Sexual Health

Long-term effects of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)

Sexual contact, including anal, vaginal, and oral sex, is known to transmit more than 30 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Some STIs can also pass from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. The highest prevalence of STIs is associated with eight infections. 

There are still plenty of prevalent STIs, even though many are notorious for not having any symptoms and may be undetected. You might not be aware that you have an infection if there are no STI side effects, or you might be aware but still think it will go away on its own. This is not the case, though. Many common STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, can have catastrophic consequences if left untreated.

Even while STIs can affect everyone, teenagers and young adults are the age groups where they are most reported. For instance, 53% of reported STI diagnoses in 2020 were among individuals between 15 and 24. 

What are the causes of sexually transmitted infections?

Sexually transmitted infections can emerge when different bacteria, viruses, or parasites enter your body. By having intercourse, often vaginal, oral, and anal sex, or engaging in other sexual activities, you can contract these bacteria from bodily fluids (such as blood, urine, semen, saliva, and other mucous-lined places).

Are sexually transmitted infections contagious? 

Sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs) do spread from person to person. Most STIs are spread by sexual contact with bodily fluids or through skin-to-skin contact with an infected body area, generally the genitalia. Syphilis is one STI that can spread during childbirth. 

See a healthcare professional for treatment if you have an STI is crucial. Certain STIs can be treated. If you engage in sexual activity, you can stop the transmission of STIs by getting tested frequently, discussing your diagnosis with your partners, and using protection when having sex.

If you want to be protected and stay safe, visit Spire Pharmacy and get yourself treated. 

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most often diagnosed STI in England, with more than 200,000 diagnoses in 2015. It is spread through unprotected anal and vaginal sex.

There are times when a person shows no symptoms of this illness. Chlamydia can cause a person to experience discomfort when peeing or see fluid dripping from the penis. A woman may bleed between periods, experience discomfort when urinating, notice a discharge, or experience a slight lower abdominal ache. A patient may experience anal bleeding or pain after anal sex. 

An antibiotic may be used to treat a patient after a diagnosis. It can seriously harm a woman's reproductive system if left untreated. It may make getting pregnant difficult or impossible.

Gonorrhea

After chlamydia, gonorrhea is the most prevalent bacterial STI in the UK. In 2015, more than 41,000 cases of gonorrhea were identified in England alone. The disease can affect the genitalia, rectum, and throat. Young adults are the most commonly impacted age group (15–24). You can have it by engaging in unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone with this problem.

It can go unnoticed, or someone might experience pain when peeing and seeing a discharge from the penis or vagina. 

The doctors use antibiotics to treat gonorrhea. It can seriously harm a woman's reproductive system if left untreated. It may make getting pregnant difficult or impossible. If this is not handled, it may result in urethral stricture in men.

Syphilis

This bacterial infection can be fatal and result from oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse. It can spread if syphilis sores come in contact with healthy skin. There may be sores on the lips, mouth, rectum, anus, vagina, or penis. A mother with the disease can pass it on to her unborn child. 

Usually, an open sore that doesn't hurt is the first sign. Your genitalia, palms of your hands, and the bottoms of your feet may develop sores. The second stage rash may appear as rough, reddish brown, or reddish patches. The medicine penicillin is effective in treating it. Syphilis can remain in the human body for years if not treated. It can result in severe issues like e paralysis (the inability to move bodily parts), mental disorders, organ damage, and even death.

HIV and Aids

At the end of 2014, an estimated 103,700 HIV-positive individuals lived in the UK. The virus, which is spread through unprotected sexual intercourse, affects the immune system and makes you more susceptible to illnesses and diseases. 

Even if there is no treatment for HIV, early detection and treatment allow most infected people to live long, healthy lives. Nonetheless, some 18,100 HIV-positive individuals living in the UK are unaware of their condition and have not yet received a diagnosis.

A flu-like illness called seroconversion disease is the primary symptom. This can include a fever, sore throat, and body rash, affecting up to eight out of every ten HIV-positive individuals. 

Genital Herpes

This infection is widespread. Genital herpes affects one in six people from 14 to 49. It is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 infections. 

Although oral sex can also transfer the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), nonsexual contact is the main way to spread it. It causes soreness on the lips. Blisters can develop, break, hurt, and require weeks to recover. HSV does not have any cure, although antiviral medications can be used to treat the symptoms.

HPV

HPV is a common form of infection. It affects the skin and mucous membrane (mucosa), including the vagina, vulva, and cervix, as well as the skin and the mouth and throat lining (back passage). 

Since HPV is normally transmitted during sex, this can make some people uncomfortable or anxious. As HPV stays on our skin, it is simple to contract and challenging to avoid. Eight out of ten men and women will contract HPV at some point. The majority of the time, HPV will be eliminated by your immune system without any negative effects.

How to prevent sexually transmitted infections or STIs

One of the best ways to protect yourself against STIs, including HIV, is to use condoms appropriately and regularly. Condoms are quite effective, but they do not provide protection against STIs that result in extra-genital ulcers (i.e., syphilis or genital herpes). They must be used throughout all anal and vaginal sex, wherever possible. 

Hepatitis B and HPV vaccinations are two viral STIs that are safe and very effective. Major strides in STI prevention have been made possible by these vaccinations. By the end of 2020, 111 countries, mostly high- and middle-income, had adopted the HPV vaccine as a standard component of their immunization programs.