How hidden infections are transmitted in women. Hidden infections in women symptoms treatment
Sexually transmitted infections can occur in a latent form, without causing acute symptoms of malaise and inflammation of the reproductive organs. The latent course threatens the development of sluggish, progressive adnexitis, endometritis, prostatitis, obstruction of the fallopian tubes and infertility. Hidden infections are detected during a medical examination.
Asymptomatic STIs can be present in the body for a long time without manifesting themselves. It is often not possible to detect pathogenic microorganisms or viruses during microscopic examination of vaginal smears or culture.
Bacteria penetrate into the cells of the mucous membrane, so the body does not produce antibodies that can cope with infectious agents. An inflammatory process begins to develop in the soft tissues of the vagina, then the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are affected. In men, inflammation of the prostate gland is diagnosed, sperm production is disrupted. When the urinary system is damaged, cystitis, urethritis, and pyelonephritis develop.
List of hidden infections:
- gardnerellosis;
- papillomavirus;
- chlamydia;
- trichomoniasis;
- HIV period;
- genital herpes;
- mobiluncus;
- mycoplasmosis;
- cytomegalovirus;
- leptothrix.
The latent period of the disease after infection often becomes the cause of female and male infertility. If pregnancy does occur, there is a risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus and the birth of a child with various pathologies of internal organs.
Latent STIs provoke abortion in the early stages and lead to the death of the embryo. In men, the quality and quantity of motile sperm deteriorates, and the chance of conceiving a child decreases. If hidden infections are not treated for a long time, erectile dysfunction and impotence develop, caused by chronic inflammation of the prostate.
The latent (incubation) period of HIV lasts from 3 months to 1 year. At this time, it is impossible to detect the infection; the diagnosis is made if antibodies to the immunodeficiency virus are present in the blood. The virus shell does not dissolve in biological fluids of the body, so the disease does not manifest itself for quite a long period. HIV penetrates T-lymphocytes and begins to actively multiply; when immune cells become scarce, symptoms of the acute stage of the disease begin to appear.
Routes of infection
Latent infection is transmitted sexually (genital, oral, anal), and infection can occur even during the latent period of carriage. In women, when the immune system is weakened, the vaginal microflora is disrupted, the number of beneficial lactobacilli decreases, and fungi, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, gardnerella, which previously did not cause symptoms of illness, begin to actively grow.
Infectious agents penetrate the reproductive organs along an ascending path from the surface of the genitals, mucous membranes of the vagina further into the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. In representatives of the stronger sex, the urethra, seminal canal, and prostate gland are affected.
Many people are interested in whether it is possible to become infected with sexually transmitted infections through everyday contact. Diseases are transmitted only during intimacy. Viruses enter the body when they come into contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth or genitals.
In most cases, STIs affect the urinary system, there is a frequent urge to urinate, and emptying the bladder causes acute pain and cramping. Urine is excreted in small portions, becomes cloudy, and may contain blood. 
With the development of a generalized infection, many mucous membranes of the body are affected. Disruption of the immune system contributes to the fact that people often become infected with colds with complications, suffer from stomatitis, conjunctivitis, and gastrointestinal diseases.
How to recognize hidden infections
The diseases do not cause pronounced signs of damage to the genital organs. It is worth getting examined by a doctor in the following situations:
- increased amount of vaginal discharge;
- periodically there are aching pains in the lower abdomen;
- the menstrual cycle is disrupted;
- difficulties arise in conceiving a child;
- the discharge has an unpleasant odor;
- worries about itching, redness, swelling of the external genitalia;
- body temperature often rises to 37.5°;
- herpetic rashes appeared in the genital area;
- single or multiple papillomas have grown;
- enlarged inguinal lymph nodes;
- sexual intercourse causes discomfort and pain.
Normally, the volume of vaginal discharge in a woman increases during ovulation; when infected with sexually transmitted infections, the secretion is constantly produced. At the same time, it becomes cloudy, contains air bubbles, acquires a yellowish tint, and a putrid or sour odor. With hidden diseases, periods are too heavy or, conversely, scanty, spotting, and intermenstrual bleeding occurs.
Carrying out diagnostics
To identify latent infections, you need to take the following in vitro tests:
A mixed infection is often detected when several types of bacteria, protozoa or viruses are simultaneously present in the materials being tested. The innovative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method allows you to accurately determine which pathogens are the cause of the disease, even with a minimal content of pathogenic cells in the blood at the earliest stages. The data obtained helps to carry out treatment effectively.
It is necessary to take a test if discomfort symptoms appear in the lower abdomen, at the stage of pregnancy planning and in the early stages of pregnancy.
In vitro laboratory tests are prescribed for married couples who have been unable to conceive or carry a child for a long time, women who have previously suffered frozen pregnancies, or the death of infants.
ELISA tests for latent infections help determine whether there are specific antibodies in the blood, assess the titer of pathogenic microorganisms, and correctly prescribe treatment. The type of immunoglobulins (Ig) determines how long the pathogen remains in the human body and at what stage the disease is currently at.
Vacuum sanitation
In some cases, it is possible to detect the cause of infection in long-term inflammation only after additional sanitation of the vagina. This treatment allows you to exfoliate the cells of the mucous membranes affected by viruses or bacteria. Vibrating attachments cleanse tissues of mucus, pathogenic microorganisms, and clear gland ducts.
