STD's
From Kinktionary @ Social Kink
- Chlamydia~ One of the most commonly transmitted sexually transmitted diseases, this is a bacterial infection that lives in vaginal fluid and semen. Mainly transmitted from vaginal and anal sex. It is less likely but possible to receive it from oral sex and hand to eye contact. In some cases of this STD, there are no signs or symptoms at all. The symptoms include: discharge, painful urination, (in women) abdominal pain, fever, painful intercourse, and urge to urinate, (in men) inflammation of the rectum or swelling of the testicles. This is usually treated with antibiotics, which should be taken right away. One complication that can affect women is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)~ Common infection that at least 80% of the population has had at some point in their life. There are over 100 different strains and at least 30 are said to be sexually transmitted diseases. This viral infection can be spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. When HPV has symptoms such as genital warts, then that indicates a low risk strain. Genital warts are small cauliflower like growths that can appear on the vagina, penis, testicles, anus, and other parts of the body. If no symptoms are found, then that can mean it is a high-risk strain which can cause cancer. With low-risk strains you can use creams or a method of burning the warts off to remove the lesions. With high-risk HPV, sometimes the only “cure” can be going in and removing the cancerous cells. Genital warts can be passed on to a child when passed through the opening when born. This disease is especially common among those in their early 20’s, but anyone can contract it.
- Gonorrhea (the clap)~ A bacterial infection transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex in the semen or vaginal secretions. Infection can show in the genital tract, rectum, or the mouth. In women, symptoms can include: frequent and painful urination and bleeding after sex. These are signs of infection in the cervix. Other symptoms later in the disease can include: fever, nausea, vomiting, spotting between periods, and vaginal discharge. In men, symptoms can include: swelling of the testicles and frequent urination. All of these are signs of urethral infection. You might notice a slight discharge and swelling of the penis. If the anus becomes infected, symptoms will be: itching, discharge, bloody stool, painful bowel movements. In an oral gonorrheal infection the tonsils and throat become enflamed and may produce pus. This STD can be treated easily with antibiotics. Can cause PID in women and if not treated can effect parts of the brain and heart. Also causes joint inflammation.
- Genital Herpes- There are two types of this virus: Herpes Simplex Virus 1(which is mainly associated with oral herpes), and Herpes Simplex Virus 2(the cause of genital herpes). This virus lives in certain nerve cells and stays for life. This viral infection is transmitted through direct contact with the affected area on the skin during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Symptoms involve itching and burning around the infected area, painful lesions in and on the vagina, on the penis, around the genital region, and on or around the anus. In women, herpes can cause lesions in the vagina itself and vaginal discharge. There is no cure for herpes, but there is suppressive medication. If you have herpes, your risk of catching HIV is increased as the immune response is compromised since the virus is more easily transmitted through the lesions. Genital herpes can be spread to an infant during childbirth. C-section might be needed to prevent loss of the child.
- Hepatitis B (HBV)~ A chronic disease that attacks the liver and can cause death. This viral infection can be caused by: Exchange of body fluids, sex of any kind, a pregnant mother to an unborn child, piercing the skin with a non-sterile needle, through blood transfusions or transplanted organs. Symptoms include: nausea, stomach cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, chills, jaundice, urinary and fecal discoloration. There is no cure for this disease, the best prevention is receiving the vaccine, which protects for life. With acute Hepatitis B, the virus usually clears up on its own. For chronic Hepatitis B, they have injections that can slow the progression of the disease. In severe cases, a liver transplant may be needed.
- HIV/AIDS~ viral disease is transmitted through unprotected sex, breast milk, sharing needles, oral sex, unclean sex toys, and blood transfusions. The early symptoms of this virus include: fever, muscle aches, swollen glands and lymph nodes. Even if you don’t have symptoms, it is impossible to infect others with the virus. Later on down the line, these more severe symptoms can be present: chronic yeast infection or thrush(mouth infection), fever, night sweats, bruising easily, weight loss, lesions on the skin or mouth, diarrhea, exhaustion, and body rashes. As this develops into the AIDS virus, some of the illnesses that are contractible are: pulmonary tuberculosis, lymphoma, cervical cancer, bacterial infections, toxoplasmosis of the brain, kaposi’s sarcoma, and recurrent pneumonia. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there is treatment through medication that can lengthen your life and stop the disease from progressing quickly.
- Syphilis~ A bacterial infection transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person, especially by ulcers on the infected person’s body and even by broken skin of the infected person. The symptoms of this STD occur in stages. Stage 1~ Chancre sores that appear on the genitals, lips, tongue, and other body parts. If untreated, the sores can get worse and the disease progresses. Stage 2~A rash that is brownish in color occurs on the feet and hands. Fever, sore throat, hair loss, and swollen glands usually occur at this stage. Stage 3~ Joint and bone damage, numbness, blindness, and difficulty with movement are some of the last stages of the disease. If caught in the early stages, this disease is easily treatable with a shot of antibiotic that takes affect in 24 hours usually to clear you of having the disease. But blood tests are required after to make sure the disease has fully left the body. If left untreated, syphilis can cause serious damage to the heart, ears, eyes, and brain, and can cause dementia or blindness, or even death. Syphilis also can make you more susceptible to contracting HIV.
- Trichomoniasis~ Parasitic infection that affects men and women, but is usually more prevalent in women. It infects the vagina in women and the urethra in men. Passed on my penis to vagina intercourse or vulva to vulva intercourse. Can be passed through bedding, towels, or bathing suits. Men usually don’t show any symptoms, but if they do the usually include: irritation of the penis, burning when ejaculating or urinating, or a discharge from the penis. In women symptoms are more prevalent, and they include: smelly discharge from vagina, itchy swollen genitals and thighs, and pain during intercourse. Some women experience a red cervix or lower abdominal pain. This disease is easily treated with medication. If left untreated can cause prostate and bladder damage to men. In women can cause inflamed fallopian tubes and damage to the cervix.
- Pubic lice (crabs)~ This parasite usually resides in the pubic hair, but can attach to hair on other parts of the body if not taken care of. They are easily transmitted through sexual acts and even from being in close contact with a person who has them. They can live for 48 hours without human blood, which is what they feed off of. They are usually found wherever people live in close quarters with each other. You will feel a lot of itching, especially at night when they come out to feed, since they produce a substance that causes you to itch. Blue spots might break out from the feeding sites. Dark spots on the skin or underwear are fecal matter from the crabs, and they point out a definite infestation. Crabs are normally treated with special shampoo.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)~ Serious bacterial infection of the reproductive organs that lie in the pelvis. If left untreated, this can spread to other organs in the body. This infection is usually caused by STD’s that are left untreated. Symptoms include: painful periods, vaginal discharge, spotting or cramping during periods or urination, nausea or vomiting, fever, low back or abdominal pain, and pain during sexual intercourse. If caught early, antibiotics can be used to treat this disease. In more serious cases, surgery might be needed to remove organs affected. In some cases, even if it is treated, it can come back.
