A Sexual Health Guide and What You Should Know About Screening for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Introduction: There is a lot of misunderstanding and blind sides to many people’s knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). For STD Evaluations and STD Screening, they can consist of several elements that involve personal history, exposure events and how they occurred, and the presence of possible symptoms. Some are suspected and then investigated when symptoms of a directing nature are present, some are screened for due to risk assessment, or concern over exposures.
Abstaining from sex, is of course a completely certain way of avoiding STDs, however this is either not a desired or practical possibility for most of us. The next best way of avoiding STDs is to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected. Using latex condoms, when they are used consistently and correctly, can substantially reduce the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. When one is not in a mutually monogmaous relationship, the best advice is the same piece of advice the Ring Referee gives two Boxers about to begin in their pugilistic contest; PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES-Use condoms at all time
Most patients present to physicians to be considered for STD screening after they have symptoms that may suggest a problem, or after they have had a sexual exposure that has raised this concern for them. Studies have shown that doctors don’t approach the issue enough. Sometimes you can understand why. When a person comes into to see their physician for a cold, cough, or back pain, some patients may find it unusual that a doctor begins taking a sexual history, but these are the times when it could most matter for patients. Many doctors, however, are quite busy and cannot afford the time to take a sexual history when their patients come in for complaints unrelated to STDs. When considering a physician consultation for STD concerns, it is important that you try to find a physician who can deal with your concerns fully, in a non-judgemental way. Most doctors should acknowledge that it is very personal information, but the information gained in a proper and thorough sexual history will help a physician examine you better and will determine where to check for infections and what tests to perform to address your concerns.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is the virus that causes the most anxiety when one is screened for STDs, because of its devastating and chronic attack on the human immune system, slowly crippling the immune system that protects us from all infections and leading to the syndrome known as Aquired Immuned Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Volumes can be written about the HIV virus. HIV transmission can occur with unprotected intercourse from infected partners. There are known high risk behaviors, such as unprotected anal sex and IV drug use with shared needles. HIV tends to occur within networks of casual sexual relations--that is, seeing two or more partners in a continuing fashion and without the use of condoms. I have performed many consultations for concern regarding oral sex in relation to HIV transmission. The HIV virus is inactivated by the oral environment and saliva and it would be extremely rare for HIV to occur by oral sex (although it is not 100% risk free as there are remote possibilities of blood-to-blood exposure, or blood-to-wound exposures). HIV is routinely screened for with blood testing for antibodies against the virus. When a person is concerned about a particular exposure, the sooner you can see your physician to determine the risk of the exposure, the better. HIV tends to occur within networks of casual sexual relations, and thus keeping yourself out of extended sexual networks with multiple partners simultaneously is important.
Chlamydia is a common STD caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. This bacteria can damage a woman's reproductive organs. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur before a woman ever recognizes a problem. Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about three quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure. Women who do have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry fertilized eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others might have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Men with signs or symptoms might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Men or women who have receptive anal intercourse may acquire chlamydial infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner, so it can be transmitted by oral sex.
There are now rapid tests that can be performed that can often detect the presence of chlamydia bacteria. However, when any person has symptoms that have occurred after an unprotected sexual exposure of concern, even if the tests were to return as negative almost all physicians will treat the individual presumptively with an antibiotic regimen that should kill both chlamydia and gonorrhea (see below). Women are more likley than men to have an undiagnosed infection (having no or few symptoms) with chlamydia infection. For this reason public health authorities of some countries have advised chlamydia screening for young and sexually active women--the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force strongly recommends that physicians routinely screen all sexually active women aged 25 years and younger, and other asymptomatic women at increased risk for infection from chlamydia. The consequences of undiagnosed or repeated infection in women can lead to problems with fertility, therefore many women should consider this kind of screening for themselves.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, some men have signs or symptoms that appear two to five days after infection (although in some cases symptoms can take as long as 30 days to appear). Symptoms and signs include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea can get painful or swollen testicles.
In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. The initial symptoms and signs in women can include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.
Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat but usually cause no symptoms. A doctor or nurse can obtain a sample for testing from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and send the sample to a laboratory for analysis, while some clinics can perform rapid tests that can give an answer within minutes. When any person has typical symptoms of gonorrhea or chlamydia, even if the tests return negative, almost all doctors will treat with antibiotics. Because many people with gonorrhea also have Chlamydia, antibiotics for both infections are usually given together. Persons with gonorrhea should be tested for other STDs. When one partner in a sexual relationship is diagnosed with either chlamydia or gonorrhea, or it is strongly suspected, the other partner (or partners) should be treated as well even if they have no symptoms, otherwise there is significant chance the loop of infection will continue between the partners.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus worldwide. HPV can cause genital warts. In some studies (USA), at least 50% of sexually active people will have genital HPV at some time in their lives. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of males and females. These HPV types can also infect the mouth and throat. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it. Some HPV types can cause normal cells in the body to turn abnormal, and might lead to cancer over time. These HPV types can cause cervical cancer and other, less common cancers. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can lead to the generation of cancer. The HPV types that can cause genital warts usually appear as a small bump or groups of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. Health care providers can diagnose warts by looking at the genital area during an office visit. Warts can appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected partner—even if the infected partner has no signs of genital warts. If left untreated, genital warts might go away, remain unchanged, or increase in size or number. Warts will not turn into cancer.
