How to understand that you have sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases in men: causes of occurrence

The term “venereal diseases”, widely used in Soviet times in relation to syphilis and gonorrhea, is gradually being replaced by a more correct one - diseases (infections) that are predominantly sexually transmitted.

This is explained by the fact that many of these diseases are also transmitted through parenteral and vertical routes (that is, through blood, untreated instruments, from mother to fetus, and so on).

Eight sexually transmitted disease agents are the most common and are associated with the majority of diagnosed sexually transmitted infections. STDs are contracted primarily during sex (vaginal, anal, oral).

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  1. Basic facts about STDs

  1. 1 More than 1 million new cases are registered every day sexually transmitted diseases worldwide.
  2. 2 Every year, there are 357 million new cases of 1 of 4 sexually transmitted infections worldwide: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis.
  3. 3 According to WHO estimates, about half a billion people in the world are infected with the genital herpes virus.
  4. 4 More than 290 million women are infected with papillomaviruses.
  5. 5 Most STDs are not accompanied by severe symptoms and are asymptomatic.
  6. 6 Some pathogens of sexually transmitted infections (herpes virus type 2, syphilis) can increase the likelihood of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  7. 7 Besides negative influence on the body and triggering a chronic infectious and inflammatory process, sexually transmitted diseases can cause serious disorders of reproductive function.

  

  Table 1 - The most common STD pathogens

  2. Bacterial STIs

  2.1. Chlamydia

  - a disease caused by Chlamydia Ch. trachomatis serovars D-K. Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs. Most often, the infection is diagnosed in patients young(15-24 years old).

  In women, chlamydia is more often asymptomatic (80% of patients do not worry about anything). Only half of men infected with chlamydia may experience symptoms from the genitals and urinary system.

  Most typical symptoms that accompany chlamydial infection: pain, pain in the urethra when urinating, the appearance of mucous or purulent yellow discharge from the urethra (in women - from the vagina).

  2.2. Gonorrhea

  – a venereal disease caused by Neisser gonococci and accompanied by damage to the genital organs, rectum, in some cases back wall throats.

  In men, the disease is accompanied by a burning sensation in the urethra during urination, the appearance of white, yellowish or green discharge from the urethral canal (often the secretion is collected overnight and its maximum amount is released before the first urination), swelling and tenderness of the testicles.

  Some men have asymptomatic gonorrhea. Most women infected with N. gonorrhea do not complain about their health. Symptoms in women may include pain, burning in the urethra during urination, the appearance of discharge, and bleeding between menstruation.

  Infection of the rectum occurs during unprotected anal sex and is accompanied by itching, burning, pain in the anus, the appearance of discharge and blood from the rectum.

  2.3. Mycoplasmosis

  Not all mycoplasmas are pathogenic. At the moment, only infection requires mandatory treatment, as it is often the cause of non-gonococcal urethritis, vaginitis, cervicitis, and PID.

  M. hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum are also found in healthy men and women, however, in the presence of predisposing factors, they can cause genitourinary diseases.

  2.4. Chancroid

  Chancroid (pathogen - Haemophilus ducreyi) – endemic, registered predominantly in the countries of Africa, the Caribbean, and South-West Asia. For European countries, only periodic outbreaks (imported cases) are typical.

  The disease is accompanied by the appearance of painful ulcers on the genitals and enlarged regional lymph nodes. Infection with H. ducreyi increases the likelihood of human immunodeficiency virus transmission.

  

  Figure 1 - In the area of ​​the penis, at the base of the head, early chancroid is detected. On the right groin area– regional increase inguinal lymph nodes.

  2.5. Granuloma inguinale

  Inguinal granuloma (synonym - donovanosis, causative agent - Calymmatobacterium granulomatis) - chronic bacterial infection, which usually affects the skin and mucous membranes in the groin and genital areas.

  Nodular compactions appear on the skin and mucous membranes, which then ulcerate. The ulcers may gradually grow larger.