Using the vacuum sanitation method, you can cure inflammatory diseases of the vagina, cervix and uterine cavity, and drain cysts containing pathogenic microorganisms. The resulting material is examined in vitro in the laboratory using ELISA, PCR, and the type of pathogen is determined.
Identifying hidden infections in the early stages allows for timely treatment, preventing possible complications, and preventing the disease from becoming chronic. Both sexual partners should be examined to exclude the possibility of re-infection.
Intimidation with hidden infections has become a profitable part of medicine and the “bread” of those who call themselves representatives of the health industry (read “disease industry” - that’s more accurate).
The human body contains many microorganisms that, under certain conditions, can be involved in the development of the infectious process; all of them most often invade the human body and live in it “hiddenly,” that is, without visible signs of their presence, and most of them do not require diagnosis and treatment.
The traditional old school of medicine divided all microorganisms, appearing periodically or living permanently in the body or on the human body, on normal, opportunistic and pathogenic. The latter can cause diseases, including serious ones, and even lead to human death. But the concept of “conditionally pathogenic” can also be interpreted as “conditionally normal”, because for the emergence of an infectious process certain conditions are necessary, just as for the coexistence of “normal flora” and humans there must be certain conditions.
Almost no one uses the expression “conditionally normal,” although it has a positive connotation.
Many scientists and researchers propose to exclude the concept of “opportunistic pathogens”, because even those microorganisms that are considered normal cohabitants of the human body can, under certain conditions, cause disease.
For example, almost all women know about lactobacilli that live in the vagina. Some doctors try diligently to “restore the flora” by prescribing lactobacilli preparations, which is ineffective. But few people know that there is such a disease as cytolytic vaginosis, which occurs when there is excessive growth of lactobacilli, especially those that produce lactic acid. These bacteria have a detrimental effect on the vaginal mucosa.
At the same time, a whole group of bacteria that usually live in the intestines and participate in the processes of processing and assimilation of food (there are more than 500 species) can also live in the vagina and on the skin of the perineum (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, enterococci, streptococci, etc. ), without causing any harm to the person. But for some reason they are mistaken for enemies and they try to aggressively kill them with massive doses of antibiotics and other drugs.
The same can be said about fungi, in particular yeast, without which the intestines cannot function normally. Now it has become fashionable to create terrible myths in order to then impose and sell healing drugs and procedures, and fungi are blamed for causing a variety of diseases, including cancer.
Intimidation with hidden infections has become a profitable part of medicine and the “bread” of those who call themselves representatives of the health industry (read “disease industry” - that’s more accurate).
But let's return to the concept of “hiddenness”. In fact, all microorganisms without exception are invisible, that is, they are hidden in the body and on the body, and without additional equipment (microscopes) it is impossible to detect them.
It is not known how many microorganisms exist that can cause disease in humans, because quite often, when viruses, bacteria, and fungi enter the human body, they do not cause changes that would provoke discomfort or dysfunction of some organs and the entire body. This also applies to those microorganisms that can cause an infectious disease.
It is estimated that the human body is inhabited by 500 to 1000 species of bacteria and several hundred species of viruses, most of which can be involved in the occurrence of the infectious process. In fact, a person is a walking hidden infectious pathology (and also tenacious).
Any contact of viruses, fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms with the human body is not accompanied by 100% infection, 100% damage to cells and tissues, 100% dysfunction of cells, tissues, organs and the occurrence of disease.
Even during the era of plague or typhus pandemics, in the absence of effective drugs, not all people became infected and died.
Most often, women are frightened by those types of microorganisms and those “hidden infections” that have become commercial diagnoses and allow health workers and medical institutions to earn money from the total diagnosis and treatment of “victims” of hidden infections. Hidden infections have become a convenient lever of intimidation, and dire consequences are attributed to them.
In obstetrics, hidden infections are an extremely convenient screen behind which you can hide any medical errors, including gross ones, accompanied by the loss of pregnancy and newborn.
“Toxicosis or hidden infections are to blame for everything, and therefore they need to be treated urgently, aggressively, extensively and for a long time!” - such a slogan can be hung above the entrance to any antenatal clinic.
Of course, it is impossible to deny the existence of infectious diseases. But even if microorganisms came into contact with the human body, and they settled in certain cells and organs, this does not mean that the presence of such cohabitants is necessarily fraught with the occurrence of an infectious process. Most often, a certain balance occurs when the body's defenses control the situation and do not allow infectious agents to cause harm. In other words, a certain ecosystem arises where the peaceful coexistence of all living beings, including humans, is much more important than war and the destruction of each other.
Unfortunately, nowhere are they taught such basic concepts of health and the relationship between a person and other microorganisms that take part in his functioning.
Ronald David Lang, a Scottish psychiatrist, wrote:
« Life is a sexually transmitted disease.
And these words say a lot. Human conception occurs through sexual relations, that is, sexually, and this is not just the interaction of germ cells, but also secretions, fluids, other cells and, naturally, microorganisms. From the first minutes of a newborn’s life (and often even in the womb), the intensive colonization of his body with viruses, bacteria, and fungi begins.
