WHATS AN STD & WHATS NOT
This is something that is very important for women & men to be aware of to not only protect themselves but protect others from catching something - OR- making uncalled for remarks about how someone might catch something if the disease/infection/problem is NOT an STD.
WHAT IS AN STD OR STI-- Gonorrhoea - can take 2-10 days for symptoms to start to appear if left untreated it can lead to infertility, Joint and skin infections, Pelvic Inflamatory Disease and increases your chances of catching HIV http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/gonorrhoea.html -Chlamydia -causes damage to a womans reproductive organs- there are usually mild- no symptoms and if left untreated can result in infertility. Please see. http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm http://www.getcluedup.com.au/ http://www.couldihaveit.com.au/chlamydia.asp http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/chlamydia.html --Syphillis- If left untreated(best to catch early) it can lead to damage to organs esspecially the heart and brain, can also be the cause of repeated misscarriage, death of newborns and ultimately death for you. http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/syphilis.html -Herpes Simplex/Cold Sores - This STD is derived from a Standard simple cold sore, if someone has a coldsore, or you have a cold sore, or you feel one coming on or have recently had one - DONT kiss anyone else,dont share your drinks or food and DONT engage in sexual activity which will turn your simplecold sore into an STD for someone else (and possibly yourself depending on activitys that are engaged) http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/genital_herpes.html -Genital Warts http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/genital_warts_or_human_papilloma_virus.html -HIV (mainly a sexually transmitted disease, however, can be spread through contact with bodily fluids such as blood from an infected person) http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/hivaids.html -HEP B (mainly a sexually transmitted desease,however, it can be spread through contact with bodily fluids such as blood from an infected person) http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/hepatitis_b.html -CRABS/Pubic lice/Pediculosis Pubis http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/pubic_lice_or_crabs.html -TRICHOMONIASIS- is the most commonly spread STI, it is usually undetected in men and on average 1 in 5 women will catch this before their lifetime is over.(usually NO effects or symptoms on men but men will need to be treated also to prevent reinfecting their partner) http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/trichomoniasis.html | WHAT IS NOT AN STD OR STI- Non Specific Urithritis (though if partner does also have this issue both your partner and self should be examined incase there is another underlying STD/SDI issue- as such its best to avoid intercourse at the time of the problem and treatment anyway) - Herpes Simplex/Cold sores- You will note that this is included in both is/isnt and STD/STI -that is because herpes simplex is coldsores and not everyone who has coldsores has STI's/STD's nor do their partner- that is because prevention of this virus is common sense it can turn into an STD/STI if you have cold sores and go near your partners genitals- it is best to avoid certain types of foreplay and even intercourse if sometimes until your cold sore/sores are gone. HerpesSimplex can also appear in babies/children- this is a crucial note that EVERYONE needs to make and be aware of- if the child/baby has herpes simplex this DOES NOT mean something suss has happened or that the mother had a STD when she gave birth (very few cases will be for this reason) - it more often means that someone (family member, friend, nurse, childcare worker, teacher - the list goes on) may have had a coldsore and either given the child/baby a kiss, or shared a drink, or shared food with hte child- or another child who also has this virus could have done the same. SO PLEASE IF YOU HAVE A COLDSORE, FEEL ONE COMING ON, HAVE HAD A COLDSORE RECENTLY- DO NOT SHARE YOUR FOOD OR DRINK WITH ANYONE ESSPECIALLY A CHILD/BABY AND DO NOT GIVE ANYONE A KISS (NOT EVEN ON THE CHEECK) - Hepatitis C/HEP C - is NOT a STI/STD, it is spread through used/infected syringes, contaminated blood transfusions and blood to blood contact with an infected person- chances of catching this through sexual transmission is extremly unlikely. - SCABIES - Is NOT an STD it is caused by mites which burrow into the skin and intesify itchy on the infected person, scabies is EASILY spread from person to person including to and from children, however, sexual contact will prolong transmission time of the mites - BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS- the cause of this is unknown but IS sometimes