Currently, there are vaccines available against HPV which can protect males and females against some of the most common types of HPV. The vaccines are most effective when given before a person's first sexual contact, when he or she could be exposed to HPV. One such vaccine, Gardisil, is available in Viet Nam. Gardisil protects against most HPV types that can lead to genital warts and all the known HPV types that can promote or lead to cervical cancer. The vaccine is recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls up to females through 26 years of age, although these vaccines can be given to girls beginning at age 9. Gardasil protects males against most genital warts. This vaccine is available for boys and men, 9 through 26 years of age, again ideally before sexual activity begins.
There are various treatments for visible genital warts. Visible genital warts can be treated by a physician. Some people choose not to treat warts, and wait to see if they disappear on their own. No one treatment is better than another., and which treatment is afforded can depend on many factors.
Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by two similar viruses, the Herpes Simplex Viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first outbreak. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.
HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to have a sore. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have visible sores and may not know that he or she is infected. HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters". HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.
Most people infected with HSV-2 are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first outbreak, they can be quite pronounced. The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with HSV-2 infection never have sores, or they have very mild signs that they do not even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or for other skin conditions. People diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several (typically four or five) outbreaks (symptomatic recurrences) within a year. Over time these recurrences usually decrease in frequency. It is possible that a person becomes aware of the "first episode" years after the infection is acquired.
Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory--limited availability in Viet Nam for this type of testing. There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners. Correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of genital herpes, but sometimes herpes infection can occur in areas not covered by the condom in a male, whereas a male that has infected sites outside of the condom-covered area could also transmit herpes to their partner. Persons with herpes should abstain from sexual activity with uninfected partners when lesions or other symptoms of herpes are present. It is important to know that even if a person does not have any symptoms he or she can still infect sex partners. Sex partners can seek testing to determine if they are infected with HSV. A positive HSV-2 blood test most likely indicates a genital herpes infection.
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that is capable of infecting a person for life. The Hepatitis B virus can be sexually-transmitted and this virus is highly-endemic in Viet Nam. It is also transmitted from mother to child, and by blood-to-blood contact. The virus can insert its DNA into the DNA of our own cells (liver cells) and remain for life. Most people will not know they are carrying the virus and in most cases may not experience any recognizable symptoms during the intial infection. In approximately 85% of the cases of infection, an interplay between the virus and our immune system leads to the virus eventually becoming dormant within our cells. In the other approximate 15% of the cases, the virus can continue to produce its proteins, or replicate itself, and in this process lead to ongoing damage to the liver. This ongoing inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus will place one at risk for Liver Cancer. The Hepatitis B virus can be screened for with blood tests that discover whether there is a protein made by the virus (Hepatitis B Surface Antigen) and also determine if a person is immune (Hepatitis B Surface Antibody). If a person's antigen and antibody are both negative it means, in almost all cases, that they are not-infected and more importantly that you can be vaccinated and acquire protective immunity against the virus. Wearing a condom can protect against transmission of Hepatitis B virus.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It has often been called "the great imitator" because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases. Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. The sores, which are usually painless, occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Sores also can occur on the lips and in the mouth. Transmission of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex of actively infected partners. Pregnant women with the disease can pass it to the babies they are carrying. Syphilis if not treated initially can lead to a second stage (seconday syphilis). It can lay dormant for many years or pass into a thrid stage of its infection (tertiary syphilis). Many people infected with syphilis do not have any symptoms for years, yet remain at risk for late complications if they are not treated. Although transmission occurs from persons with sores who are in the primary or secondary stage, many of these sores are unrecognized. Thus, transmission may occur from persons who are unaware of their infection. Syphilis can be screened for with specific blood tests.
The above discussion is not a complete list of all STDs, but the ones above are the main trouble-makers. I hope in this discussion, everyone can take home some basic advice that applies to all. Reducing your risk to exposure is the most effective approach to STDs. Try not to involve yourself in sexual networks, where you are seeing two or more partners in a contiuning fashion. Risk of HIV infection, in particular, is increased in such high-partner networks. Use latex condoms always when you are not in a mutually monogamous and dedicated relationship. Also, be aware that alcohol consumption is a risk factor in producing the kinds of risk-taking behavior and disregard for protecting ourselves. Drink in moderation.