  Inguinal granuloma is rare in temperate climates and is most common in southern countries. Africa, Australia, South. America. Most often the disease is diagnosed in patients 20-40 years old.

  

  Figure 2 - Inguinal granuloma.

  2.6. Granuloma venereum

  – damage to the inguinal lymph nodes, developing as a result of infection with serovars L1 – L3 of Chlamydia trachomatis. The disease is endemic in Africa South-East Asia, India, South. America. Over the past 10 years, there has been an increase in the incidence in the North. America, Europe.

  The patient is disturbed ulcerative defects on the skin of the genitals, which are then supplemented by enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area and increased body temperature. Patients may also experience ulcerations of the rectum, which leads to pain in the anus, perineum, and the appearance of discharge and blood from the anus.

  2.7. Syphilis

  – a highly contagious (infectious) venereal disease, which is characterized by a staged course. In the early stages, chancre forms in the genital area, oropharynx, etc. The ulcer closes over time.

  After a short period of time, a rash appears on the patient’s body, which is not accompanied by itching. The rash can appear on the palms, soles and then spread to any part of the body.

  In case of untimely treatment late stages Irreversible damage occurs to internal organs, including the nervous system.

  

  Figure 3 – In the figure on the left top corner the causative agent of syphilis is depicted. In the lower left corner there is a chancre (ulcer), which forms at the first stage of the disease. In the right half there is a type of rash characteristic of secondary syphilis.

  3. Trichomoniasis

  – protozoal STI, in which the inflammation involves the tissues of the vagina and urethra. Every year, 174 million new cases of trichomoniasis are reported worldwide.

  Only 1/3 of infected patients have any signs of trichomoniasis: burning, itching in the vagina, urethra, foul-smelling yellow-green discharge from the genital tract, pain when urinating. In men, the listed symptoms may be accompanied by complaints of pain and swelling of the scrotum.

  4. Candidiasis

  – an infectious disease caused by yeast fungi of the genus Candida. There are more than 20 species of Candida fungi that can cause infection, but the most common pathogen candidiasis is Candida albicans.

  The disease is not an STD, but is quite often transmitted by unprotected sex.

  Normally, candida lives in the intestines, on the skin and mucous membranes healthy person and do not cause disease. With accompanying chronic diseases, inadequate antibacterial therapy, immunodeficiency, unprotected sexual contact with a patient, the growth of fungal colonies and the development of local inflammation occur.

  Vaginal candidiasis is accompanied by a feeling of itching, burning in the vulva and vagina, pain, discomfort during sex, the appearance of pain during urination, and the appearance of a white, cheesy discharge from the genital tract.

  In men, candida often causes balanitis and balanoposthitis (itching, redness, peeling foreskin and glans penis).

  5. Viral sexually transmitted infections

  5.1. Genital herpes

  Genital herpes (HSV, HSV type 2) is one of the most common STDs. Most often, genital herpes develops as a result of infection with a virus herpes simplex 2 types. Most patients are unaware that they have an infection.

  The virus is transmitted during unprotected sexual contact, regardless of the presence of symptoms in the carrier. After entering the body, the virus migrates along nerve endings and can be in a "sleeping" state for a long time.

  When weakened immune system patient, reverse migration of the virus to the skin occurs and the development of symptoms of genital herpes: redness of the skin of the genitals, the appearance of small blisters filled with clear liquid.

  Such blisters burst and a superficial ulcer forms, which heals within a few days. The rash is painful and may be accompanied by increased body temperature and enlarged inguinal lymph nodes.

  

  Figure 4 - Rashes with genital herpes.

  5.2. Papillomaviruses

  Genital papillomas (HPV, HPV, human papillomavirus infection) are a disease accompanied by the formation of growths (papillomas) on the skin of the genital organs. Throughout life, almost all people become infected with one of the subtypes of the human papillomavirus.

  Infection with HPV types 6 and 11 is not always accompanied by the appearance of papillomas. Papillomas occur more often in women than in men.

