Sexually Transmitted Diseases Caused by Gonorrhea GC Gonorrhea

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Caused by

Gonorrhea (GC)

Gonorrhea (GC) • STD caused by a bacterium • Organism: Neisseria gonorrhoeae • Location: Secretions in the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes in women and the urethra (urine canal) in women and men

Symptoms of Gonorrhea • Many females have no symptoms • Some females have a vaginal discharge and/or pelvic/abdominal pain • Males usually have pain with urinating and may have a discharge from the penis • Can spread to many body parts causing infections (eyes, joints, throat, rectum. . . )

How is Gonorrhea Spread? • Skin to skin contact with the infected secretions during sexual activity (vaginal, or anal sex) • Mother to child during childbirth

Is Gonorrhea Serious? • Can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID – a severe infection of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries) in females • PID can lead to: – infertility (can’t get pregnant) – tubal pregnancies – chronic pelvic pain • Easier to get HIV if you are infected with Gonorrhea

Is Gonorrhea Common? • 650, 000 NEW cases each year in the U. S. • Total number of currently infected unknown

How is GC Diagnosed? • Lab Tests (culture) of the secretions from the infected area (cervix, urethra, rectum, throat) • Urine specimen

Treatment of Gonorrhea • Antibiotics by mouth or injection • Despite treatment, Gonorrhea may lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), an infection of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries

Can Gonorrhea be Prevented? • Condoms have not been proven to greatly reduce the spread in females • Abstinence is 100% effective

Gonorrhea: Summary • Can be spread through skin to skin contact during sexual activity • Thousands in the U. S. are infected • Treatment is available • Despite treatment, may lead to PID

References • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Gonorrhea Fact Sheet. Available at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/Facts. Gonorrh ea. htm Accessed October 31, 2002. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. STD Clinical Slides. Available at http: //www 2. cdc. gov/STDclinic/ Accessed Nov. 2, 2002. • Health Awareness Connection. Young People's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS/HIV Disease. Available at http: //www. healthac. org Accessed October 31, 2002.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia • STD caused by a bactera • Organism: Chlamydia trachomatis • Location: Secretions in the vagina, cervix, urethra inside the penis, urine

Symptoms of Chlamydia • Many females have no symptoms • Some females have a vaginal discharge and/or pelvic/abdominal pain • Males usually have pain with urinating and may have a discharge from the penis

How is Chlamydia Spread? • Skin to skin contact with the infected secretions during sexual activity (mucous membranes of cervix and penis)

Is Chlamydia Serious? • Can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in females (severe infection of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries) • PID can lead to: – infertility (can’t get pregnant) – tubal pregnancies – chronic pelvic pain

Is Chlamydia Common? • 3, 000 NEW cases each year in the U. S. • Most frequently reported bacterial STD in the U. S. • Total number of infected people in U. S. unknown

How is Chlamydia Diagnosed? • Culture of cervix in females • Culture of urethra in males • Urine test

Treatment of Chlamydia • Antibiotics by mouth • Sexual partners must also be treated • Despite treatment, females may still get PID

Can Chlamydia be Prevented? • Condoms have not been proven to greatly reduce transmission • Abstinence is 100% effective

Chlamydia: Summary • Can be spread through skin to skin contact with infected secretions during sexual activity • Most females who are infected are not aware and can spread it to others • Millions in the U. S. are infected • Can cause PID • Treatment is available

References • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Chlamydia, Disease Information Fact Sheet. . Available at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/Facts. Chlamy dia. Info. htm Accessed October 31, 2002. • Society of Health Advisers in Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Chlamydia. Available at http: //www. shastd. org. uk/sti/chlamydia. htm Accessed November 6, 2002. • Life Saving Cures. Various Pictures of STD's. Available at http: //www. sexually-transmitted-diseases-stdssymptoms-pictures-testing. com/std_pictures. htm Accessed November 7, 2002.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) • An infection caused by a bacteria • Organism: Anaerobic bacteria – imbalance of bacteria normally found in a woman’s vagina (increase in the “harmful” bacteria) • Location: vagina

Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis • White or grayish vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor (often strong fish-like odor especially after intercourse) • Vaginal – Pain – Itching – Burning • Some have no symptoms

How is Bacterial Vaginosis Spread? • Vaginal intercourse – women who have a new sex partner or who have had multiple sex partners are more likely to develop BV • Women who have never had sexual intercourse are rarely affected with this imbalance of bacteria in the vagina

Is BV Serious? • Can cause pelvic inflammatory disease • Pregnant women with BV more often have babies who are born early or with low birth weight

Is BV Common? • Most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age • 16% of pregnant women have BV

How is BV Diagnosed? • Pelvic exam • Tests on the vaginal fluid to look for the increase in harmful bacteria