Most often, women are frightened by TORCH infections, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, HPV, but they also often “dig” into the vagina, especially a pregnant woman, and try with all their might and means to kill other important bacteria inhabiting this part of the female body. The aggressive fight against staphylococcus in the nose of a pregnant woman deserves special attention. Obviously, doctors forget that a woman will give birth not through her nose, but through her vagina. But it’s even more surprising when they treat “staphylococcus” in the nose of the future father. Well, he certainly won’t stick his nose into the vagina during childbirth!
Of all the known viral infections, only those that can cause damage to the fetus with developmental defects, its death, termination of pregnancy and serious complications in the woman that threaten her life are dangerous for a pregnant woman. There are few such viruses, and they include herpes simplex viruses, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, varicella-zoster virus, coxsackieviruses, measles virus, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis E virus, lymphatic choriomeningitis virus(the latter is transmitted through hamsters). Plus, during pregnancy, only primary infection is dangerous, that is, the first contact with an infectious agent, and not the carriage of viruses.
Although there are other viral pathogens of dangerous diseases, their spread is insignificant. Other viruses can cause certain diseases, but do not pose a danger to the mother and child.
TORCH infections
What are TORCH infections? About 20 years ago, American and European doctors began conducting rapid testing of newborns with symptoms of active infection, when all other diseases had been ruled out. Since intrauterine infection or infection during childbirth was suspected, it was assumed that such infections could be cytomegalovirus, herpes infections and rubella - the most common infections among the adult population. In 1990, toxoplasmosis was added to the panel of tested infections, and soon syphilis and a number of other infections that can be transmitted from mother to fetus and newborn.
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Thus, TORCH denotes the following group of infectious diseases:
- T - toxoplasmosis;
- O - other (other infections - syphilis, parvovirus B 19, other viruses);
- R - rubella (rubella);
- C - cytomegalovirus infection;
- H - herpes infection.
This type of testing was first used by pediatricians (neonatologists, perinatologists) to quickly diagnose the immune state of a newborn (the presence of an active infectious process). A little later, the TORCH test began to be used to analyze amniotic fluid taken as a result of a puncture of the anterior wall of the mother’s abdomen, if signs of intrauterine infection of the child were detected on ultrasound.
The use of the TORCH test has been criticized by many doctors from all developed countries of the world, so it is prescribed to pregnant women infrequently in these countries. Each test must be rational and have its practical significance, otherwise it is a waste of money, reagents, time and additional stress for the woman. In addition, most doctors do not know how to correctly interpret the results of the TORCH test.
If you do a TORCH test in adults, it is advisable to determine two types of antibodies: IgM and IgG. The combination of these two types of immunoglobulins allows us to determine the relative activity of the infectious process. But in most countries around the world, testing everyone, including men and women planning a pregnancy, is not recommended.
Most often, the results of a TORCH test are as follows: positive for herpes infection, cytomegalovirus infection, rubella (due to vaccination), negative/positive for toxoplasmosis. Such results are observed in 60–80% of women, both planning pregnancy and pregnant women, and these are quite normal results for an adult. These women do not need treatment. In such cases, there is no need to take repeated TORCH tests, because women will never again be negative for carriage of these infectious agents.
The topic of microorganisms, infectious diseases and women's health is extremely voluminous and cannot be discussed in just one article. Nevertheless, I would like to wish women to increase the level of knowledge about their own body and health and not be afraid of the invisible, hidden world of living beings in which we all live. published .
Elena Berezovskaya
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consciousness, we are changing the world together! © econet
Tubal-peritoneal infertility, miscarriage, recurrent colpitis and vaginitis do not always find an explanation during a routine examination. Analysis for hidden sexually transmitted infections can help determine the cause of chronic inflammation or its complications. But why don’t diseases manifest themselves in the form of a clear clinical picture? Some believe that this is an indicator of good immunity, which means that nothing needs to be treated. But this opinion is wrong.
Why is the disease hidden?
For most infectious diseases there can be several variants of the course:
- Acute - begins with clear clinical signs, most often classic for a particular infection, the duration of the disease is not long. With the right approach, it is cured or, as in the case of viruses, goes into a latent form.
- Subacute - manifestations of the disease are extended over time, only some symptoms allow one to suspect pathology.
- Chronic – develops after an acute or subacute form in case of improper treatment or special reactivity of the body. The course is characterized by periodic relapses - the appearance of signs of an acute process.
The carriage of microorganisms is a separate issue. This is a condition in which pathogenic bacteria, viruses or fungi are present in the body, but they do not cause an inflammatory response. This situation occurs with good immunity or infection with atypical microorganisms. For example, men in good health are not likely to develop penile candidiasis, but they can act as carriers of candida and transmit it from one woman to another.
The most common hidden infections are sexually transmitted infections. Their long-term presence in the body is associated with:
- with the characteristics of human immunity;
- the structure of the microorganism;
- with the characteristics of reproduction and metabolism of the pathogen.
Very often, hidden infections of the genital tract can evade the body's immune response. This happens for several reasons:
- microbes or viruses are phagocytosed by leukocytes, but are not digested, but are stored inside the body’s own cells until a favorable moment;
- pathogens can form L-forms, which have a different antigenic structure and are invisible to the immune system;
- they influence the immune response itself;
- viruses hide in the nuclei of cells, which prevents them from being noticed by immune cells;
- some pathogens form protective capsules.