  They are small skin growths on a thin stalk, often skin-colored and soft in consistency. Some subtypes of the virus (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, etc.) can lead to the development of cervical cancer. Vaccines against HPV have been developed.

  

  Figure 5 - Genital papillomas.

  5.3. Hepatitis B

  Hepatitis B (HBV, HBV)– viral infection liver, accompanied by inflammation, death of hepatocytes, and the development of fibrosis. In addition to sexual contact, the hepatitis B virus can be transmitted through blood transfusion, hemodialysis, from mother to fetus, through accidental injections with infected syringe needles (usually among medical staff, drug addicts), through tattooing, piercing using poorly sterilized materials.

  The disease can occur in acute form accompanied by liver dysfunction varying degrees(from mild to severe, including acute liver failure), development of jaundice skin, general weakness, darkening of urine, nausea, vomiting.

  At chronic hepatitis The liver tissue undergoes fibrosis. The infection increases the risk of developing liver cancer.

  5.4. HIV infection

  – a retrovirus that is transmitted sexually, parenterally (when the blood of an infected patient enters the recipient’s blood) and vertically (from mother to fetus) by routes. After entering the human body, the virus primarily affects lymphocytes, leading to a decrease in their number and weakened immunity.

  Currently, when a life sentence is assigned antiretroviral therapy virus reproduction can be stopped, thereby maintaining normal immune status patient.

  If treatment is not started in a timely manner or therapy is abandoned, the level of lymphocytes decreases significantly, and the likelihood of developing opportunistic diseases (infections that are extremely rarely recorded in people without impaired immune status) increases.

  6. Main symptoms of STDs

  In men	Among women
  	Pain, cutting in the urethra during urination
  Itching in the head, urethra	Itching in the vagina, urethra
  Increased urination	Increased urination
  	Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes
  	Pain in the rectum, discharge from the anus
  	Vaginal bleeding between periods
  	Painful, discomfort during sex

  Table 2 - Main symptoms of diseases transmitted primarily through sexual contact

  7. Diagnostics

  1. 1 If the symptoms described above appear, there is a suspicion of an STD, or casual unprotected sex, it is recommended to consult a urologist or venereologist; the woman is also recommended to consult a gynecologist. After initial examination the patient is sent for a series of examinations that help identify sexually transmitted infections and prescribe adequate treatment.
  2. 2 Initial examination by a doctor. In men, the scrotum, penis, head of the penis, and, if necessary, the rectum are examined. The gynecologist performs an external examination of the genital organs, examination of the vagina and cervix with mirrors.
  3. 3 During the initial examination, a smear may be taken from the urethra and vagina, followed by staining with dyes and microscopy.
  4. 4 Sowing a smear on nutrient media to cultivate the pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.
  5. 5 Sending smear material from the urethra/vagina for molecular genetic diagnostics (determination of the DNA of the main pathogens of STDs using PCR).
  6. 6 To identify some STDs (hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, etc.), a sample is taken venous blood and her referral for serodiagnosis ( linked immunosorbent assay to determine antibodies to the pathogen), PCR diagnostics.

  

  Figure 6 – Sample results of determining the DNA of pathological microorganisms in a smear from the urethra using the PCR method (DNA of the main pathogens was not detected in the scraping from the urethra).

  8. Most common complications

  Due to the fact that most cases of STDs are asymptomatic in the early stages, patients often consult a doctor late. The most common complications of sexually transmitted diseases are:

  1. 1 Chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
  2. 2 Pregnancy complications (miscarriages, premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation syndrome, infection of the newborn - pneumonia, conjunctivitis, etc.).
  3. 3 Conjunctivitis (inflammation outer shell eyes).
  4. 4 Arthritis (inflammation of the joints).
  5. 5 Female and male infertility.
  6. 6