Treatment of BV • Antibiotics – By mouth (pills) – In vaginal creams

Can Bacterial Vaginosis be Prevented? • Bacterial Vaginosis is linked to having new or multiple sexual partners • There is no scientific evidence to show that condoms prevent BV • If you don’t have sex, you don’t have to worry about getting BV

Bacterial Vaginosis: Summary • Can be spread through vaginal sex • Foul smelling white or grayish vaginal discharge • Very common infection • Treatment is available

References • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Bacterial Vaginosis Fact Sheet. Available at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/Facts. BV. htm Accessed October 31, 2002. • Society of Health Advisers in Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Bacterial Vaginosis. Available at http: //www. shastd. org. uk/sti/bvag. htm Accessed November 6, 2002.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) • Disease as a result of bacterial infections • Organisms: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Bacterial Vaginosis • Location: Infection of the uterus, tubes, ovaries

Symptoms of PID • Women may have only mild pain or no symptoms even though serious damage to their internal reproductive organs may be occurring • Many patients have lower abdominal pain, fever, vaginal discharge, pain with vaginal intercourse

How is PID Spread? • Vaginal intercourse with an infected partner • The more sex partners a woman has, the greater the risk of PID

Is PID Serious? • PID can cause permanent damage (scar tissue) to the fallopian tubes • If the tubes are totally blocked by scar tissue, the egg and sperm cannot meet causing infertility • Estimated 100, 000 women become infertile (can’t get pregnant) each year as a result of PID

Is PID Serious? • If the tubes are partially blocked or slightly damaged, the fertilized egg can get stuck in the tube (tubal or ectopic pregnancy) • An ectopic pregnancy can rupture the tube and cause severe pain, internal bleeding, and even death • Scarring of the fallopian tubes and ovaries can also cause pelvic pain that lasts for months or even years

Is PID Common? • 1, 000 NEW cases each year in the U. S. • More than 100, 000 women are diagnosed with infertility each year • More than 150 women die from this infection every year

How is PID Diagnosed? • PID is difficult to diagnose because symptoms are often mild and many cases go undetected • No precise tests, cultures of the cervix to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea should be performed in women with lower abdominal pain who are sexually active • Ultrasound and surgery may be necessary to diagnose PID

Treatment of PID • Antibiotics by mouth (pills) or intravenous (I. V. ) in the hospital can kill the bacteria causing the PID • Antibiotics CANNOT reverse any damage that has already occurred to the fallopian tubes • About 25% of women with PID must be admitted to the hospital

Can PID be Prevented? • If you don’t have sex, you won’t get chlamydia and gonorrhea. • If you don’t get chlamydia and gonorrhea, you won’t get PID.

PID: Summary • • • Caused by STDs Acquired only through sexual activity Many may not have symptoms Causes infertility Millions in the U. S. have PID

References • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) fact sheet. Available at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/Facts. PI D. htm Accessed October 31, 2002.

Syphilis

Syphilis • STD caused by a bactera • Organism: Treponema pallidum • Location: – Chancre (painless sore) on the genital area – Rash on the hands/feet and other areas of the body

Symptoms of Syphilis • Primary Stage: Painless sore on the genital area, mouth, lips • Secondary Stage: Rash on hands, feet, and other areas of body • Late Stage: Paralysis, numbness, blindness, dementia, death

How is Syphilis Spread? • Skin to skin contact with syphilis sores during sexual activity (outercourse, oral, anal, vaginal sex) • Sores can also occur on the lips and mouth • Because syphilis sores can be hidden in the vagina, rectum, or mouth, it may not be obvious that a sex partner has syphilis

Is Syphilis Serious? • If not treated, infection can spread to the brain, heart, spinal cord, eyes, and other areas of the body causing severe damage • Genital sores of syphilis make it easier to get HIV infection • Can be spread to the baby during pregnancy causing severe brain and growth abnormalities

Is Syphilis Common? • 70, 000 NEW cases each year in the U. S. • Total number of currently infected people unknown

How is Syphilis Diagnosed? • Blood tests • Dark field microscopy to examine material from infectious sores

Treatment of Syphilis • Antibiotics by injection • Persons who receive syphilis treatment must abstain from sexual with new partners until the syphilis sores are completely healed • Late effects such as those on the heart, brain, and nerves are not reversed with treatment

Can Syphilis be Prevented? • Condoms have not been proven to greatly reduce the transmission • Abstinence is 100% effective

Syphilis: Summary • Can be spread through skin to skin contact during sexual activity • There are 3 stages of syphilis • Thousands in the U. S. are infected • Treatment is available

References • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Some facts about Syphilis. Available at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/Syphilis_Fact s. htm Accessed October 31, 2002. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. STD Clinical Slides. Available at http: //www 2. cdc. gov/STDclinic/ Accessed Nov. 2, 2002. • Health Awareness Connection. Young People's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS/HIV Disease. Available at http: //www. healthac. org Accessed October 31, 2002.