But often hidden infections affect the immune system, even while in a dormant state. This leads to various pathologies, long-term and severe course of other infectious processes.
What are the dangers of hidden infections?
Many people believe that if the disease is invisible, it can not be treated. But this opinion leads to the development of complications of latent infections. Sometimes pathogens do not manifest themselves with a clear clinical picture, but only occasionally with small inflammatory reactions, which either go away on their own or are eliminated with the help of simple treatment or self-medication without visiting a doctor and diagnosis. But the long-term presence of an infectious agent in the body does not pass without leaving a trace.
In men, hidden sexually transmitted infections often cause decreased fertility and infertility. Pathogenic microorganisms affect sperm quality. In the ejaculate, the number of motile germ cells decreases, the number of defective ones increases, and their morphological properties change. The man becomes unable to conceive.
- Ectopic pregnancy
Chronic inflammation in the fallopian tubes leads to structural changes in the form of swelling and narrowing of the lumen. The production of secretion, which serves as a nutrient medium for the embryo moving into the uterine cavity, is also disrupted. The movement of microvilli in the tube and its peristaltic contractions also become abnormal. Edema does not allow the embryo to overcome this distance to the uterine cavity; it attaches in the wrong place. This is how it develops. When the embryo is localized in the abdominal cavity, abdominal pregnancy develops.
- Infertility
Among all the reasons, tubal-peritoneal factors come first - this is a violation of the patency of the fallopian tubes due to the formation of adhesions. Adhesions are strands of connective tissue. They are the result of an inflammatory reaction and occur when the body tries to limit the pathological process. The location of the adhesions can be different - in the pelvic cavity, in the lumen of the fallopian tubes, in the uterus. eliminated laparoscopically, but after them the blood flow in the wall of the appendages is disrupted, and in the ischemic zone, cell contractility and secretory activity are no longer the same.
Fetal infection or infectious complications of pregnancy
During pregnancy, there is a natural immunosuppression under the influence of high progesterone. Therefore, any infectious process can be activated. If this occurs early, before the placenta is formed, in most cases, damage to the embryo leads to miscarriage. Infection in the 2-3 trimester can lead to. For the fetus, this threatens the development of feto-placental insufficiency, malnutrition and chronic hypoxia. Such children are born with low birth weight and are prone to various diseases during the neonatal period.
Sometimes the pathogen overcomes the feto-placental barrier and causes a congenital infection. It affects rapidly growing and not fully formed tissues:
- epidermis;
- nervous tissue, brain;
- bones and joints.
In pregnant women, the presence of hidden sexually transmitted infections can lead to infection of the child during childbirth. This happens especially often when the process worsens shortly before delivery. Sometimes they cause premature birth and early rupture of amniotic fluid.
In the postpartum period, activation of pathogens leads to endometritis and upward spread of infection, which also leads to the formation of adhesions.
What diseases can occur without a bright clinic?
The causative agents of latent infections can be different types of microorganisms:
- mushrooms;
- viruses;
- bacteria;
- protozoa.
Diseases that occur in a latent form:
- mycoplasmosis;
- chlamydia;
- trichomoniasis;
- gonorrhea;
- genital herpes;
- cytomegalovirus.
Chlamydia can induce phagocytosis, but inside the cell they begin to multiply. At a certain point, the cell disintegrates and chlamydia comes out. Energetically, the bacterium is completely dependent on the host cell, which is similar to viruses.
Symptoms of latent sexually transmitted infections caused by chlamydia are nonspecific. Women experience mucous or mucopurulent discharge with a mild unpleasant odor or a yellowish tint. Sometimes they experience itching of the genitals and burning when urinating. Pain in the lower abdomen appears with a long course of the disease.
In men, symptoms appear in the form of mild urethritis, the urine may become cloudy, and there is a burning sensation when urinating. At the beginning of the disease, pain in the testicles is likely. The infection quickly becomes chronic.
Gonorrhea
The causative agent of gonorrhea is diplococcus, which is located intracellularly. It is also characterized by incomplete phagocytosis. Gonorrhea can be combined with trichomoniasis. Trichomonas, motile leukocytes, act as carriers of gonococci to the overlying parts of the reproductive tract.
All people are susceptible to gonorrhea. But children, often girls, are especially affected. If one of the parents is diagnosed with an infection, the whole family is examined. This is due to the structural features of the genitourinary tract in girls and the lack of protective factors, as in an adult woman.
Gonococci cause the following diseases:
- urethritis;
- cervicitis;
- salpingitis;
- proctitis;
- arthritis;
- conjunctivitis.
Pregnant women are examined upon registration, and vaginal smears are also examined shortly before birth. But despite this, during childbirth everyone is mistaken for conditionally infected. Therefore, during the initial treatment of newborn children, a 30% solution of albucid is instilled into the eyes.
In women, gonorrhea more often than other infections causes obstruction of the fallopian tubes and infertility.
Trichomoniasis
The causative agent is a unicellular microorganism. The course of the disease is often hidden, but is manifested by mild itching and burning of the genitals. Discharge during the disease has a characteristic greenish appearance, watery or foamy in nature. Sometimes a “fishy” smell is added.
It is not always possible to detect Trichomonas with a simple smear. It is able to integrate into the vaginal epithelium and imitate its structure. A reliable method of diagnosis is culture on nutrient media.