     In men	Among women
     Pain, cutting in the urethra during urination	Pain, cutting in the urethra during urination
     Itching in the head, urethra	Itching in the vagina, urethra
     Increased urination	Increased urination
     The appearance of discharge from the urethral canal (mucous, yellowish, green)	The appearance of vaginal discharge
     Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes	Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes
     Swelling, pain in the scrotum, inflammation of the testicles	Vaginal bleeding between periods
     Pain in the rectum, discharge from the anus	Pain in the rectum, discharge from the anus
     The appearance of ulcers on the genitals	Vaginal bleeding between periods
     Redness of the head of the penis, the appearance of plaque on the head	Chronic pain lower abdomen
     Painful and unpleasant sensations during sex	Painful and unpleasant sensations during sex

Sexually transmitted diseases have a destructive effect on the human body. There are no diseases like these that are accompanied by such terrible injuries to the body as venereal diseases. The body becomes covered with ulcers, soft and cartilage tissue. In order to get treatment on time, it is important to know the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases at an early stage.

Sexually transmitted diseases do not appear immediately. The incubation period passes, which ranges from several weeks to several months, when viruses and microbes do not show themselves in any way. This is their danger. A person may not know they have HIV until symptoms appear. Often the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear already in the third stage, when it is too late to treat. This property of HIV is especially evident in women. Although sexually transmitted diseases are equally destructive for women and men, the process itself occurs differently. In women it is more secretive, since the female genital organs are located inside the body.

Another danger is that it is not customary to talk about sexually transmitted diseases out loud. The topic is very sensitive and many, both men and women, are ashamed to consult a doctor. They are trying to heal on their own. As a result, there may be even more dangerous situation. Venereal diseases the symptoms will cease to appear, but the disease itself will not disappear. She just might move out acute phase into chronic. The virus will stop manifesting itself, the symptoms will disappear, and the person will have the illusion of recovery. But in fact, the disease has not disappeared anywhere. At this time, the body continues to break down, and the patient infects others.

Any sexually transmitted disease manifests itself in a special way, has its own set of symptoms and proceeds in different ways. Especially dangerous are those that proceed secretly or disguise themselves as less dangerous illnesses. More than 30 sexually transmitted diseases are known in the world, but only a few of them are common in Russia.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AIDS is one of the most dangerous sexually transmitted diseases. It was discovered quite recently and not much is known about it. It is known that it is incurable, according to at least, today there is no medicine or vaccine that can cure a person completely. It has a very long incubation period - the first signs may appear several years after infection. All this time the patient is a carrier of the virus. Below are signs of sexually transmitted diseases characteristic of AIDS:

Weakened immunity leads to the development of other ailments. A person can become infected, for example, with tuberculosis or dangerous form flu, while the process of development of the disease is accelerated. Sexually transmitted diseases symptoms that can be observed in men are manifested as follows: a patient with AIDS experiences general weakness and rapid fatigue. If there are any chronic diseases, then they move from the chronic to the active stage. To put accurate diagnosis, you need to take a blood test to check for HIV. Although AIDS cannot be cured, it can be transferred from the active to the passive phase. This will make it possible to increase the patient’s life expectancy and reduce the risk of spreading the virus, since it is not transmitted in a passive state.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia and its varieties are sexually transmitted diseases, the symptoms of which will appear, if infected, within a month. At the first stage, manifestations such as cystitis, pneumonia or arthritis are possible. Masquerading as other diseases, chlamydia is discovered much later. At this time, the infected person is trying to cure a completely different illness, wasting time. Only after an examination can you accurately determine the presence of chlamydia. The presence of the disease in men can be determined by the following signs:

• constantly elevated temperature body up to 37.5 degrees,
• weakness, fatigue sets in very quickly,
• come out of the urethra purulent discharge with a terrible smell
• the appearance of blood in the urine,
• redness of the head of the penis,
• pain in the joints and lower back.