aggrivated by intercourse with a new partner, it causes a bad oddor and discharge. It may require treatments- however it does not spread to the man and the man does NOT need treatment for either catching something (as there are NO male symptoms to this day) and men are not treated to stop risks of spreading (no risks of spreading this are noted) http://www.stdservices.on.net/std/bacterial_vaginosis/facts.htm http://www.stdservices.on.net/std/bacterial_vaginosis/facts.htm http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/sexualhealth/vaginosis.html - THRUSH/CANDIDA, YEAST INFECTION - can be aggravated by intercourse ONLY for the person who has the thrush making symptoms worse- thrush is not an STD and will NOT spread to the other partner (IT CANNOT BE CAUGHT THROUGH SEXUAL INTERCOURSE). Thrush is a yeast infection that is generally caused by 1 of 3 things. 1- Babies can be born with it (this is more common than you would think and is easily treated) 2- An intollerance to something in the diet (this can be a food or drink that the body doesnt like which has as a result cause a yeast problem- there are many treatments available at chemists for thrush & remedies, but you will need to make sure to build up your gut flora again by eating foods such as natural yogurts and probiotic drinks etc and get rid of the yeast by limiting yeast intake from foods like bread while you have the issue, but above all identify and eliminate the cause of the irritation- which food/drink your body didnt like that caused the yeast infection, because otherwise the issue will keep reoccuring) 3. Enviromental intollerance/cause- this could be through a type of soap, shamppo, body lotion, body wash, cream, perfume, deoderant, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, household spray etc Again there are many treatments available at chemists for thrush & remedies, but you will need to make sure to build up your gut flora again by eating foods such as natural yogurts and probiotic drinks etc and get rid of the yeast by limiting yeast intake from foods like bread while you have the issue, but above all identify and eliminate the cause of the irritation- what in your enviroment did your body not like that caused the yeast infection, because otherwise the issue will keep reoccuring The biggest thing to remember with Thrush is IDENTIFY (identify the cause), ELIMINATE (eliminate or minimise use of the cause) & TREAT (You can use over the counter chemist treatments and in conjunction or on their own there are also many natural remedies to use- remember to stay away from yeast containing products while you have this because it will intensify the issue, try to avoid intercourse because it will intensify the issue & build up your gut flora again by taking probiotics etc) A helpful way to assist with finding the cause is. * If the baby is only a few weeks old the issue is likely to be that they were born with it *If the thrush white spots or blister looking spots appear in the mouth first- inside of the lips, the inside of the cheeks, the tongue or roof of mouth- with no rash or irritaion in groin region yet the cause is likely in the diet *If the thrush has started (irritation, discharge, possible redness in, white stuff) in the groin region , behind the knees, elbows, inner thighs or under the arms the cause will likely be enviromental * Are you pregnant- sometime this leads to a build up of yeast in the body (if so then still try the treatment methods, increasing probiotics and foods like natural yogurt will help to build the good gut flora up for you which will decrease the problems for you during your pregnancy) Remember there are many different causes but it is NOT and STI/STD it will NOT spread that way http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/thrush?open http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/thrush http://www.oramd.com/oralthrush/ - BALANITIS is redness or soreness to the head of the penis, it is NOT an STD/STI and will NOT spread to the partner, however, it is best to avoid intercourse at times of having this as it will aggravate it , sometimes Balantitis will go unnoticed until the individual has intercourse as they will then start noticing the symptoms (redness or soreness of the penis) after intercourse. It is NOT an STD/STI, women do not carry this if symptoms develop after intercourse it is likely that the intercourse just triggered the symptoms for what the male already had. Also Men cannot spread this to women- women will experience no symptoms and neither partner require treatment. The most effective treatment known to this day is addequate cleaning and drying of the area. http://www.mshc.org.au/dnn/portals/_default/uploads/fact_sheets/balantis_a4.pdf http://www.mshc.org.au/dnn/portals/_default/uploads/fact_sheets/balantis_a4.pdf http://www.stdservices.on.net/std/balanitis/details.htm |