Sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs and STDs) are transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sexual contact. Many women I come across suffer from STIs and STDs, but due to social stigma they try to hide their condition or are simply unaware of it. These infections and diseases lead to loss of fertility and are a cause of cervical cancer.
Some of the most common STIs in women are human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, chlamydia and genital herpes.
Urinary Issue: An STI can be indicated by pain or a burning sensation during urination, the need to urinate more frequently or the presence of blood in the urine.
Vaginal discharge: Thick, white discharge can be a sign of a yeast infection. When discharge is yellow or green, it might indicate gonorrhea or trichomoniasis.
Itching in the vaginal area. Although itching is a sign of STI, it could also be due to other reasons such as:
• An allergic reaction to a latex condom
• Yeast infection
• Pubic lice or scabies
• Genital warts
• The early phases of most bacterial and viral STIs
Pain during sex: Pain during sex in the abdomen or back can be due to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).PID is most commonly caused by the advanced stage of chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Abnormal bleeding: Abnormal bleeding could be yet another sign of problems caused by a STI.
Rashes or sores: Sores or tiny pimples around the mouth or vagina can indicate herpes, HPV or syphilis.
• Get tested regularly: Typically, those with a vagina should get a Pap smear every 3 to 5 years. It's also important to ask if you should be tested for any other STIs and whether the HPV vaccination is suggested.
• Use protection: Whether it's vaginal, anal or oral sex; a condom or other barrier method can help protect both you and your partner. Female condoms and dental dams can provide a certain level of protection. Spermicides, the birth control pill and other forms of contraception may protect against pregnancy, but they do not protect against STIs.
• Communicate: Honest communication with both your doctor and your partner(s) about sexual history is essential.
A person can get STIs while pregnant. Because many conditions don't show symptoms, some people don't realise they are living with one. For this reason, doctors may run a full STI panel at the beginning of a pregnancy. These conditions can be life threatening to the patient and the baby.
Some people will develop STIs as a direct result of a sexual assault. When women see a healthcare provider immediately following an assault, the healthcare provider tries to capture DNA and evaluate for injuries. During this process, they check for potential STI. If some time has passed since a sexual assault, one should still seek medical care.
Depending on the person and their individual risk factors and medical history, the healthcare provider may prescribe preventive treatment, including:
• Antibiotics
• A hepatitis vaccine
• An HPV vaccine
• HIV antiviral medication
Following up with a healthcare provider at the recommended time is important to ensure that the medications were effective and that no conditions need to be treated.
Here are a few things one should do after being diagnosed with an STI:
• Start any treatment the doctor prescribes immediately.
• Contact one's partner and let him/them know that they need to get tested and treated, too.
• Abstain from sex until the condition is either cured or until the doctor gives approval. In the case of bacterial conditions, one should wait until the medicine course has been completed
• For viral conditions, wait long enough for one's partner to be on antiviral medications (if necessary) to reduce the risk of transmitting the condition to them
By: Dr Rajashree Sharma
Also Read: Gingivitis or Inflamed Gums– What is it?
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