Venereal Disease or Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is a disease that spreads during sexual intercourse, whether through vaginal, anal or oral sex, which is transmitted from person to person through contact with infected skin or contact with blood, semen, vaginal mucus and other bodily fluids. However, venereal diseases are not transmitted only through sexual intercourse, but also through blood contact, blood transfusions, using needles or objects that have come into contact with blood, mucus or bodily fluids of infected patients.
Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases
People who are infected with STDs will show symptoms of the disease depending on the type of STD they are infected with. Symptoms of the disease may affect only the reproductive organs or affect other organs in the body. In some cases, there may be no symptoms at all. In general, people who are infected with STDs may have the following symptoms:
- There are bumps or soresaround the genitals, mouth, or anus.
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Women have excessive vaginaldischarge or an unusual odor, while men experience fluid or pus coming out of the tip of the penis.
- Feeling pain during penetration during intercourse
- Swollen lymph nodes that feel sore, especially in the groin area
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Fever, body aches and coldness
- Severe irritation of the skin in the genital area, and a rash on the hands, arms, and feet.
- Weight loss
People with STDs will show these symptoms within 2-3 days after being infected. Some people may take up to a year to show symptoms of the disease, depending on the body system of the patient. People with STDs who do not show symptoms immediately may show symptoms later and may also spread the disease to others. People who are infected with STDs should see a doctor immediately after being infected during sexual intercourse and when symptoms of the disease occur.
Causes of venereal disease
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases that are usually transmitted through sexual intercourse. The causes of STDs include bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Sexual intercourse is also a channel for spreading other infections, such as hepatitis A, B , and C, shigella, or Giardia intestinalis.
Same-sex love or attraction behavior is not considered a risk factor for contracting a sexually transmitted disease, as it is only a sexual orientation that one feels interested in and likes. It does not cover the characteristics of sexual intercourse. However, the frequency of sexual intercourse may put one at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Characteristics of sexual intercourse behavior and other behaviors that are considered risk factors for contracting a sexually transmitted disease include:
- Having unprotected sex. People who do not wear condoms during intercourse are at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This includes people who do not use condoms correctly or do not use condoms consistently. Oral sex also carries a risk of infection if condoms or dental dams are not used.
- Having sex with multiple partners. People who have multiple partners are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. People who have frequent sex partners are at higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- Have a history of sexually transmitted diseases. If one partner has a history of sexually transmitted diseases, it is easy to spread the infection to their partner.
- Those who are forced to have sex or are sexually abused are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Those who are raped should be examined and treated for both physical and mental health.
- Anal Sex: People who have anal sex and do not use condoms are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- Drug abuse: People who share needles with others are at risk of contracting several sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. People who use drugs often engage in risky behaviors that lead to sexually transmitted diseases.
In addition, some STDs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, or syphilis, can be transmitted during pregnancy if the mother is sick or has been previously infected with an STD. Babies infected with these diseases are at risk of death. Pregnant women should be tested for STDs during pregnancy to receive treatment.
Diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases
STD testing can help doctors diagnose which STDs a patient is infected with, especially those with a history of STDs. It can also help identify the cause of the infection. The doctor may draw blood, collect urine or secretion samples for laboratory testing. However, people who are infected but do not show symptoms of the disease may also need to be screened. The following people may be screened for STDs:
- All sexually active people can get tested for HIV.
- Pregnant women need to be screened for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis infection. Thesetests are usually done during the first prenatal visit. In addition, pregnant women who are at high risk of infection may need to be tested for gonorrhea and hepatitis C at least once during pregnancy.
- Women who are sexually active or age 21 and older should see a doctor for a pelvic exam, which can help screen for cervical cancer or infections that can cause genital warts.
- Women under 25 who are at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection should be tested for non-gonococcal urethritis. Your doctor will collect a sample of your urine or vaginal discharge for testing.
- Men who have sex with men are at higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases than those who have sex in other ways, and should be screened for HIV, syphilis, non-gonococcal urethritis, and gonorrhea, perhaps annually or more often. They may also need to be tested for hepatitis B.
- People with HIV are at high risk of contracting other STDs. If diagnosed with HIV, your doctor may also test you for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes, as well as screen you for hepatitis C. Women with HIV are at higher risk for cervical cancer, so they should have a pelvic exam after their doctor has diagnosed them with HIV.
- Both partners who have had sex with different partners should be tested for STDs before having sex.
Treatment of venereal diseases
Each STD has a different treatment method. Generally, these diseases are caused by bacteria and viruses. STDs caused by bacterial infection are easier to cure. For those caused by viruses, the symptoms can be managed to prevent them from recurring, but they cannot be completely cured. Pregnant women who are infected with STDs must receive immediate treatment to prevent or reduce the risk of their unborn baby getting infected. Treatment methods for STDs include antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and vaccinations, which are detailed below.
- Antibiotics: Sexually transmitted diseases caused by bacteria or parasites can be treated with antibiotics, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Antibiotic therapy must be completed. Patients should also avoid sexual intercourse until treatment has been completed and the sores have healed.
- Antiviral drugs: People who are infected with herpes should be treated with antiviral drugs, but they may infect their sexual partners. Antiviral drugs are also used to treat people who are HIV-infected. However, people can still transmit the virus, even though the risk is low. Taking antiviral drugs regularly as prescribed by your doctor can reduce the amount of virus to almost undetectable levels.
Complications of sexually transmitted diseases
People who are infected with STDs in the early stages should be screened to prevent complications of STDs. If left untreated, the following complications may occur:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Complications in pregnant women
- The baby has an eye infection.
- Arthritis occurs
- Pelvic infection occurs
- Infertility
- Suffering from heart disease
- Suffering from certain types of cancer, such as cervical canceror liver cancer caused by hepatitis B and C viruses, etc.
Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention
Prevention of STDs starts with prevention of infection, including taking care of infected patients to prevent them from spreading the infection to others. The prevention of STDs is as follows:
- Infection prevention People can avoid or reduce their risk factors for contracting sexually transmitted diseases by doing the following:
- Sticking to one partner is another way to reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. However, the other person must not have been infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
- Penetration should be avoided. You and your partner should be thoroughly tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
- When having sex and vaginal, anal or oral sex, always wear a condom. Do not reuse condoms and do not use petroleum jelly with condoms, as this can cause the condom to break.
- It is always a good idea to discuss with your partner before having sex what is and isn’t allowed during sex for the safety of both parties.
- You should not drink too much alcohol or use drugs because it will make you lose consciousness and behave in a way that puts you at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- It is important to learn and understand about sex and sexually transmitted diseases to help you recognize symptoms of the disease and protect yourself safely and correctly.
- How to care for and prevent the spread of infection: People who are infected with sexually transmitted diseases have ways to care for the symptoms of the disease and prevent the spread of infection to others by doing the following:
- Stop having sex and continue to see a doctor.
- Strictly follow your doctor’s treatment instructions.
- Use condoms every time you have sex and do not have sex unless approved by a doctor. Also, your partner must be treated for any STDs they have.
- Vaccinations:Vaccines that are safe and effective against STDs include the hepatitis B vaccine and the HPV vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is included in the free vaccines for all Thai children.