In men, signs of infection are nonspecific, they include painful urination, swelling of the testicles, but most often symptoms of prostatitis appear.
Treatment is mandatory even during pregnancy, but first the patient is kept for up to 16 weeks and only then antibiotics are prescribed.
Papillomavirus
The group of papillomaviruses, or HPVs, includes several families that consist of a number of pathogens. Infection occurs through sexual contact, but not through every sexual act. The incidence of infection increases with the number of sexual partners.
Some types of HPV that have oncogenic activity are dangerous. They can lead to the development of cervical cancer. This pathology is often detected in the later stages, when treatment already brings little results. For cervical cancer diagnosed at stage 4, the five-year survival rate is less than 15%.
But some types of HPV cause only skin reactions with the formation of papillomas and condylomas. In HIV-infected people, there is a deep suppression of the immune system, which causes growths like plaques, cauliflower or individual papillae in the anus, on the labia, and the head of the penis. In other cases, with sufficient immunity, the body is able to restrain the development of the disease.
It is impossible to completely cure HPV, but there is a way to prevent infection with oncogenic strains. An antiviral vaccine has been developed. It must be administered to the girl even before sexual activity begins.
Herpes
Herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 can cause rashes on the genitals during the acute period. But often the disease has a chronic latent course. After infection, several years often pass before the first signs appear. All this time, the herpes virus hides in the spinal ganglia in the form of a chain of nucleic acid embedded in the cell nucleus.
According to WHO, infection with the herpes virus reaches 80-90% among different groups of the population. The increase in the number of infected people begins in children over 5 years old, when they begin to actively communicate and increase the number of contacts.
When immunity decreases, the virus is activated, begins to actively multiply and enters the areas innervated by the affected ganglion along the nerve processes. If the primary infection was through the mucous membrane of the lips or nose, then the rash appears on the face. When infected through sexual contact in women, rashes appear on the cervix, vaginal walls, and labia (). In men, this is the head of the penis.
The disease usually occurs in a severe form with severe intoxication. Ulcers are very painful and affect general well-being. Activation of a latent infection before childbirth is dangerous in terms of possible infection of the child. The herpes virus can pose an even greater danger during breastfeeding.
The disease can occur with rare relapses or appear only once in a lifetime. But in some people with weakened immune systems, relapses occur several times a year; for women, menstruation can be a provoking factor. A special antiherpetic vaccine has been developed that can reduce the number of relapses.
Cytomegalovirus
The virus belongs to the group of herpes viruses; its presence in the body is also lifelong after infection. Manifestations of infection are nonspecific, but activation or is especially dangerous. For the fetus in the early stages, this always threatens the development of pathologies incompatible with life. Therefore, such a pregnancy ends in spontaneous miscarriage. Children who survive are born with severe defects of the nervous system.
Latent sexually transmitted infections require treatment if a diagnosis has been made and the presence of a pathogen has been established. But not every microorganism can be affected. The herpes virus can be treated with antiviral drugs only during an exacerbation.
Antibiotics for the treatment of latent sexually transmitted infections should be selected taking into account the sensitivity of microorganisms to them. This will protect against incomplete treatment of the disease and further chronic course.
With simple communication with a person, it is impossible to understand whether he is a carrier of a hidden infection. Therefore, during sexual contacts, you must remember your safety and use. If an infection is suspected, a diagnosis must be made. The most accurate method is PCR. Currently, this test can not only detect the DNA of the pathogen, but also the copy number or CFU in real time.
The topic is very prosaic - sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In recent years, rates of infection with sexually transmitted diseases have been steadily increasing. Unfortunately, this primarily concerns adolescents, due to the lack of proper sex education in schools and families. Statistics say that every 10 people on our planet suffer from STDs, not excluding children and the elderly.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a whole group of infectious diseases with diverse clinical manifestations, united by sexual transmission and a high social danger. The term appeared in 1980, and to date, over 20 types of infections and viruses are classified as STDs: from the deadly HIV infection to the banal chlamydia, which, by the way, cannot be called trivial either. Moreover, in terms of prevalence in Russia, it is in second place after the flu.
Based on the type of pathogen, STDs are divided as follows:
The World Health Organization classifies STDs as follows:
Typical sexually transmitted infections
- gonorrhea;
- syphilis;
- lymphogranulomatosis (inguinal form);
- chancroid.
- granuloma venereal type.
Other STDs
which primarily affect the organs of the reproductive system:
- urogenital shigellosis (occurs in persons with homosexual sexual intercourse);
- trichomoniasis;
- candidal lesions of the genital organs, manifested by balanoposthitis and vulvovaginitis;
- mycoplasmosis;
- herpes type 2;
- gardnerellosis;
- scabies;
- genital warts;
- chlamydia;
- flat spots (pediculosis pubis);
- molluscum contagiosum.
which primarily affect other organs and systems:
- neonatal sepsis;
- Hepatitis B;
- Giardia;
- cytomegalovirus;
- AIDS;
- amebiasis (typical for persons with homosexual contacts).
Often STDs are asymptomatic and are detected only at the stage of development of complications. Therefore, it is very important to pay due attention to their prevention: use contraception, avoid casual sexual contact, maintain hygiene and get tested twice a year as directed by a gynecologist or urologist.