Introduction: There is a lot of misunderstanding and blind sides to many people’s knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). For STD Evaluations and STD Screening, they can consist of several elements that involve personal history, exposure events and how they occurred, and the presence of possible symptoms. Some are suspected and then investigated when symptoms of a directing nature are present, some are screened for due to risk assessment, or concern over exposures.
Abstaining from sex, is of course a completely certain way of avoiding STDs, however this is either not a desired or practical possibility for most of us. The next best way of avoiding STDs is to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected. Using latex condoms, when they are used consistently and correctly, can substantially reduce the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. When one is not in a mutually monogmaous relationship, the best advice is the same piece of advice the Ring Referee gives two Boxers about to begin in their pugilistic contest; PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES-Use condoms at all time
Most patients present to physicians to be considered for STD screening after they have symptoms that may suggest a problem, or after they have had a sexual exposure that has raised this concern for them. Studies have shown that doctors don’t approach the issue enough. Sometimes you can understand why. When a person comes into to see their physician for a cold, cough, or back pain, some patients may find it unusual that a doctor begins taking a sexual history, but these are the times when it could most matter for patients. Many doctors, however, are quite busy and cannot afford the time to take a sexual history when their patients come in for complaints unrelated to STDs. When considering a physician consultation for STD concerns, it is important that you try to find a physician who can deal with your concerns fully, in a non-judgemental way. Most doctors should acknowledge that it is very personal information, but the information gained in a proper and thorough sexual history will help a physician examine you better and will determine where to check for infections and what tests to perform to address your concerns.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is the virus that causes the most anxiety when one is screened for STDs, because of its devastating and chronic attack on the human immune system, slowly crippling the immune system that protects us from all infections and leading to the syndrome known as Aquired Immuned Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Volumes can be written about the HIV virus. HIV transmission can occur with unprotected intercourse from infected partners. There are known high risk behaviors, such as unprotected anal sex and IV drug use with shared needles. HIV tends to occur within networks of casual sexual relations--that is, seeing two or more partners in a continuing fashion and without the use of condoms. I have performed many consultations for concern regarding oral sex in relation to HIV transmission. The HIV virus is inactivated by the oral environment and saliva and it would be extremely rare for HIV to occur by oral sex (although it is not 100% risk free as there are remote possibilities of blood-to-blood exposure, or blood-to-wound exposures). HIV is routinely screened for with blood testing for antibodies against the virus. When a person is concerned about a particular exposure, the sooner you can see your physician to determine the risk of the exposure, the better. HIV tends to occur within networks of casual sexual relations, and thus keeping yourself out of extended sexual networks with multiple partners simultaneously is important.
Chlamydia is a common STD caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. This bacteria can damage a woman's reproductive organs. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur before a woman ever recognizes a problem. Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about three quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure. Women who do have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry fertilized eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others might have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Men with signs or symptoms might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Men or women who have receptive anal intercourse may acquire chlamydial infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner, so it can be transmitted by oral sex.
There are now rapid tests that can be performed that can often detect the presence of chlamydia bacteria. However, when any person has symptoms that have occurred after an unprotected sexual exposure of concern, even if the tests were to return as negative almost all physicians will treat the individual presumptively with an antibiotic regimen that should kill both chlamydia and gonorrhea (see below). Women are more likley than men to have an undiagnosed infection (having no or few symptoms) with chlamydia infection. For this reason public health authorities of some countries have advised chlamydia screening for young and sexually active women--the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force strongly recommends that physicians routinely screen all sexually active women aged 25 years and younger, and other asymptomatic women at increased risk for infection from chlamydia. The consequences of undiagnosed or repeated infection in women can lead to problems with fertility, therefore many women should consider this kind of screening for themselves.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, some men have signs or symptoms that appear two to five days after infection (although in some cases symptoms can take as long as 30 days to appear). Symptoms and signs include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea can get painful or swollen testicles.
In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. The initial symptoms and signs in women can include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.
Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat but usually cause no symptoms. A doctor or nurse can obtain a sample for testing from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and send the sample to a laboratory for analysis, while some clinics can perform rapid tests that can give an answer within minutes. When any person has typical symptoms of gonorrhea or chlamydia, even if the tests return negative, almost all doctors will treat with antibiotics. Because many people with gonorrhea also have Chlamydia, antibiotics for both infections are usually given together. Persons with gonorrhea should be tested for other STDs. When one partner in a sexual relationship is diagnosed with either chlamydia or gonorrhea, or it is strongly suspected, the other partner (or partners) should be treated as well even if they have no symptoms, otherwise there is significant chance the loop of infection will continue between the partners.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus worldwide. HPV can cause genital warts. In some studies (USA), at least 50% of sexually active people will have genital HPV at some time in their lives. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of males and females. These HPV types can also infect the mouth and throat. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it. Some HPV types can cause normal cells in the body to turn abnormal, and might lead to cancer over time. These HPV types can cause cervical cancer and other, less common cancers. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can lead to the generation of cancer. The HPV types that can cause genital warts usually appear as a small bump or groups of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. Health care providers can diagnose warts by looking at the genital area during an office visit. Warts can appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected partner—even if the infected partner has no signs of genital warts. If left untreated, genital warts might go away, remain unchanged, or increase in size or number. Warts will not turn into cancer.