If you have these signs, you should consult a doctor. Female Chlamydia is much more difficult to detect. Any external manifestations and no discharge is visible. There may be a change in the color of the leucorrhoea, but this may be a sign of hypothermia. Only regular examinations by a gynecologist, twice a year, will help.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is one of the most insidious sexually transmitted diseases. Venereal symptoms are very mild, the incubation period lasts up to 3 weeks. All this time, a person may not even be aware of his infection. Exacerbation of previous ailments is possible. The disease can only be determined after taking tests and undergoing research, but there are some signs that if they appear, you should consult a doctor. In men, trichomoniasis can manifest itself as follows:

• there was a slight pain when urinating, pain or burning,
• the urge to urinate, in the absence of urine,
• mucous discharge in small quantities.

Trichomoniasis provokes the development of prostatitis, urethritis and infertility in men. In order to recover, you will have to take a course of antibiotics, including in the form of antimicrobial compounds applied to the affected area. Simultaneously with the treatment, studies are carried out on the body of the patient’s sexual partner.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases among both men and women. The danger of this disease lies in the fact that recently, known symptoms, in the form of mucous purulent discharge, are not excreted. The infection has mutated and now its manifestations are hidden, but according to some signs, its presence can still be determined. The following are the symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease.

• itching when urinating,
• sensation of heat inside the head and at its end,
• the mouth of the urethra sticks together, swelling and redness appear.

IN mild form, gonorrhea can be treated quickly. The drug course of treatment is only 1 week. If you start gonorrhea, then the treatment will take longer. To treat the disease, very powerful antibiotics are used, such as ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and doxycycline. Their long-term use can severely affect the liver. Therefore, if at least one of the listed symptoms appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Syphilis

Syphilis is one of the most dangerous and insidious venereal diseases. known to people. As is known, it was brought from the New World during the time of the Great Discoveries. There was a time when syphilis claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The danger of this disease lies in the fact that it is not only transmitted through sexual contact. Close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and even contaminated bedding or linens can lead to infection. In our time household syphilis almost completely disappeared.

The main sign of infection in men is the appearance of an ulcer on the penis - chancre. Sometimes chancre appears in other places, for example on the lips, in the mouth area, and even more rarely on the neck, in the anus. At the first stage, the disease does not manifest itself in any way; the presence of the disease can be determined only after examination. Incubation period last more than a month.

Unfortunately, most patients are reluctant to admit the fact of infection and, even after the appearance of chancre, consider the ulcer as an ordinary scratch or wound received from an impact. Syphilis is accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes and pain when palpated. If it is not treated early, syphilis progresses from the first to the second stage. Then signs such as:

• rash loss,
• heat up to 38 degrees and above,
• baldness,
• fatigue sets in quickly,
• frequent attacks of headaches,
• large ulcers and boils, directly on the genitals,
• enlargement of lymph nodes by 2-3 times and painful sensations when feeling them.

If you do not consult a doctor in time at stages 1 and 2 of syphilis, the third stage occurs:

• the musculoskeletal system is destroyed, an altered gait appears,
• the whole body is covered with deep and fetid ulcers (the nose may fall in),
• internal organs are destroyed
• the nervous system is destroyed. The person suffers from nervous attacks and psychosis.

About a quarter of all those infected die from syphilis. Previously, until 1963, he was treated with mercury-based drugs. Nowadays they use more safe drugs, but still, the antibiotics used are highly toxic. At re-infection, syphilis immediately begins in the third stage, and becomes completely incurable.

Ureaplasmosis

Ureaplasmosis is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Symptoms of ureaplasmosis can appear within a few days to one month. The main symptoms by which you can determine the presence of the disease:

• mild pain when urinating,
• redness and burning in the groin area,
• redness of the head of the penis, especially near the urethra,
• discharge from the urethra, odorless and colorless.

Ureaplasmosis predominantly affects women. If the disease is not treated, it will cause inflammation and adhesion of the cervix, which will lead to infertility. In a man, this can lead to the appearance of prostatitis, as well as infertility. So it’s better to undergo timely examinations and monitor your intimate life.

People become infected with sexually transmitted diseases, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), during sexual intercourse. Microorganisms, causing disease, can be transmitted through blood, semen, saliva and any other fluids secreted by the body.

