Most people mistakenly believe that only people who lead a disorderly life, often change partners, can be infected by sexual infections, prefer not to be protected in order to get more pleasure. In part, this statement is correct, but some sexual infections are easily transmitted in a different way. Given this fact, it is advisable to have competent information about the types, characteristics, manifestations of especially dangerous sexual infections, in order to know how to behave in such situations.
The main groups of sexual infections
All the existing infections transmitted from the partner to the partner is sexually transmitted, it is customary to classify into separate groups. In the practice of medicine, the most common types of infections are:
- bacterial;
- viral;
- protozoal;
- fungal;
- parasitic.
To bacterial it is customary to include: inguinal granuloma, syphilis, venereal lymphogranuloma, chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis. Viral sexual infections include: HIV, genital herpes, genital warts, cytomegalovirus, molluscum contagiosum and others. To protozoal infections include trichomoniasis. To fungal - Candidiasis. To parasitic - fthiracy, scabies.
As for candida colpitis, nonspecific urethritis, bacterial vaginosis, these infections are caused by conditionally pathogenic microflora, therefore they should not be referred to those that can be transmitted from partner to partner only through sexual contact.
Clinical picture of sexual infections
It is generally believed that all sexual infections, if they are found during the examination, are clearly pronounced. This is not true. There are certain infections, considered above, which any man can easily get infected with, but not even suspect about it. The fact is that such infections, localized in the genitals, in no way manifest, not making itself felt.
It is peculiar for a person to live with a certain infection for a long time, but he will find out about its presence only when he has serious complications as a result of a neglected form of sexual infection. Statistics show that a large part of the male population lives with such sexual infections as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, without any complaints at all. That is why a reliable method of detecting certain types of infections is the mandatory passage of special laboratory tests.
But despite the scientific statements, nevertheless there are certain symptoms, manifesting in a certain way and affecting the person's health. A number of infections not only determine the nature of the clinical picture, but also affect the skin, mucous membranes, some organs, help reduce the immune system, weaken the body.
Speaking of the symptoms themselves, it is understood that when the infection is propagated, some changes occur in the work of the sexual organs, manifested in the form of secretions. These secretions are characterized by an unpleasant odor, a specific color, a consistency, and their volume may change in the direction of increase. The smell can be "fishy, rotten", the color is yellowish or greenish. Symptoms can be characterized by itching, burning, irritation, swelling, redness, severe discomfort of the vulva.
Some sexual infections are characterized by severe lesions that can be observed in the bladder or urethra. With their inflammation, the patient noticeably disrupts the process of urination, which becomes frequent, characterized by unpleasant pain, a feeling of incomplete emptying, a gradual but steady increase in body temperature, the appearance of a small amount of blood clots in the urine.
A number of sexual infections can promote the formation of intimate areas of skin manifestations. These can be various sizes of sores with clear contours or without them, bubbles filled with a clear or unclear fluid, small rashes, red spots, curdled discharge. These manifestations may be accompanied by severe itching, burning, swelling.
Any of the examined signs of sexual infection, especially their combination, should become a serious reason for an urgent reference to an experienced specialist. The physician, in turn, is responsible for compulsory conducting a complex of laboratory studies to identify a sexual infection, and subsequently develop an individual treatment regimen.
Complex of laboratory tests
Many infections are not so easy to identify, so specialists use a set of laboratory studies that allow a thorough examination. This is:
- on enzyme immunoassay;
- on the bacteriological method;
- on DNA diagnostics of microorganisms, which is carried out on the basis of polymerase chain reaction( PCR).
Immunoenzyme analysis is aimed at detecting antibodies to the causative agent of infection in the blood. In the bacteriological method, a special medium is used, into which the discharge or urine of the patient is placed, followed by cultivation and identification of certain microorganisms. PCR is a highly sensitive method that allows you to diagnose( detect) the presence of certain sexual infections by increasing the low concentration of certain fragments of the nucleic acid in the sample.
Additional methods of the study are the delivery of a general blood and urine test, genital ultrasound and others, which are guided in order to have a clear idea of possible changes, as well as to select the right drugs to destroy the identified sexual infection.
Are complications of sexual infections possible?
Diagnostic examination, as well as individually selected treatment are aimed at saving the patient from possible serious complications that can provoke some sexual infections. This approach to solving the problem is most needed for those who plan to conceive a healthy baby in the future. Speaking of possible complications in men, we mean:
- urethritis, characterized by secretions from the urethra;
- epididym, characterized by inflammation of the epididymis;
- orchitis, characterized by inflammation of the testis;
- infertility;
- painful sores on the genitals;
- enlargement of lymph nodes, formation of groin ulcers;
- the appearance of genital warts on the penis, in the anal region;
- damage to bones, disruption of cardiovascular, nervous and nervous system( with syphilis).
How to deal with sexual infections?
Treatment of genital infections has a single goal - to relieve the patient of the complications discussed above. It is known that any disease lends itself to successful treatment, if you start it with the first symptoms. However, if you consider that some sexual infections can not in any way disturb the person, experts urge all men to undergo an annual examination in order to avoid any complications.
Treatment of sexual infections is multifaceted, it includes a wide range of antimicrobial, antibacterial drugs aimed at the absolute elimination of the identified infection. For each patient on the part of the doctor, taking into account the results of the survey, the most effective method of treatment is selected from the point of view of effectiveness. The individual treatment regimen is determined by age, physical data, patient complaints, the nature of the infection identified.
Any recovery procedure is under the mandatory supervision of the attending physician, since this approach allows you to determine the duration of treatment, if necessary, make adjustments, changing the intake of certain drugs. The main attention is paid to the patient's nutrition. It is recommended to refrain from alcoholic beverages, sharp, salty dishes, to direct efforts to enrich your diet with a large number of fruits, vegetables, natural juices( plenty of drinking is necessary).
In parallel with antibacterial drugs, vitamin complexes are prescribed, immunostimulating agents aimed at maximizing the body's strength, enabling it to withstand certain sexual infections, and also to protect the patient from the next infection. Despite the fact that the process of eradicating sexual infection is rather protracted, the result is positive, which significantly improves the quality of life of the patient.