Currently, there are vaccines available against HPV which can protect males and females against some of the most common types of HPV. The vaccines are most effective when given before a person's first sexual contact, when he or she could be exposed to HPV. One such vaccine, Gardisil, is available in Viet Nam. Gardisil protects against most HPV types that can lead to genital warts and all the known HPV types that can promote or lead to cervical cancer. The vaccine is recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls up to females through 26 years of age, although these vaccines can be given to girls beginning at age 9. Gardasil protects males against most genital warts. This vaccine is available for boys and men, 9 through 26 years of age, again ideally before sexual activity begins.
There are various treatments for visible genital warts. Visible genital warts can be treated by a physician. Some people choose not to treat warts, and wait to see if they disappear on their own. No one treatment is better than another., and which treatment is afforded can depend on many factors.
Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by two similar viruses, the Herpes Simplex Viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first outbreak. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.
HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to have a sore. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have visible sores and may not know that he or she is infected. HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters". HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.
Most people infected with HSV-2 are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first outbreak, they can be quite pronounced. The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with HSV-2 infection never have sores, or they have very mild signs that they do not even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or for other skin conditions. People diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several (typically four or five) outbreaks (symptomatic recurrences) within a year. Over time these recurrences usually decrease in frequency. It is possible that a person becomes aware of the "first episode" years after the infection is acquired.
Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory--limited availability in Viet Nam for this type of testing. There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners. Correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of genital herpes, but sometimes herpes infection can occur in areas not covered by the condom in a male, whereas a male that has infected sites outside of the condom-covered area could also transmit herpes to their partner. Persons with herpes should abstain from sexual activity with uninfected partners when lesions or other symptoms of herpes are present. It is important to know that even if a person does not have any symptoms he or she can still infect sex partners. Sex partners can seek testing to determine if they are infected with HSV. A positive HSV-2 blood test most likely indicates a genital herpes infection.
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that is capable of infecting a person for life. The Hepatitis B virus can be sexually-transmitted and this virus is highly-endemic in Viet Nam. It is also transmitted from mother to child, and by blood-to-blood contact. The virus can insert its DNA into the DNA of our own cells (liver cells) and remain for life. Most people will not know they are carrying the virus and in most cases may not experience any recognizable symptoms during the intial infection. In approximately 85% of the cases of infection, an interplay between the virus and our immune system leads to the virus eventually becoming dormant within our cells. In the other approximate 15% of the cases, the virus can continue to produce its proteins, or replicate itself, and in this process lead to ongoing damage to the liver. This ongoing inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus will place one at risk for Liver Cancer. The Hepatitis B virus can be screened for with blood tests that discover whether there is a protein made by the virus (Hepatitis B Surface Antigen) and also determine if a person is immune (Hepatitis B Surface Antibody). If a person's antigen and antibody are both negative it means, in almost all cases, that they are not-infected and more importantly that you can be vaccinated and acquire protective immunity against the virus. Wearing a condom can protect against transmission of Hepatitis B virus.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It has often been called "the great imitator" because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases. Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. The sores, which are usually painless, occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Sores also can occur on the lips and in the mouth. Transmission of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex of actively infected partners. Pregnant women with the disease can pass it to the babies they are carrying. Syphilis if not treated initially can lead to a second stage (seconday syphilis). It can lay dormant for many years or pass into a thrid stage of its infection (tertiary syphilis). Many people infected with syphilis do not have any symptoms for years, yet remain at risk for late complications if they are not treated. Although transmission occurs from persons with sores who are in the primary or secondary stage, many of these sores are unrecognized. Thus, transmission may occur from persons who are unaware of their infection. Syphilis can be screened for with specific blood tests.
The above discussion is not a complete list of all STDs, but the ones above are the main trouble-makers. I hope in this discussion, everyone can take home some basic advice that applies to all. Reducing your risk to exposure is the most effective approach to STDs. Try not to involve yourself in sexual networks, where you are seeing two or more partners in a contiuning fashion. Risk of HIV infection, in particular, is increased in such high-partner networks. Use latex condoms always when you are not in a mutually monogamous and dedicated relationship. Also, be aware that alcohol consumption is a risk factor in producing the kinds of risk-taking behavior and disregard for protecting ourselves. Drink in moderation.