Of course, most STDs are curable, but not all. For example, you will never be able to get rid of genital herpes - treatment only softens the course of the disease and reduces the frequency and severity of relapses. Only those under 25 have a chance to get rid of the human papillomavirus (HPV) forever. Later, it will not be possible to destroy the virus; the point of treatment is to eliminate the changes in the tissues affected by the virus.
By the way, it is believed that the human papillomavirus can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva and penis. The genital herpes virus also affects sperm, and if a woman is infected with it during pregnancy, it can cause severe congenital diseases of the fetus.
Note: Almost all viral and bacterial sexually transmitted diseases penetrate the placental barrier, that is, they are transmitted to the fetus in utero and disrupt its physiological development. Sometimes the consequences of such infection appear only several years after the birth of the child in the form of dysfunction of the heart, liver, kidneys, and developmental disorders.
Treatment will be successful only if it is started without delay and completed. How to spot the very first danger signals?
The alarm has been declared!
There are eight main signs, if you find them, you should not delay visiting a doctor.
- Itching and burning in the intimate area.
- Redness in the genital area and anus, sometimes - ulcers, blisters, pimples.
- Discharge from the genitals, odor.
- Frequent, painful urination.
- Enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the groin area.
- In women - pain in the lower abdomen, in the vagina.
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
- Cloudy urine.
However, for example, syphilis or chlamydia can appear several weeks after infection, and sometimes STDs can generally run latent for a long time, becoming chronic.
Regardless of the presence of unpleasant sensations in the genital area, a preventive visit to the doctor is necessary twice a year, as well as after casual sexual contact, sexual violence, or in case of infidelity of your regular partner. If you notice any symptoms of an STD, go to your appointment the same day.
Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases in women
The presence of certain symptoms of STDs in women is explained by the characteristics of their physiology.
The following signs should alert a woman and become a reason for an emergency visit to the gynecologist:
- pain and feeling of dryness during sex;
- single or group enlargement of lymph nodes;
- dysmenorrhea (disturbances in the normal menstrual cycle);
- pain and discharge from the anus;
- itching in the perineal area;
- anal irritation;
- rash on the labia or around the anus, mouth, or body;
- unusual vaginal discharge (green, foamy, smelly, bloody);
- frequent painful urge to urinate;
- swelling of the vulva.
Sexually transmitted diseases in men: symptoms
You can suspect an STD in men based on the following signs::
- blood in semen;
- frequent and painful urge to urinate;
- low-grade fever (not in all diseases);
- problems with normal ejaculation;
- pain in the scrotum;
- discharge from the urethra (white, purulent, mucous, with an odor);
- various types of rashes on the head of the penis, the penis itself, and around it.
Let's get to know each other better
- Chlamydia
Symptoms. 1-4 weeks after infection with it, patients develop purulent discharge, painful urination, as well as pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, bleeding between menstruation in women, and pain in the scrotum and perineum in men.
Why is it dangerous? In women, it can lead to inflammation of the fallopian tubes, cervix, pathologies of pregnancy and childbirth, diseases of the liver, and spleen.
In men - to inflammation of the epididymis, prostate gland, bladder, and impaired potency. Newborns may develop conjunctivitis, nasopharyngeal lesions, and pneumonia.
- Trichomoniasis
Symptoms. They can appear 4-21 days after infection, sometimes later. Women experience copious foamy discharge of a white or yellowish-green color with a pungent odor, causing severe itching and irritation of the genitals, as well as pain, burning during urination, and pain during sexual intercourse. Men experience a burning sensation when urinating, mucopurulent discharge from the urethra. However, this disease is often asymptomatic.
Why is it dangerous? In women, the cervix and inner layer of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and urinary tract are affected. The infection can even cause peritonitis!
In men, the prostate gland, testicles and their appendages, and urinary tract are affected.
- Mycoplasmosis (in men - ureaplasmosis)
Symptoms. It may reveal itself 3 days after infection, or maybe a month later, manifested by itching and discomfort in the genital area, scanty transparent discharge, and painful urination.
Why is it dangerous? A common complication in women is inflammation of the genital organs, in men - impaired spermatogenesis.
- Gonorrhea
Symptoms. 3-7 days after infection, women experience yellowish-greenish vaginal discharge, frequent, painful urination, pain in the lower abdomen, and sometimes bloody discharge. However, for most representatives of the fairer sex, the disease goes unnoticed for a long time. Men experience pain and burning when urinating, yellowish-greenish purulent discharge from the urethra.
Why is it dangerous? In women, the urethra, vagina, anus, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes are affected. In men, the internal genital organs develop chronic inflammation of the epididymis, seminal vesicles, and prostate, which threatens impotence and infertility.
- Syphilis
Symptoms. The incubation period of the disease is from 3 to 6 weeks. The first sign is a round ulcer (chancre). In women, it lives on the labia or vaginal mucosa (sometimes in the anus, in the mouth, on the lips), in men - on the penis or scrotum. In itself, it is painless, but a week or two after its appearance, the nearest lymph nodes enlarge.
This is the time to start treatment! This is the first stage of the disease, when everything is still reversible.
2-4 months after infection, the second stage develops - a rash “spreads” throughout the body, high fever and headache appear, and almost all lymph nodes become enlarged.
In some patients, hair falls out on the head, and wide condylomas grow on the genitals and in the anus.
