Be Healthy magazine Health-related monthly magazine
Разговор на тему венерических заболеваний зачастую неловок, неудобен и неприятен, и тем не менее необходим. Венерические заболевания вовсе не остались в прошлом и являются серьезной проблемой в нашем обществе. Статистика распространения подобных заболеваний крайне неутешительна. Кто попадает в группу риска? В большинстве своем, подростки и молодые люди до 25 лет, именно те, кто еще находится в поиске идеального партнера. Добавьте к этому недостаток информации плюс естественный стыд при затрагивании темы венерических болезней – и в результате распространение заболеваний, которые, не вылеченные вовремя, могут нанести огромный вред здоровью. Надо помнить, что некоторые из венерических заболеваний начинаются бессимптомно, и поставить диагноз без врачей практически невозможно.
В Торонто работает сеть бесплатных клиник, в которой любой пациент без OHIP карты или направления от врача может дискретно получить полную информацию, бесплатно сделать анализы и получить бесплатное лечение от венерической болезни.
Сексуальное здоровье важно не меньше, чем здоровье вашего сердца или нервной системы. Обратите на него свое внимание и внимание молодых людей, живущих рядом с вами.
Sexually transmitted infections
If you have sex — any kind of it — you can get an STD, also called a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Straight or gay, married or single, you are vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections.
Aside from colds and the flu, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are some of the most widespread infections both in the world. STIs affect both men and women, and almost half of all STIs occur in people younger than 25 years old. Exposure to an STI can occur any time you have sexual contact with anyone that involves the genitals, the mouth (oral), or the rectum (anal). Some STIs can be passed by nonsexual contacts, such as by sharing needles or during breastfeeding. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Common sexually transmitted infections
There are at least 20 different STIs. They can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Some of the most common STIs in Canada and the U.S. are:
Genital warts or human papillomavirus (HPV)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.
Other infections that may be sexually transmitted. These include hepatitis A and C, cytomegalovirus, molluscum contagiosum, Mycoplasma genitalium, and bacterial vaginosis
Scabies and pubic lice
Some of these diseases, such as hepatitis, can be transmitted without sexual contact, by coming into contact with an infected person’s blood. Others, such as gonorrhea, can only be transmitted through sexual contact.
Sexually transmitted s diseases can have serious health complications, such as:
Infertility. At their most severe, untreated STDs can lead to infertility in women. Men can also become sterile as a result of chlamydia or gonorrhea infections.
Ectopic pregnancy. This occurs when scarring of a woman’s reproductive organs, which can occur as a result of an STD like chlamydia or gonorrhea, causes a fertilized egg to implant and grow outside the uterus.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). 2 of 5 women with not treated chlamydia infection develop PID, which can lead to pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Untreated gonorrhea can also cause PID.
Cervical cancer. Most cervical cancers are caused by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease that also causes genital warts.
Infection of newborns. Pregnant women with untreated syphilis, herpes virus, hepatitis B, or HIV may pass these infections on to their babies. This can cause premature birth, stillbirth, death soon after birth, birth defects, and in the case of HIV, lifetime infection.
Heart disease and brain function. Untreated syphilis can lead to cardiovascular and neurological problems.
Remember many STIs are asymptomatic!
Many STIs have no signs or symptoms (asymptomatic). For instance, you won’t always notice chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and many other STDs. But even with no symptoms you can pass the infection to your sex partners. So it’s important to use protection, such as a condom, during sex.
Fortunately, all of the common STDs can be treated, and most can be cured.
The sooner a person with an STI seeks treatment and warns sexual partners about the disease, the less likely the disease will do permanent damage, be spread to others, or be passed to a baby.
However, people with an STI are often too embarrassed or frightened to ask for help or information. Also, not many know about the municipal sexual health clinics that offer free STI and HIV testing and free treatment. You do not need a referral or OHIP coverage to visit a sexual health clinic. If you think, you have STI symptoms or have been exposed to an STI, see a doctor or visit one of the sexual health clinics immediately, so you can identify and treat an infection before you can pass it on.