SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STD)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Infections of Penis
Question: I had a sore on my penis, but it didn't hurt. After awhile, it went away. Do I still need to see a doctor?
Answer: Any unexplained skin lesion or "sore" in the genital area should be evaluated by a trained medical professional. The fact that the "sore" was painless or that it went away without any intervention or treatment should not reassure you. Many sexually transmitted diseases can cause "sores" on the penis or in the genital area. These diseases include syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum, herpes, chancroid, and granuloma inguinale. The fact that the "sore" went away on its own does not mean you are not presently infected.
- Granuloma inguinale can cause painless nodules under the skin in the genital area. But they usually open up into ulcers that have a foul-smelling discharge.
- Chancroid is a sexually transmitted disease that also forms ulcers. But they are usually very tender.
- Genital herpes can cause sores that look like little blisters. But they are usually painful and grouped together.
- Lymphogranuloma venereum is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause a painless blister-like lesion or ulcer in the genital area. It is caused by infection with an organism called Chlamydia trachomatis. Such lesions usually heal on their own and often even go unnoticed. But within 1 month, nodules appear that open up into multiple sinuses that drain pus. The sinuses can drain into the rectal area, leading to rectal pain and discharge
- Syphilis is also a sexually transmitted disease that causes a painless ulcer at the area where contact was made. This may be in the penis, rectum, or throat. This ulcer is called a chancre and usually appears 2-6 weeks after exposure. The ulcer often heals by itself without treatment, although it may leave a scar. This ulcer is a sign of the first stage of syphilis. Untreated, Treponema pallidum, the organism that causes syphilis, can spread throughout the body, lead to a number of symptoms that can include fever, rash, headache, and joint pain. This secondary stage of syphilis can take up to 6 months to appear, although a span of several weeks is the norm. The lesions of secondary syphilis can heal on their own but can come back if untreated. In some patients, the disease can lie low in the body, only to appear years later as tertiary syphilis--the third and final phase of this disease. Tertiary syphilis causes tumors that enter the skin, bone, and liver. It can also affect the brain and cause psychosis and dementia.
Needless to say, it is important for you to visit your doctor for the appropriate tests. Remember, abstinence and the appropriate safe sex practices are the only ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Saliva transmission
Question: Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?
Answer: HIV is generally spread through sexual contact with an infected person, through sharing needles or syringes with an infected person, or (very rarely in developed countries today) through infected blood product transfusions. It can also be transmitted from an HIV-infected woman to her newborn child during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and after birth through breast-feeding.
HIV is present in semen, vaginal secretions, and blood. Very small quantities of HIV have also been found in the saliva and tears of some AIDS patients. But this does not necessarily mean that the virus can be transmitted by exposure to these fluids. We think that closed-mouth kissing is not a way that HIV can be passed from one person to another. And we know of no documented case in which HIV was passed on by open-mouth kissing. If the disease can be transmitted that way at all, the cause probably would be exposure to small amounts of blood coming from mouth inflammation (for example, gum disease) or infections that had mixed with saliva. Because of this potential for contact with blood during open-mouth kissing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not engaging in this activity with a person who is known to be HIV-infected.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – and Condom use
Question: I am a teen and I am considering having sex. What are the chances of pregnancy and STDs when using a condom? Is there a brand of condoms that is best to use?
Answer: The first thing to understand is that the only sure way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is to abstain from sex. If you do have sex, latex condoms can be useful in preventing STDs; including gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), human papillomavirus, herpes, and hepatitis B.
Sexually transmitted diseases can be passed from one person to another by vaginal, oral, or anal sexual intercourse. Millions of teenagers are infected with STDs, but many have no symptoms and do not know that they are infected. Latex condoms work by keeping blood, semen, and vaginal fluids from passing from one person to another. Although they cannot completely eliminate the risk of STDs, when used properly during every instance of sexual contact, they can work very well. All sexually active people who have had more than one sexual partner or whose partner has had more than one partner should use condoms all of the time.
Pregnancy is a different matter. While condoms do prevent sperm from entering the vagina, with typical use of condoms (the way most people use them), 14 of 100 women will get pregnant in the first year of condom use. With perfect use, this number drops to two out of 100. It is a good idea to use latex condoms as well as another form of birth control (like spermicides, contraceptive foams, or oral contraceptives).
The material the condom is made of is more important than the specific brand of condom. Make sure that they are made of latex ,or polyurethane if one partner is allergic to latex, (not "lambskin" or natural skin). In addition, the condoms should be labeled for protection against STDs, and the expiration date should not have passed.
Condoms must be properly used in order to work. They should be used with every act of vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Lubricants may help prevent condoms from breaking, but these should be water-based (like K-Y jelly). Petroleum-based lubricants (like Vaseline) can make condoms more likely to break. To properly use a condom, follow the specific instructions provided with the package of condoms or ask your doctor about proper use.
If you have more questions about becoming sexually active, you can get information from Planned Parenthood or from your doctor.