Why is it dangerous? This disease is called slow death: if it is not fully treated in time, serious problems arise with the musculoskeletal system, irreversible changes occur in the internal organs and nervous system - the third stage of the disease begins, in which approximately a quarter of patients die.
Forget about the Internet!
Noticed something is wrong? It’s better to play it safe and hurry to see a doctor, rather than look for symptoms and treatment methods on the Internet.
How are STDs diagnosed? First - an examination by a doctor, then - tests and studies. The most modern method of DNA diagnostics: PCR (polymerase chain reaction). For examination, scrapings are taken from the urethra, vagina and cervix.
Doctors also use the ELISA method (blood is taken from a vein or a scraping is made and the presence of antibodies to STDs is determined), bacterioscopy (most often detects gonococci and trichomonas) and many other diagnostic methods.
STDs are treated with antibacterial drugs, as well as local procedures (washing the urethra in men, sanitizing the vagina in women and other procedures).
At the end of the course of treatment, you must undergo a follow-up examination - take several tests to make sure there is no infection in the body.
What is important to know
- Is it possible to get infected in a bathhouse or swimming pool?
In fact, the likelihood of contracting an STD through everyday contact is very low. Microorganisms that cause sexually transmitted diseases are unstable in the external environment. In a swimming pool, for example, it is almost impossible to pick up such an infection (unlike a fungal or intestinal one). Even if an HIV-infected person or someone with syphilis is swimming in the water next to you, chlorinated water will quickly kill the pathogens.
However, in public toilets, if surfaces are not properly cleaned, there is a risk of infection with the papilloma virus or herpes. But classic sexually transmitted diseases - syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis - require contact with blood or mucous membranes.
The exception is syphilis: it can be transmitted through saliva if you share dishes with the patient and do not wash them well. So, in any case, you should not forget about the rules of hygiene.
Keep in mind: microorganisms that cause “bad” infections can survive for a short time on warm, damp items. Therefore, in a bathhouse or swimming pool (and at home too), do not use someone else’s wet towel, washcloth or other personal hygiene items.
- Do symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease appear immediately?
Not always. With good immunity, a disease (for example, chlamydia) can last for years without symptoms. A person may not even know that they are sick. And the only way to detect such a hidden infection is through laboratory tests.
The first signs of infection in women are unusual vaginal discharge. In men - urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Its symptoms are difficulty urinating and purulent discharge. All other symptoms (rashes, swollen lymph nodes, etc.) appear when the infection has already spread in the body.
- Is a condom reliable protection against STDs?
Yes. If it is of high quality, has not expired, is correctly sized and used correctly, then the risk of contracting most STDs is reduced to zero.
The exception is external condylomas and severe herpes infection.
By the way, spermicidal lubricant with nonoxynol-9, which is used to treat condoms, does not protect against STDs, according to a 2001 WHO report. By damaging cell membranes, nonoxynol-9 spares neither sperm, nor infections, nor the mucous membranes of the genital organs. By damaging the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix, nonoxynol-9 “opens the gates” to infections.
Although the condom is not a perfect means of preventing STDs, it is considered the most effective. Therefore, it is necessary to use condoms for all types of sex: vaginal, anal and oral.
To avoid increasing the risks, you should purchase condoms only from reputable pharmacies. To avoid damaging the condom, do not open the package with a file or your fingernails.
You need to remember: a condom can only be used in conjunction with special lubricants. Regular creams and ointments are not suitable for this.
A common mistake is to use birth control suppositories, vaginal pills or spermicidal creams along with a condom. Gynecologists warn that these drugs disrupt the vaginal microflora and provoke the development of candidiasis (thrush). Thus, instead of getting rid of problems, you can acquire them.
If you want to protect yourself as much as possible, it is enough to use a condom correctly and observe personal hygiene measures. A high degree of protection and an almost complete absence of side effects is a definite advantage of condoms. However, it should be remembered that the condom may break, in which case you should have emergency preventive measures on hand.
Emergency drug prevention is also used - a one-time dose or injection of antibacterial drugs, which can only be prescribed by a dermatovenerologist. The procedure helps prevent gonorrhea, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, syphilis and trichomoniasis. But this method cannot be used often.
But you shouldn’t count on various gels, suppositories and vaginal tablets in terms of protection against STDs. These products contain spermicidal substances in insufficient quantities to protect at least 80-90%. In addition, the causative agents of many STDs do not live in the seminal fluid, but on the genitals and are insensitive to spermicides.
The same applies to douching after sexual intercourse with special gels or chlorine-containing antiseptics.
Remember!
Sexually transmitted diseases are dangerous, first of all, due to complications: infertility, impotence, chronic inflammatory processes, damage to the nervous system and internal organs. Incorrect treatment, ignoring symptoms, and neglecting preventive measures can have a detrimental effect on your health.
What can you do in an emergency?
So, what to do after unprotected sex if you are unsure about your partner's health?
- Urinate copiously.
- Wash your hands and external genitalia with soap.
- Treat the genitals, pubis and thighs with an antiseptic (miramistin, chlorhexidine and others). This technique helps reduce the risk of STDs by 80-90%. But not 100%. So the best prevention is a condom and common sense.
- If it is not possible to visit a doctor in the next 24 hours, take a “load” dose of antibiotics.
- Contact your doctor as soon as possible.
