Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

by | Nov 21, 2020 | Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)

Definition and Physiology of Illness 

 STDs, also known as sexually transmitted diseases, are infections and are spread from one person to another via the mucous membranes of the sexual organs, as well as bodily fluids. Transmission of these diseases can also occur via the mucous membranes in the throat, mouth and eyes. The term STD actually encompasses a number of diseases rather than just one, as there are more than 20 different types, with their infectious agents being bacteria, viruses, or parasites. https://medlineplus.gov/sexuallytransmitteddiseases.html 

The mucous membranes that transmit these diseases are in the vagina, penis, urethra, or rectum. Transmission can also happen in the throat, respiratory tract, mouth, and eyes. An STD can travel through a mucous membrane because it is super thin. The microbes from an STD are found in the fluids coming from reproductive organs, saliva, sweat, etc. Any sexual contact can transmit these microbes.  https://www.news-medical.net/health/STD-Pathophysiology

Relationship between Erectile Dysfunction and STDs 

 In a study to test the relationship between STDs and the use of erectile dysfunction medication, data was taken over several years from men over 40 years old experiencing erectile dysfunction and the prevalence of STDs. The study concluded that men who take medications for erectile dysfunction are more likely to develop an STD than men who do not take medication for erectile dysfunction. Results could suggest that men with erectile dysfunction participate in more risky sexual behaviors. Middle aged and older men are often not reminded of safe sex practices from their physicians. Another possible interpretation of results is that having access to erectile dysfunction medications directly cause STDs. If men have a medication available for those with erectile dysfunction, it may encourage them to anticipate having a significantly increased amount of sex. This expectation could cause them to engage in risky sexual behavior.         https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673772/

Impact of STDs on Women’s Health 

Women are more likely to become infected with an STD than men are, and these infections are also more likely to go undetected in women. Because of this delay in diagnosis and treatment, this makes women more likely to have serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and cervical cancer. These complications can result in serious physical, mental and psychosocial trauma.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is typically associated with an untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infection that, when undetected, spreads from the cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes. This leads to scarring that requires surgical intervention to resolve. Because of this, these women can have sexual dysfunction from chronic pelvic pain and experience pain during intercourse. In addition, this scarring has the potential to cause ectopic pregnancies and tubal-factor infertility, greatly impacting the woman’s reproductive, as well as mental and sexual health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK232938/ 

“Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. STIs are usually spread by having vaginal, oral, or anal sex. More than 9 million women in the United States are diagnosed with an STI each year. Women often have more serious health problems from STIs than men, including infertility” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019). STDs are affecting millions of women in the United States alone each year. STDs can cause problems getting pregnant or permanent infertility, problems during the pregnancy and health problems for an unborn baby, infection in other parts of the woman’s body, organ damage, certain types of cancer, and even death. If Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are left untreated they can cause chronic pelvic pain and life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea can also cause infertility. If Syphilis is untreated in pregnant women, it results in infant death up to 40% of the time. “Women have a higher risk than men of getting an STI during unprotected vaginal sex. Unprotected anal sex puts women at even more risk for getting an STI than unprotected vaginal sex” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019). STDs impact women’s health significantly. Women can lose their babies, infection can occur throughout their bodies, organs can be damaged, cancer can develop, and they can even die from STDs.  

https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/sexually-transmitted-infections#:~:text=STIs%20affect%20women%3F-,Women%20often%20have%20more%20serious%20health%20problems%20from%20STIs%20than,to%2040%25%20of%20the%20time.

Interventions 

Behavioral Interventions: HIV testing and risk-reduction counseling, the use of social media to promote prevention commodities such as condoms, comprehensive sexual education, and interpersonal communication including peer education/persuasion.

Biomedical Interventions: needle & syringe programs designed to present HIV prevention, vaccinations for things such as HPV, hepatitis B, Antiretrovirals at Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs.  

Where to find support 

If someone is diagnosed with an STD, it is important to trace back the line of contact and notify the person that they should get tested. Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) can help reduce transmission of STDs and prevent further complications. These people can help contact trace and notify the appropriate people to get tested because they have come in contact with someone with an STD. They also assess who is most at risk of developing an STD and set up preventative measures.           https://www.cdc.gov/std/program/partners.htm

Websites, such as The STI Project, The Body, and Planned Parenthood, have several links to support groups for people suffering from different STDs. These support groups are sorted by type of STD and location, so someone can find a group in their area. Support groups are a safe place for people with STDs and their partners to express their worries and ask questions. Whether the group is run by a professional or not, support groups offer information to the members to help educate them on their illness and how to better their situation and remain overall healthy.

https://thestiproject.com/std-support-groups/

http://old.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/herpes/support-groups/ 

YouTube Video 

 This video emphasizes the importance of  accepting and normalizing talking about sex in our society. The speaker encourages candid conversations about sex in hopes to treat STDs just as any other infection  to end the stigma so people are treated promptly, avoiding serious complications associated with delayed diagnosis and treatment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRGZcNMR24o