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Sexually transmitted disease information is urgently needed
Nobody likes to talk about venereal diseases and often a doctor is delayed for a long time despite noticeable symptoms. However, this increases the risk of unwanted transmission, treatment may become more difficult and there are extremely serious health consequences. Here you will find the most important facts about sexually transmitted infections (STI), their treatment and the options for prevention.
Sex should be fun - and not fear. No wonder that the unsightly health consequences of a bed story are more of a taboo subject. But the silence can end badly. Many do not like to talk about sex - and certainly not about sexually transmitted diseases. However, the microorganisms can force honesty - because many of the diseases are anything but harmless.
Condoms offer the best protection
The most important rule of prevention is: protect condoms - not in every case and from every infection, but better than other methods. Beyond that, it doesn't hurt to at least know the most important risks and signs of STI.
With antibiotics for chlamydia
The world's most common sexually transmitted infection is caused by chlamydia. If the bacteria in the genital area have had enough time to multiply, there is whitish discharge from the genital organs - and extremely painful permanent itching. "Young women have a particularly high risk of acquiring chlamydial infections," explains Viviane Bremer from the Department of Infection Epidemiology at the Robert Koch Institute.
Impending ping-pong effect
If left untreated, the chlamydia infection can even lead to infertility. The infection is usually treated with antibiotics and sufferers should avoid sexual contact until the symptoms go away. However, it is important: The partner with whom you have contracted the infection should definitely be treated. Otherwise there is a risk of ping-pong, i.e. re-infection.
Risk of cancer from HPV
"Young women are also at high risk of getting infected with human papilloma viruses (HPV)," says Viviane Bremer. This wart virus infection is the main cause of cervical cancer, but in most cases it heals on its own. Cancer can only develop in rare cases - treacherously often years or even decades after infection. The risk can be significantly reduced by HPV vaccination.
STI spreads more
In addition to chlamydia infection and HPV, gonorrhea and syphilis are common bacterial diseases. Antibiotics are generally used for such infections.
No remedy for viruses
In other cases, however, treatment is significantly more difficult - or impossible. Viral venereal diseases are AIDS and herpes in the genital area. At least with HIV infection, there is no cure in the near future and the goal is rather to fight AIDS worldwide.
Strategy against HIV
"The 90-90-90 strategy states that by 2020, 90 percent of all people with HIV should know their status, at least 90 percent of them should have access to medication and at least 90 percent of them should be successfully treated," explains Prof. Jürgen Rockstroh, head of the infectious diseases and immunology outpatient clinic at the University Hospital in Bonn.
First information from the net
The doctor is of course the right contact for questions about sex and diseases - even if the conversation may be difficult. An anonymous, less embarrassing alternative is online research, even if this does not of course replace a doctor's visit. Answers to the most frequently asked questions about venereal diseases can be found, for example, on the portal of the Federal Center for Health Education (BzGA) on “Liebesleben.de”. (fp; source: dpa / tmn)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of the medical literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical doctors.
Dipl. Geogr. Fabian Peters
Swell:
- Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA): Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) (accessed: January 9, 2020), liebesleben.de
