Sexually Transmitted Diseases
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.
Question: Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?
Answer: It is reported that 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 is reported that 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.
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, 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.
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