clothing items, razors, etc with anybody else. Maintain good personal hygiene and try to avoid congested & crowded living conditions. Keep your living spaces clean & well ventilated, wash your clothes & dry them properly before use.
• Don't overindulge in alcoholic beverages or recreational substances. You're more prone to take sexual risks if you're intoxicated.
• Vaccination can help protect you against certain STDs. For example, HPV, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B are all preventable diseases with vaccines.
• If your sexual partner tests positive for an STD such as HIV, it's critical that they adhere to their doctor’s treatment plan. You should consult with a doctor and discuss preventive actions that you can take. Your doctor may recommend pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or Post Exposure Prophylaxis, which involves medications that HIV-negative people can take to lower their chance of catching the virus.
• Communication is key. Discuss openly with potential sexual partners about their sexual history.

STDs can be quite daunting. However, it is not a conversation that should be avoided. STDs can have serious implications on health in the long run. Therefore, always practice safe sex. Remember, prevention is always better than cure.