About Sexually Transmitted Disease
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infectious disease which is passed from one person to another through intimate sexual contact. It is estimated that one out of every ten sexually active teenagers has a STI. They can be passed from female to male, male to female, male to male, female to female; through vaginal sexual intercourse and other intimate sexual contact, e.g. oral sex, anal sex, mutual masturbation.
A lot of people with STI’s do not have symptoms. Someone who has been treated may not tell you they have been infected. You may not be able to tell if someone is infected just by looking at him/her. The more sexual partners a person has, the greater the risk of contracting a STI. Some STI’s can have long term complications such as infertility and cancer. Prevention is better than cure. You will be at no risk if you do not have sex or only have sex with one mutually faithful uninfected partner for life who only ever has had sex with you.
Sexually transmitted infection caused by both bacteria and viruses and usually transmitted sexually, these infections commonly cause inflammation resulting in scarring and damage. A specific example is Hydrosalpnix, a condition in which the fallopian tube is occluded at both ends and fluid collects in the tube.
Condoms are the only popular method of birth control used by young people which offer some protection against STI’s. However it is important to remember that condoms make sex safer, they do not make sex safe. For example, genital warts are passed on by skin-to-skin contact around the pubic region and condoms offer no protection against transmission of HPV the virus causing warts. Condoms may not be worn correctly or may split.
Symptoms
Do not ignore symptoms of STIs and bacterial infections, as if left untreated these can cause permanent health problems. If you or your sexual partner has one or all of the following:
• A discharge
• irregular periods/staining
• pain on passing urine
• lower abdominal pain
• an ulcer or wart on your genital skin
• pain during intercourse
You may have no symptoms at all but have recently become sexually active or changed your sexual partner, then you may have a sexually transmitted infection.