Some of these infections can be transmitted not only sexually, but, for example, from mother to child, during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, or during a blood transfusion (hemotransfusion). Sexually transmitted diseases are common in modern world, therefore it is extremely important to know the symptoms in order to correctly diagnose. We must not forget about personal protection measures and prevention unpleasant problems with health.

Since sexually transmitted diseases can be asymptomatic for some time, a person may not always know that he is the source of infection. In this case, the spread of the disease occurs “by chance.”

Symptoms of some sexually transmitted diseases

Chlamydia

The first 1-3 weeks after infection, chlamydia is completely asymptomatic.

HIV symptoms may not be. In most cases, after 2-6 weeks a flu-like condition develops, which does not have specific symptoms, so early stages diseases are often missed.

Early symptoms

• Fever;
• A sore throat;
• Rash;
• Weakness.

These symptoms usually go away within 1-4 weeks. During this period, the sick person is contagious, and therefore dangerous to others. More severe and specific symptoms may first appear even 10 years after infection. Therefore, it is very important to visit a doctor and get tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases.

Secondary symptoms

As the virus destroys the immune system, the following symptoms appear:

• Enlarged lymph nodes;
• Weight loss;
• Fever;
• Cough and shortness of breath.

Late HIV symptoms

• Constant weakness and fatigue;
• Heavy night sweats;
• Chills and fever for several weeks;
• Enlarged lymph nodes for 3 months or more;
• Chronic diarrhea;
• Constant headache;
• Opportunistic infections ( infectious diseases, which never develop in people with normally functioning immunity).

Genital herpes

is a highly contagious disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus enters the body through microtraumas on the skin and mucous membranes. The vast majority of people do not even know that they are carriers of the virus, since they do not have any manifestations of the disease. In cases where there are symptoms, the first exacerbation is quite severe. Some people never have exacerbations of the disease, while others have genital herpes that recurs constantly.

Symptoms

• Small red sores and blisters in the genital area;
• Soreness and itching in the perineum, buttocks, inner surface hips

The first symptom of genital herpes, pain and itching, usually appears several weeks after contact with a carrier of the virus. First, many bubbles appear, which open and form ulcers.

During the period when there are ulcers, there may be pain and burning during urination. These sensations may persist even when all defects in the skin and mucous membranes have healed.

During the incubation period, a person may experience headaches, muscle pain, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, especially in the groin area.

In some cases, a person remains contagious even after all the sores have healed and the discomfort has passed.

Genital warts

Genital warts caused by are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.

Symptoms

• Small flesh-colored or grayish bumps in the genital area;
• Some warts merge into each other, resembling cauliflower;
• Itching and/or discomfort in the perineum;
• Contact bleeding.

However, most often genital warts do not manifest themselves in any way. They can be very small, up to 1 mm, or they can form large conglomerates.

In women, genital warts can appear on the labia, vaginal opening and walls, cervix, perineum, and around the anus. In men - on the penis, scrotum and around the anus.

Hepatitis

A, B and C are contagious viral infections that damage the liver. The severity and time of onset of symptoms depends on the type of hepatitis and the reactivity of the person’s immune system.

Symptoms

• Fatigue;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Pain or discomfort in the abdomen, especially in the right hypochondrium;
• Loss of appetite;
• Fever;
• Darkening of urine;
• Pain in muscles and joints;
• Skin itching;
• Jaundice (yellowish coloration of the skin, mucous membranes and sclera).

Syphilis

The causative agent of syphilis is a microorganism - treponema pallidum. Initially, it affects only the genital tract, but gradually spreads throughout the body.

- a bacterial infection that affects the genital tract, but over time can spread to all organs and systems, causing a variety of manifestations. Syphilis goes through four stages, each of which has its own characteristics. There is also congenital syphilis, when the fetus becomes infected during pregnancy. Congenital syphilis is very dangerous condition, therefore, all pregnant women should not skip the tests prescribed by the gynecologist, and if syphilis is detected, it should be treated immediately.

