STD: How A Person Infected and Get treated

STIs (sexually transmitted infections) transfer from a person to another via various sexual contacts. Nowadays, doctors use sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as the refined term of that old medical jargon. STI transmits through oral, vaginal and anal sex. Although rarely it can pass through French kissing and smooching too. Every year thousands of people develop the infection knowingly or unknowingly.

But most of them experience mild symptoms. To squeeze out the rate everyone should undergo regular sexual health screening to determine if everything is fine or not. Prevention is always better cure. This post entails all the necessary information you should know about STD. So, don’t miss out to read it.

Usual STDs

Age, ethnicity and sex of an individual have nothing to do with an STI infection. Any people having active sex life can develop an infection.

Some of the common STIs are:

• Trichomoniasis
• Scabies
• Molluscum contagiosum
• Pubic lice or crabs
• HIV
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Hepatitis B
• Herpes
• Syphilis
• Chlamydia
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Gonorrhoea

Treatments depend on the risk factors, symptoms, causes and sorts of STIs.

Transmission

STIs transmit through:

• Personal contact for instance pubic lice
• Direct sore or lesion contact
• Subject to blood containing infectious agent
• Needle sharing
• Exchange of semen and vaginal fluid

3 STIs categories are:

• Parasitic
• Viral
• Bacterial

Certain body fluids like blood, vaginal secretion, saliva and semen can have viruses and bacteria. In many instances person gets an infection due to direct exposure to with infectious fluid. Hence using dental dams and condoms are important to resist such contacts at the time of vaginal, anal and oral sex.  

Many STIs like herpes transfer via skin-to-skin contact directly at the time of vaginal, oral and anal sex. It can transfer to genitals from mouth at the time of oral sex.

Hepatitis and HIV usually transmit via infected blood if the partners have sores and share needles with one another. Parasitic STIs like pubic lice only transfers via personal contact. Sometimes pubic hair passes to one another carrying the lice to cause an infection. It can transmit through clothing and sheets close to the individual’s private parts.

Triggering factors and prevention

Certain aspects can trigger the chance of getting an STI so you should avoid them. You can try the following steps to prevent yourself from the transmissions:

• Use of dental dam or condoms- It acts as barrier lessening the chance of direct contact with infectious agent-loaded fluids and lesions.
• Use of water-like lubricants- Oil-based lubricants break down the condoms easily.
• Performing STI test- Test yourself regularly if you have new sex partner.
• Get the vaccinations- Taking vaccines on time is always better to prevent yourself from conditions like HPV and hepatitis.
• Don’t use alcohol and drug- It enhances the sex appeal which can be risky later in your life.
• Take additional precautions and avoid sex with drug-addicts- Drug-addicts are usually STI infected persons and more likely to have hepatitis and HIV.

If you increase the sexual partner numbers then it will enhance the risk of an infection. Being monogamous is the safest way to reduce the infection risk. Also by taking above-mentioned precautions you can stay safe and healthy in the long run.

However, there isn’t any guarantee that you never develop any infection.  Always interact with the partner regarding the sexual history prior to indulge any sex type with them. Testing is also a better idea for both of you to have before sex.

Testing

STI testing is always a better idea to those who:

• Get new sex partner
• Had sex with multiple partners
• Face an STI symptom

Noteworthy, not a single STD test is accurate. In fact, till there are no tests for specific infections and people also don’t develop any symptoms for this at all. It only happens for a specific time period. Afterwards a few mild symptoms are prominent. 

If you are suspecting an infection then test is the only way to confirm. Retesting is always good for those who receive negative results.

Doctors need the following specimens to analyse for STIs:

• Other body fluids
• Urine
• Blood

Treatment

The best treatment course relies on STI type. Treatments are available for curing the infection, preventing against re-flaring and relieving symptoms. Also it can pass to the partner’s body at the time of treatment phase.

Usual treatments of the STI are:

• Antibiotics- It is useful in treating bacterial STIs like trichomoniasis, syphilis, gonorrhoea and Chlamydia. One must take full antibiotic course and refrain from having sex till it’s over.
• Antiviral medications- it stops the outbreaks to treat HIV and herpes. Also you can suppress the HIV for the rest of your life. As it has the change to transmit to other’s body you must take prevention.
• Lotion and cream- It kills pubic lice to relieve the sores’ symptoms.

One must contact the doctor if a suspecting infection is there. Prescription treatment is reliable and effective for most STIs. You must strictly follow the instructions and measures shared by the doctor to resist its transmission. 

Complications

If not treated STI can develop other complexities include the following:

• Certain cancers
• Infertility
• Arthritis
• Eye inflammation
• Heart disease
• Pelvic pain
• PID
• Pregnancy complications

By undergoing testing and treatment if needed is the only way to get rid of the infection.

Wrapping up

Remember STI spreads via fluids of the body and skin-to-skin contact sometimes. Sharing needles and clothing (especially intimate wears) can spread the infection at the same time. Regular screening is essential for the persons who have active sexual life. Only early intervention and treatment protect the person from an STI infection.

Also it protects them from facing the associated perilous complications. Therefore, you must follow the guidance of the doctor carefully as efficient treatments can cure and suppress it over time. So, you must contact your nearest sexual health clinic in London to get treated for STD today!