SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS... JUST WHAT ARE THEY???

1. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS... JUST WHAT ARE THEY???

2. Why should we talk about Sexually Transmitted Infections? • AIDS has caused 30 MILLION DEATHS (Total Worldwide) • Approximately 6.2 million new HPV infections occurred in 2000 among Americans aged 15-44; of these infections, 74% (4.6 million) occurred among 15-24-year-olds. • HPV • 5% of all cancers worldwide • Essentially all cervical cancers • 4,000 deaths annually (cervical cancer) • 5,000 diagnosed annually (anal cancer) • 75% oropharyngeal cancers • 1,500 women diagnosed annually (vulvar cancer) • 500 women diagnosed annually (vaginal cancer) • 400 men diagnosed annually (penile cancer)

3. Need more??? • 1 out of 4 sexually active females under the age of 19 are getting an STI. • Nearly half of the 19 million new STI’s each year are among young people aged 15–24 years in the USA

4. WHAT ARE STI’S? • Infectious diseases that are spread from person to person through intimate sexual contact • Dangers of STI’s 1. Can be deadly 2. Can cause emotional stress 3. Can cause sterility However… Most STI’s can be cured! There are more than 50 different types of STI’s that range from life-threatening to merely irritating.

5. STI’s – The Hidden Epidemic • Many STI’s go undiagnosed • Many STI’s can be asymptomatic – without symptoms • Resulting in….… • People who do not seek treatment because they do not know they are infected. • People who are infected, but don’t know will continue to transmit STI’s. • People who contract an STI from someone who is infected (without knowing) will pass the STI on to others.

6. Consequences of STI’s • STI’s can be serious and can cause major damage to the body • some are incurable • some cause cancer • some can cause reproductive complications • some can be passed from mother to child, before, during, or after birth

7. Categories of STI’s • STI’s are classified as 1 of 3 types: • Bacterial • Viral • Parasitic

8. Bacterial STI’s • Bacterial - Single cell organism capable of reproducing on their own - Can be cured by using antibiotics prescribed by a doctor - Can be cured, but many times the damage caused by the STI cannot be reversed EXAMPLES: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis

9. Bacterial STI’s • Chlamydia – most common bacterial STI - If left untreated, it will cause serious painful infections of the urinary tract and discharge in men. - MOST females show NO symptoms – if they do, painful urination, vaginal discharge, bleeding - If left untreated, can result in PID or sterility in both sexes - • Estimated 2.8 million infected in the US annually - Enters the body by the mouth, rectum, vagina penis

10. Bacterial STD’s • Gonorrhea – bacterial infection of the urinary tract of males and females, and the reproductive organs of females - painful urination and discharge. - Symptoms - in females can be very mild and may not be noticed. If left untreated, sterility in both sexes. - An infected female can transmit gonorrhea to her baby during birth which can cause blindness - enters by direct mucous membrane contact during sex through mouth, penis, vagina, anus and throat

11. “The drip" • Slang for gonorrhea, because a typical symptom of this sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a discharge—or a drip—from the vagina or penis.

12. Bacterial STI’s • Syphilis – multi staged STI - stage one is characterized by a small painless sore called a chancre sore - stage 2 – secondary syphilis – begins 2-8 weeks after the first stage. Flu-like symptoms, sores in the mouth, non itch rash on hands and feet

13. SYPHILIS – CON’T stage 3 – latent stage - symptoms - disappear for years, but the bacteria attacks the brain and the circulatory system. Damage that occurs in this stage is permanent and can cause death - enters the body through mucous membrane contact w/ sores during sex by penis, vagina, anus, mouth or break in skin

14. Syphilis • Long term Problems: - paralysis - convulsions - blindness - heart disease -mental retardation - unborn child can be born with damage to nervous system or can die during birth

15. Viral STI’s • Virus – small organisms that are unable to reproduce on their own – need a host • There are NO cures for viral STI’s • They can lie dormant without any symptoms for periods of times • Symptoms can be relieved using antiviral medication EXAMPLES: HIV,HPV (Genital Warts), Herpes, Hepatitis B

16. Viral STI’s • HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus • Most serious and deadly STI • AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the final stage of infection by the HIV virus • - Virus is passed from one person to another through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids usually semen or vaginal secretions, or blood. It can also be passed by the sharing of dirty needles, from breast milk to a nursing child, and during the birth process