Primary syphilis

Symptoms appear 10-90 days after infection:

• A small painless ulcer (chancre) at the site of penetration of the pathogen (genitals, rectum). Usually there is only one chancre, but in rare cases there may be several of them;
• Enlarged lymph nodes.

Although the symptoms of primary syphilis may disappear without treatment, this does not mean that the person is cured. The disease simply moves into the next stage.

Secondary syphilis

Symptoms appear 2-10 weeks after infection:

• Red rash the size of small coin(50 kopecks) all over the body, including the palms and soles;
• Fever;
• Weakness, lethargy, fatigue.

These symptoms may come and go within a few days, or may persist for a year or more.

Latent syphilis

The period when there are no symptoms. Complete self-healing may occur, but more often the disease progresses to tertiary syphilis.

Tertiary syphilis

If, then treponema pallidum (the causative agent of syphilis) can spread throughout the body, cause changes in any organs and even lead to death.

Neurological symptoms

• , arachnoiditis and their combinations;
• Numbness and weakness in the limbs;
• Paralysis;
• Deafness;
• Blindness;
• (dementia).

Cardiovascular symptoms

• Formation of aneurysms;
• Aortitis and arteritis;

Diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases

In many cases, a blood test will help diagnose a sexually transmitted disease.

If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted disease, or you have had sex with a partner who later develops strange symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. A gynecologist or infectious disease specialist will prescribe you necessary tests, will conduct an examination and make a diagnosis if infection does occur. The following tests are used to detect sexually transmitted infections:

• Blood test (signs of inflammation, Wasserman reaction);
• (for urethritis);
• Smears from the urethra, vagina and cervix (for microscopy and identification of the pathogen);
• Imprint smears from skin and mucous membrane defects;
• Enzyme immunoassay (to determine antigens);
• Polymerase chain reaction (to identify the genetic material of the pathogen);
• Specific studies for specific pathogens (for example, a number of tests for hepatitis).

Screening

Screening is a set of tests and studies that a person who does not have symptoms of the disease undergoes. Screening is carried out not only to identify possible sexually transmitted diseases, but also to early diagnosis other diseases (for example, screening in

Our expert - gynecologist Marina Vedeleeva.

Dangerous Thirty

The topic is very prosaic - sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Almost every one of us has met them in person at least once in our lives. By the way, there are more than 30 of them: from the deadly HIV infection to the banal chlamydia, which, by the way, also cannot be called trivial. Moreover, in terms of prevalence in Russia, it is in second place after the flu.

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 (HPV) forever. Later, it will not be possible to destroy the virus; the point of treatment is to eliminate 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 fetus.

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 seven main signs that you should not delay visiting a doctor if you discover them.

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.

However, for example, syphilis or chlamydia can appear several weeks after infection, and sometimes STDs in general for a long time can occur hidden, turning into chronic form.

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, spleen; in men – to inflammation of the epididymis, prostate gland, Bladder, impaired potency. Newborns may develop conjunctivitis, nasopharyngeal lesions, pneumonia.

Trichomoniasis

Symptoms. They can appear 4–21 days after infection, sometimes later. Women experience copious foamy discharge of white or yellowish-green color with a pungent odor, causing severe itching and irritation of the genital organs, as well as pain, burning during urination, pain during sexual intercourse. In men, there is a burning sensation during urination, 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 are affected, the fallopian tubes, ovaries, urinary tract. 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 secretions, painful urination.

Why is it dangerous? Frequent complication trichomoniasis in women - inflammation of the genital organs, in men - a violation of spermatogenesis.

Gonorrhea

Symptoms. 3–7 days after infection, women experience yellowish-greenish vaginal discharge, frequent, painful urination, pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes bloody issues. 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, fallopian tubes. In men, the internal genital organs develop chronic inflammation epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate, which threatens impotence and infertility.

Syphilis

Symptoms. The incubation period of the disease is 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 The lymph nodes. This is the time to start treatment! This is the first stage of the disease, when it 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 not fully treated in time, serious problems with the musculoskeletal system, irreversible changes occur in internal organs, nervous system– the third stage of the disease begins, in which approximately a quarter of patients die.

