Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections

 

This overview serves only to identify some key points related to COS students. Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions of our students here in Weed.

 

What are sexually transmitted infections?

 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections you can get by having sex with someone who has an infection. These infections are usually passed by having intercourse, but they can also be passed through other types of sex.

 

STIs can be caused by viruses or bacteria. STIs caused by viruses include hepatitis B, herpes, HIV and the human papilloma virus (HPV). STIs caused by bacteria include chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis

 

Am I at risk for having an STI?

 

If you've ever had sex, you may be at risk for having an STI. Your risk is higher if you have had many sex partners, have had sex with someone who has had many partners or have had sex without using condoms.

What are the common signs/symptoms of STIs       

  • Itching around the vagina and/or discharge from the vagina for women
  • Discharge from the penis for men
  • Pain during sex, when urinating and/or in the pelvic area
  • Sore throats in people who have oral sex
  • Pain in the anus for people who have anal sex
  • Chancre sores (painless red sores) on the genital area, anus, tongue and/or throat
  • A scaly rash on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet
  • Dark urine, loose, light-colored stools, and yellow eyes and skin
  • Small blisters that turn into scabs on the genital area
  • Swollen glands, fever and body aches
  • Unusual infections, unexplained fatigue, night sweats and weight loss
  • Soft, flesh-colored warts around the genital area

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is uninfected.

How are STIs diagnosed?

 

Most STIs can be diagnosed through an exam by your doctor, a culture of the secretions from your vagina or penis, or through a blood test

 

What else should I do?

 

Limit the number of sex partners you have. Ask your partner if he or she has an STI and tell your partner if you have had one. Talk about whether you've both been tested for STIs and whether you should be tested.

Look for signs of an STI in your sex partner. But remember that STIs don't always show their symptoms. Don't have sex if you or your partner are being treated for an STI.

Wash your genitals with soap and water and urinate soon after you have sex. This may help clean away some germs before they have a chance to infect you.

 

***Here are a couple web sites that give you good information on the topic.

 

http://www.factsontap.org/factsontap/risky/index.htm

 

http://www.ashastd.org/

 

Assignment 14

 

The following quiz is not graded on the number of correct answers, but on completion of the quiz. Use a separate sheet of paper to write your answers on and then check them against the correct answers I give you below. I want to know which ones you missed. You will receive 10 points whether you miss 5 or 0 as long as you email me the results of your quiz. Be sure to identify which specific questions you missed and a very brief statement about why you think you missed it.

 

Remember to send me the results!

 

1. True or false: All sexually active women should be routinely tested for STDs.

 

2. True or false: You may have an STD without showing any symptoms of infection.

 

3. True or false: STDs tend to be more severe in women than men..

 

4. True or false: Certain STDs can increase a woman's risk of contracting HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).

 

5. True or false: The most common bacterial STD, especially among teens and young adults, is chlamydia.

 

6. True or false: The reported frequency of STDs in Siskiyous county is lower than the country average.

 

7. True or false: Regular and proper use of condoms and dental dams can prevent most STD infections.

 

8. True or false: Along with regular use of condoms, there are other methods of reducing your risk of becoming infected with a STD.

 

9. True of false: College age adults have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases of any age group.

 

10. True or false: The incidence of STDs in this country is rising.

 

Below are the answers with an explanation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. The correct answer: True
    Answer explanation: Women of all ages who are sexually active should be tested routinely for STDs. Testing includes an annual Pap smear, which checks for cervical cell changes that may result from certain infections. Testing is especially important for women who have had more than one sexual partner. As young people have become more sexually active and divorce has increased, people have become more likely to have more than one sexual partner during their lifetime, which increases the risk of infection. If you are sexually active and your doctor or health care provider does not routinely test you for STDs, ask for testing. If your provider does not ask you about your sexual history, it is up to you to raise the subject. You need to be completely honest about your sexual habits so that you and your provider can determine what tests you need. Remember that anything you tell your provider is confidential!

 

  1. The correct answer: True
    Answer explanation: Many STDs are "silent" -- that is, you may be infected but show no obvious signs or symptoms. Because some infections are more likely to go undetected in women than in men, women especially are at risk for complications resulting from STDs.

3.     The correct answer: True
Answer explanation: Health problems associated with STDs do tend to be more severe in women than in men. Because women often have fewer visible clues to infection, they may not be aware of the need to seek health care until serious problems develop. Also, some STDs may have greater consequences in women than in men. For example, some STDs can spread throughout the female reproductive organs, leading to a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can scar the uterus and fallopian tubes. This scarring can cause infertility and also increases the risk of potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus).

 

 

4.     The correct answer: True
Answer explanation: Having a sexually transmitted disease does increase your risk of HIV infection. Sexually transmitted diseases that cause breaks in the skin (such as herpes or syphilis) make it easier for HIV to enter the body. Even diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia that do not cause breaks in the skin can cause an immune response that makes the body more vulnerable to contracting HIV.

 

5.     The correct answer: True
Answer explanation: Chlamydia infection is the most common bacterial STD, with up to 8 million new cases diagnosed every year, mostly in teens and young adults. Three-fourths of infected women do not have any symptoms. Those who do may notice a frequent urge to urinate, lower abdominal pain during urination, yellowish vaginal discharge and/or pain during sex. Infected men may notice penile discharge and/or burning while urinating; because the disease is highly contagious, women should avoid sexual contact with men who have these symptoms. Chlamydia symptoms can be easily confused with those of other illnesses, so it is important to seek treatment promptly if they occur. Once diagnosed, the infection can be treated effectively with antibiotics. However, if chlamydia remains undetected and untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and cause permanent damage to the reproductive organs. Chlamydia can also pass from a mother to her baby during childbirth, infecting the newborn's eyes or lungs.

 

6.     The correct answer: True
Answer explanation: Yes we are lower than a national average, but when you compare us to the average for college students, we are the same..

 

7.     The correct answer: True
Answer explanation: Regular, proper and consistent use of latex condoms and dental dams (protective devices for the mouth) can dramatically reduce risk of many STD infections -- including HIV. Condoms are less effective in preventing certain STDs, such as herpes, which can pass from skin contact alone. In any case, no method of protection is 100 percent reliable except abstinence from sexual intercourse and sexually related activities. Some people are uncomfortable talking about condom use; however, it is vital to discuss this matter with your partner.

 

8.     The correct answer: True
Answer explanation: In addition to using condoms regularly, you can reduce your risk of STD infection by taking such steps as these: (1) Maintain a monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner. (2) Use clean needles if you use intravenous drugs or medications. (3) Delay having sexual relations as long as possible. The more sexual partners you have over your lifetime, the greater your risk of becoming infected.

 

  1. The correct answer is: True College age adults have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases of any age group, and when we calculate the rate of STIs among sexually active teens rather than all teens, the numbers are even higher. Every year, approximately three million adolescents in the United States , about one in four, acquire STIs. In one act of unprotected sexual intercourse, an adolescent woman has a one-percent chance of acquiring HIV, a 30-percent chance of getting genital herpes, and a 50-percent chance of becoming infected with gonorrhea. And when we consider that chlamydia infection occurs about four times more often than gonorrhea, we can see how prevalent this problem is.

 

  1. The correct answer is: True The incidence of STDs is rising, in part because in the last few decades, young people have become sexually active earlier. Sexually active people today are also more likely to have more than one sex partner or to change partners frequently. Anyone who has sexual relations is potentially at risk for developing STDs.