Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can be an uncomfortable subject to discuss.
They are transmitted through intimate actions, and many symptoms affect private areas. However, understanding STDs is vital as it may help you identify that you or a partner are infected and encourage you both to seek treatment. STD testing is the first step in understanding what you may have and seeking treatment, but it’s always a good idea to learn as much as you can.
This article will explain the difference between bacterial and viral infections and will provide symptom and treatment information for many common STDs. This will help you understand STDs and hopefully encourage you to be attentive and cautious with your partner.
As you learn about the various STDs or even regular illnesses, you’ll discover that there are generally three categories they can be placed in: fungal, viral and bacterial. We’ll focus on viral and bacterial diseases here.
Viral illnesses are caused by viruses that infect living cells. They use these cells to multiply before destroying the cell, releasing more of the virus to continue the cycle.
Viruses have no cure, so treatments involve suppressing the infection and easing symptoms as opposed to eradication. This article will cover two viral STDs, herpes and HIV. Since these will never be completely eradicated, understanding the treatment is vital to your health.
Bacterial illnesses are caused by harmful bacteria that spreads and multiplies without the need to infect living cells. Bacteria can enter the body in a number of ways, from inhaling infected air to an open wound.
Luckily, most bacterial illnesses are just as easy to cure as they are to catch. Antibiotics are a very common and simple way to remove them from your system. Both syphilis and gonorrhea, which will be covered below, are bacterial and therefore have simple treatments.
Syphilis can be frightening, especially since the sore that indicates one is infected appears a few weeks after infection, is painless and could be missed completely. The most effective ways to know you’re infected are to take an STD test or when the illness progresses and symptoms appear, though the latter is not recommended.
If caught in the early stages, syphilis is easy to treat. If you aren’t allergic to penicillin, then an injection is likely all it will take. There are alternative treatment options for people who can’t take penicillin, though.
After your shot, you may experience achiness, a fever, chills and other symptoms associated with illness. This is a known and well understood reaction known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. These symptoms should fade after a day and are your body’s immediate reaction to the treatment.
Once you’ve taken the appropriate treatment, be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions. They will likely suggest testing for other STDs, tests to ensure the penicillin is removing the syphilis, and informing any partners about your diagnosis. Doing so will protect both you and your partner, so don’t delay.
Herpes is one of the most common STDs for two reasons: it is a virus and can’t be cured as a result and it is frequently asymptomatic. This means that while many people have herpes, most have no idea and will suffer no ill effects. The most common symptom is painful sores that can appear both around the mouth and private regions of the body.
As mentioned, there is no cure for herpes. There are many medications to reduce the severity of outbreaks. An outbreak is when blisters that can break and become sores appear on the body and you experience many negative symptoms, such as fevers and swollen lymph nodes.
These unpleasant symptoms will subside in a few days and will be less severe as time goes on and your body develops the antibodies necessary to fight the outbreaks. Antiviral medication can ease most of these symptoms.
Gonorrhea is another bacterial STD, which means the treatment is actually a cure. You’ll most likely only need a single shot of a medication called ceftriaxone.
You may need to take two different medications if you’re allergic to ceftriaxone though, and you may also need to take an additional medication if you had both chlamydia and gonorrhea. Once started, your treatment should only take about two weeks before you’re cured.
Gonorrhea’s symptoms are mild and may be misdiagnosed as another infection. This means that the only reliable way to know if you’re infected is to take an STD screening test.
Luckily the test is a simple urine test. This means you won’t have to deal with any needles or swabs. Once you get your results, react quickly to make the treatment as quick and simple as possible.
HIV is probably the most frightening STD covered here but it can be treated if identified quickly. This STD will attack the CD4 T cells of the body.
These cells are an important part of the immune system. Should the amount of these cells get too low, you're not only likely to contract other illnesses, but you’ll also likely be diagnosed with AIDS. Luckily, the latter can be avoided with consistent treatment.
Once HIV is diagnosed, you'll be prescribed HIV medication that prevents the virus from multiplying. Yes, HIV is a virus, so there is no cure.
However, constant vigilance and taking the medications at the recommended times will not only cripple the virus, it will also help ensure the infected person’s life is as long and healthy as possible. They will also weaken the virus so that it can’t be spread to any partners.
STDs are an uncomfortable and scary topic that you hopefully now understand a bit better. When caught, these illnesses have easy cures or regulation regimens that will help prevent painful symptom episodes.
Of course, prevention is the best way to handle STDs. Always use protection correctly, ask partners about any diagnosis they may have had and get tested occasionally. Seek out a doctor if a test is positive to get the treatment you need as soon as possible. Stay safe.