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Did you notice that 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. Most modern method 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 done and the presence of antibodies to STDs is determined), bacterioscopy (most often it 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.

How to protect yourself?

The classic self-defense against STDs is the condom. High quality and correctly sized.

Also used as an emergency drug prophylaxis– one-time dose or injection 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 as for douching after sexual intercourse with special gels or chlorine-containing antiseptics, most experts believe that this does not reduce the risk of infection.

Often, manifestations of genital infections in women are insignificant or mild. Another difficulty in diagnosing this type of disease is the lack of specificity of manifestations.

The signs and symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases in women are not much different from other STDs.

This results in most infections being detected at late stages. Currently, doctors are increasingly identifying diseases in women caused by chlamydia, ureaplasma, herpes virus and other pathogens. Long-term genital infections in women can contribute to the development of infertility and gynecological diseases.

Symptoms

Despite the fact that many of the genital diseases are asymptomatic, it is the unpleasant sensations and discomfort in the genital area that force women to seek treatment. medical care to gynecologists. Alarming symptoms venereal diseases in women are:

• Atypical vaginal discharge (yellow or green, foamy, accompanied by an unpleasant odor);
• Burning and itching in the genital area;
• Bloody vaginal discharge outside of menstruation;
• Menstrual irregularities;
• Frequent urge to urinate;
• Slight increase in body temperature;
• Pain and itching during urination;
• Painful sensations during sexual intercourse;
• Discomfort in the lower abdomen and groin.

On early stages acute illness treated much easier, faster with less consequences for women's health. In addition, this will avoid the transition of the infection into a chronic form. An untreated disease can further provoke the appearance of adhesions in organs.

Forms of diseases

The nature of the manifestation of signs of sexually transmitted diseases depends on the course of the pathogenic process. STDs can occur in two forms - acute or chronic. The acute form usually develops in cases where infection has occurred recently. The first symptoms appear approximately on the 2-7th day. Meanwhile, they can be very weakly expressed, so most patients do not attach importance to them.

If treatment is not started on time or carried out incorrectly, the disease will become chronic, which will be much more difficult to cope with. Patients with chronic STDs usually feel well and do not notice any unpleasant symptoms, although the infection is still in the body and may manifest itself from time to time. In this case, the patient is a carrier of a sexually transmitted disease, thereby creating a danger of infecting other healthy people.

Common venereal diseases

Among those often found in gynecological practice There are several sexually transmitted diseases: gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and gardnerellosis. They all have similar clinical picture, but the treatment in each case is individual. Gardnerellosis is an infection that leads to disruption of the vaginal microflora. In women, this disease manifests itself in quality. Long-term use antibiotics, frequent douching, pregnancy and disordered sex life aggravate the course of the disease. With gardnerellosis, the following signs of a sexually transmitted disease in women are noted:

• Vaginal discharge with a pungent odor;
• Itching and discomfort in the vagina and vulva.

Antibacterial and antiprotozoal drugs are used. Another specific disease sexually transmitted is gonorrhea. The lesion is observed not only in the genitals, but also in other systems. In women, the disease is often asymptomatic.

Drawing pains in the lower abdomen and yellow discharge from the vagina are common to many sexually transmitted infections, so to determine for sure whether it is gonorrhea or not, consult a doctor. Chlamydia is also an STD, however, there are known cases domestic infection. In the acute form, there is a change in the mucous membranes of the genital organs, itching from the vagina and urethra, itching of the genitals, pain and swelling, as well as a cheesy coating.

Prevention of STDs

Prevention methods are aimed at preventing the development of sexually transmitted diseases. Most effective means Protection against them today are condoms. In addition, you should be selective when choosing sexual partners. Ideally, have one permanent, trusted partner. However, if sexual contact with a carrier of the infection does occur, then you should wash your genitals with antiseptic solutions within 1-2 hours after sex.

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