It makes sense to consult a doctor within 5 days after unprotected sex. There is emergency drug treatment that can prevent the development of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.
But it will not help against HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Blood is donated for hepatitis, syphilis and HIV 3 months after contact. There is no point in getting tested earlier: antibodies to these diseases do not appear in the blood immediately after infection.
Following these precautions will reduce the likelihood of infection and the severity of its possible consequences.
The sexual freedom that modern people are used to enjoying has its pitfalls: according to WHO, currently every tenth person, including children and the elderly, suffers from one or another STD. Every 15 seconds, a diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection is made somewhere in the world. To maintain your health and not endanger your partner, timely prevention and treatment are required.
The constant increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases does not indicate the difficulty of prevention, but the irresponsible attitude of most people towards their health and their ignorance in this matter. Patients are often embarrassed to see a doctor when symptoms arise and try to make do with folk remedies. This is fraught with irreversible consequences for their health.
***
The only effective folk remedy for preventing STDs is complete sexual abstinence :).
Plus: it's free. Disadvantage: does not exclude the possibility of infection through domestic means and in the event of violence.
Based on materials
The human immune system is able to withstand a lot of stress and influence, but against the backdrop of environmental ill-being, daily high stress readiness and an accelerated rhythm of life, its abilities are noticeably reduced.
The body becomes vulnerable to the penetration of bacteria and viruses, which is why frequent diseases, viral and bacterial infections attack.
Some infectious diseases are considered the most insidious due to the fact that the symptoms accompanying their course are hidden and illnesses do not bring noticeable discomfort and inconvenience to a person. But their destructive effect on the body gradually leads to complex and dangerous health consequences.
Stages and signs of development of hidden pathology
Bacterial infections in women, unfortunately, are not a rare occurrence, since the ways in which viruses enter the body are varied, and the bacteria themselves become increasingly latent in the female microenvironment. Some infections in gynecology appear immediately after entering the body, proceed violently, and are accompanied by severe symptoms.
But hidden viral diseases have a much more insidious and destructive effect on women and their reproductive health due to their unpredictability.
They can destroy the reproductive health of women themselves, be transmitted to partners and cause pathologies in them as well. After entering the body, the infection goes through several stages in its development:
Gradually, the process becomes chronic, provoking inflammatory exacerbations and gynecological pathologies in women.
Despite the fact that latent infectious pathologies pose a danger precisely because in some cases they are asymptomatic until a certain period, minor and erased first symptoms of these processes can be diagnosed. The following signs indicate the presence of infection:
If the symptoms begin to appear simultaneously and become an “obsessive” problem, then we can say that the causative agent of the disease is present.
Classification of diseases
Hidden infections in obstetric and gynecological practice are noted by the fact that they are often combined with each other, aggravating and provoking inflammatory complications. There are several such infections; they are united by an asymptomatic or mildly manifested course.
| Hidden infections | Pathogen | Features of the course, symptoms | Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | Chlamydia |
|
|
| Mycoplasmosis | Mycoplasma |
|
|
| Ureaplasmosis | Mycoplasma |
|
|
| Gardnerellosis | Anaerobic bacteria (gardnerella) |
|
|
| Cytomegalovirus | Herpes virus |
|
|
| Herpesvirus genital infection | Herpes virus |
|
|
Despite the fact that anaerobic bacteria, viruses and microorganisms, once on the mucous membranes of the reproductive system, begin to actively multiply and function, the symptoms of infection may not be felt for many years.
A provoking factor for the exacerbation of complications that cause hidden fungal or anaerobic infections is considered to be suppression of the immune system against the background of:
- Pregnancy and childbearing.
- Viral diseases.
- Impact of adverse factors and stressful situations.
Important! Most often, hidden female infections make themselves felt already at the stage of pregnancy and gestation. This is why specialists pay attention to the fact that such infectious diseases are especially dangerous for the health of the fetus.
Detection of pathology and diagnosis
Fungal, anaerobic and bacterial infections that are asymptomatic are quite difficult to identify. Experts point out that simple tests may not show pathology, so patients are prescribed special tests already at the stage of pregnancy planning or if hidden genital threats are suspected.
To obtain a reliable picture of the pathological process, tests are performed according to a special scheme and principle. Female infectious diseases are transmitted sexually, but can also be transmitted if hygiene rules are not followed.
The hidden and asymptomatic course of the pathological process interferes with timely and adequate diagnosis, therefore, when taking tests, you should follow a number of simple rules:
- The appropriate time for collecting biomaterial is the fifth or sixth day of the cycle.
- Refusal to take antibiotics, antimicrobial and antiviral drugs.
- A couple of days before the test, you should avoid sexual intercourse.
- A day before collecting the material, you should stop using antiseptics, douches, and intimate hygiene products.
Features of therapeutic effects
The presence of one or several pathologies at once will help identify a smear for hidden infections.
Gynecologists prefer this type of diagnostic study, since this analysis has a number of advantages:
- promotes accurate identification of the infectious agent;
- directly determines the viral agent, while a number of laboratory tests can only determine the decay products of the viral pathogen;
- For an adequate diagnosis, a small amount of test material is sufficient.
Doctors use special disposable instruments – brushes – to collect material. The material taken from the vagina is placed on a special glass and part of it is placed in a test tube. In this way, material is provided for both microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction research.
