Anyone who is sexually active may be infected with STI or STD if he/she does not take care of his/her health, without necessarily cheating on his/her spouse. Keeping multiple partners however, is just like sending out an invitation to this evil scourge and innocent partners would always share in the results of these.
Also, worthy of note is that – all married men and women, including the unmarried who may be living a promiscuous life are at risks. STI refers to the presence of a pathogen or infection (say bacteria, virus, or parasite) in the body.
STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)
STD refers to the presence of disease, symptoms and complications resulting from an STI. It will also be useful information to note that STI if left untreated will eventually lead to STD. A woman can have a chlamydia infection (STI) without it showing symptoms and because of the absence of symptoms, she will leave it untreated. This could result in the chlamydia developing into pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a disease (STD) with symptoms of abdominal pain and consequently infertility making her to be childless.
But is there any synergy between these two?’
Well, the answer lies in knowing that: ‘All STDs start as STIs, but not all STIs develop into STDs.’ In order words, STDs are infections that have advanced into a disease, causing symptoms and potential long-term health issues. STI is the broader term, as it includes infections that may not show symptoms or cause harm immediately. STD refers to STIs/infections that have advanced to a disease state, causing symptoms or complications.
And so, all STDs are STIs, but not all STIs become STDs. We will not be wrong to say: ‘One of these two is the Younger Brother (STI) and the other one is the Elder Brother (STD,) both of them synergize to make ugly things happen in human bodies.’
STIs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Some of the most common types include:
Bacterial STIs:
1. Chlamydia:
Often has no symptoms, but can cause discharge and pain during urination.
Treated with antibiotics.
2. Gonorrhea:
Symptoms include painful urination and unusual discharge.
Treated with antibiotics
3. Syphilis:
Symptoms start with painless sores (chancres), but if untreated, it can progress to more serious stages affecting organs.
Treated with antibiotics
4. Mycoplasma Genitalium:
Can cause urethritis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease
Treatable with antibiotics
5. Viral STIs:
a. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):
Weakens the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infections
No cure, but managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART)
b. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV):
Causes sores around the genital area, mouth, or anus
No cure, but antiviral medications can manage outbreaks
c. Human Papillomavirus (HPV):
Some strains can cause genital warts or lead to cancers (e.g., cervical, anal).
No cure, but vaccines can prevent some strains.
d. Hepatitis B:
Affects the liver, causing fatigue, jaundice, and stomach pain
There is a vaccine available, but no cure.
6. Parasitic STIs:
a. Trichomoniasis (Trich):
Caused by a parasite, symptoms include itching, burning, and unusual discharge
Treated with medication (usually metronidazole)
b. Pubic Lice:
Tiny parasites that cause itching in the genital area
Topical treatments works for this
c. Scabies:
Caused by mites, leading to intense itching and a rash
Treated with prescribed medications
Next is the STDs – the disease stage, and it could be as grave as you obviously will expect. Things have moved past the STI stage. Let’s take a look at some of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Types of STDs
As mentioned earlier, an STD is an infection that has developed into a disease with symptoms or complications already. It was established that, STIs can develop into STDs if left untreated. Here are examples:
1. HIV Developing into AIDS:
Without treatment, HIV can develop into AIDS, a life-threatening disease where the immune system is greatly compromised.
2. Untreated Syphilis:
Syphilis if left untreated can have grave consequences. It can progress through stages and cause severe complications like heart disease, brain damage, or even death in its late stages.
3. Untreated Gonorrhea:
This can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which may cause infertility or long-term pain.
4. Cervical Cancer (caused by HPV):
Now, what is HPV? You may ask.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes. It spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity. There are over 200 types of HPV, and while most cause no symptoms, some can lead to warts (such as genital warts) or serious health issues like cervical cancer and other cancers of the throat, anus, and genitals.
Certain high-risk HPV types (like HPV 16 and 18) are linked to cancer, while low-risk types (like HPV 6 and 11) cause warts. Vaccines are available to protect against the most dangerous strains that can lead to cervical cancer, particularly in women. This can also cause anal and throat cancers.
5. Hepatitis:
Hepatitis B is the most deadly of all the Hepatitis types and if left untreated can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer if not treated or managed.
6. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID):
Chlamydia or gonorrhea, PID can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pain if left untreated.
How can one tell if his or her symptom is the evidence of STI or not:
Usually, STIs may not show any symptoms. Determining whether your symptoms are from an STI or something else is not a job you are called to do unless you are a medical doctor. Many STIs are asymptomatic or have symptoms similar to other conditions, so going to see a physician is key.
Common STI symptoms include: unusual discharge, painful urination, itching, and sores or blisters in the genital area. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis. They may perform tests such as urine samples, blood tests, or swabs to determine the cause of your symptoms.
Visiting a physician and getting tested remains the only way to confirm an STI diagnosis, as many infections can be asymptomatic or non-evident
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