Sexual activity is normal and natural, but like many other aspects of life comes with some risks. Contact with human beings, sexual or otherwise, can result in disease transmission. Anyone who has sex with a person who has a sexually transmitted infection can catch it. Yet, even your sex partner cannot always tell if he has a sexually transmittable infection.
The term “sexually transmitted infection” (STI) is used to describe over twenty different types of infections which are most commonly passed on from one person to another by sexual contact. These infections may cause trouble in any body orifice (vagina, penis, mouth, anus, urethra) where intimate sexual contact has occurred.
Sexually transmitted infections are increasing in severity and magnitude. In addition to the more common bacterial infections, there has been an alarming increase in the number of people contracting viral infections. There are four “H-viruses” which may be transmitted by sexual intercourse, and which may last a person’s entire life. Moreover, no cure exists for infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the herpes simplex virus, the hepatitis B virus, and the human papilloma virus. In the case of HIV, the infection is fatal.
Preventing the transmission of infection is the most effective way to reduce the consequences of STIs. In general, the behaviors and choices that protect you against acquiring HIV will also defend you against gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts, and other STIs. Strategies for STI prevention can include:
*Abstinence from all sexual activity with another person.
*Sexual intimacy only in a mutually faithful relationship in which both partners are actually known to be uninfected, and in which trusting each other is a realistic and practical assumption.
*Abstinence from all sexual activities that could possibly result in the exchange of infected body fluids, including vaginal and rectal intercourse, oral sex, any sex that results in tissue damage or bleeding, and possibly wet kissing when lips, gums or other tissues are raw or bleeding.
*Sexual intimacy only when latex condoms or other barriers such as female condoms or dental dams are used to prevent exchange of semen, blood and vaginal secretions (a spermicidal agent/lubricant may be beneficial at the time of intercourse).
*No shared injection equipment or shared needles of any kind.
You may feel embarrassed and scared if you suspect you have been exposed to an STI, but asking for information and receiving proper treatment is better than worrying. Early treatment prevents more serious problems from developing and may avoid further spread of the disease. All partners should be treated along with you to avoid “ping-ponging” organisms back and forth, or spreading the disease further. Inform your sexual partner(s) if you have an infection; here may be the source.
Sexually active people will often carry more than one STI, and each should be tested for all of them. Follow-up care by the health care provider verifies control of the infection. The practice of monthly genital examination should be performed by all women in order to detect any abnormalities.
We offer a group of tests that may detect one of several common infections. These may be discussed with your health care provider.