17. 4 Stages of HIV Stage 1: acute infection stage: • People are unaware that they have been infected, or slight flu-like symptoms • Test will not show the virus for 6wks to 2 months Stage 2: • Asymptomatic for 10 -12 years ( may be innocently infecting people Stage 3: • Symptomatic - the immune system breaks down and the victim will start showing signs of fatigue, sores on the body, pneumonia, memory loss

18. 4 Stages of HIV 4th stage of HIV • There are approximately 800-1,200 T cells in the healthy body that helps to fight off illness. The HIV virus is stronger than the T cells and will kill the T cells. When a person has less than 200 T cells, they are in the final stage of HIV – AIDS. People with AIDS will die of opportunistic diseases. • World Clock http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

19. OPPORTUNISTIC DISEASES • 1. Pneumocystis Carinii - rare from of pneumonia • 2. Kaposi’s Sarcoma - cancerous tumors that spread throughout the body • Aids Dementia • Can even die from a common cold • Life span of a person with HIV is around 20 years if taking medicine.

20. - Highest risk of transference of HIV with sex is: Anal, semen, vaginal- The HIV virus can live for about 60 seconds when exposed to air(you cannot get it from saliva!)- Women are more likely to get the HIV virus from males than males are from women.- More likely to contract HIV if you have another STIWebsite - http://aids.gov/

21. HPV VIRAL STI’s • Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) - most common viral STI • Leads to Genital Warts • More than 40 strains transmitted sexually • Gardasil is a vaccine for 4 strains • Once a person is infected, the virus remains in the body forever. Infections occurs by physical contact, sexual or other wise. - • 5% of all cancers worldwide • Essentially all cervical cancers • 4,000 deaths annually (cervical cancer) • 5,000 diagnosed annually (anal cancer) • 75% oropharyngeal cancers • 1,500 women diagnosed annually (vulvar cancer) • 500 women diagnosed annually (vaginal cancer) • 400 men diagnosed annually (penile cancer)

22. HPV • One to eight months after infections, warts appear in clusters, usually in the genital area. • Can cause cervical cancer in women. • Warts can be removed by a physical, but the virus remains • Transmitted through oral & vaginal sex

23. Viral STI’s • Genital Herpes clusters of painful blisters that appear on or around the genitals • First outbreak in usually the worst • New eruptions appear to be related to stress • Most contagious whenever blisters are present – should refrain from sexual intercourse during outbreak of blisters or while they are healing • transmitted by direct, intimate contact through penis, vagina, anus, mouth, and can be transferred to the eyes if sore is touched

24. Viral STI’s Hepatitis • Hepatitis B – an STI that attacks the liver • Spread through contact of infected, blood, semen or saliva and transmitted by penis, vagina, anus, mouth, skin breaks, blood • Virus can survive on objects for a LONG time • Symptoms – fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice • Can cause serious liver damage • No cure, but there is an effective vaccine

25. Parasitic STI’s • Parasite – an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from its host. • Parasites can be killed with medication EXAMPLES: Pubic Lice, Scabies, Trichomoniasis

26. Pubic lice Pubic lice – female lice attach eggs to the pubic hair and skin - causes intense itching. Symptoms – itching, rash, pinhead sized blood spots on underwear. Treatment consists of a special medicated shampoo - can be acquired from dirty bed linens, clothing, sex

28. Parasitic STI’s • Scabies – mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. • They cause red, swollen itchy bumps. • Enter into the skin by either sex or skin contact • Symptoms – itching in the genital area • Treatment included hot baths and medicated creams

29. Parasitic STI’s Trichomoniasis: a parasite that causes vaginitis, which is the term for inflammation of the vagina. • Female symptoms – thick vaginal discharge – gray or greenish in color, painful urination • Male – none, or mild burning when urinating, or temporary irritation inside the penis • Can live for a few hours on dirty, damp towels, washcloths, bathing suits. • Treatment – medicine from a doctor, or OTC – curable

30. Where to get help • Prevention of STI’s is everyone’s responsibility • Physical Responsibility – STI’s can cause major, life long damage to the body • Embarrassment should not stop you from seeking help

31. Where to get help • Social Responsibility – you have a social responsibility to tell all people that you have had sexual contact with! • Abstain from all sexual activity until treated • Do not donate blood, organs or semen

32. Where to get help • Places to Turn: • Private Physician • Health Clinic • ONLY A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL CAN PRESCRIBE THE CORRECT TREATMENT FOR STI’S!!!