VENEREAL DISEASE SYMPTOMS - WOMEN'S-HEALTH

Symptoms

A "sexually transmitted infection becomes a disease when it produces appreciable signs or symptoms. In some cases, in fact, the immune system is able to confine the pathogen and prevent its excessive development, consequently the pathology proceeds in an asymptomatic or paucysymptomatic manner. if we cannot speak of a real disease, the individual can still transmit the infection during sexual contacts of various kinds; the infected subjects, in turn, may become healthy carriers or suffer the symptoms and complications of the disease .

In general, the first manifestations of venereal diseases appear shortly after the infection (from a few days up to three months); in this case we speak of primary infection or acute infection. Although this phase can go completely unnoticed, its typical manifestations include symptoms such as: vaginal discharge and unusual bleeding outside of menstruation (even of minor importance), pain or burning during urination, pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse, itching , irritation, redness and burning of the genital organs, blisters, ulcers or vesicles more or less painful in the genital, oral or rectal area, swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes, fever and other flu-like symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms are so mild and non-specific as to push the patient to interpret it as a transient discomfort, for example a "skin irritation or a common cold. In any case, however, the symptoms of primary infection resolve within a few weeks, sometimes even in the absence of treatment. Unfortunately, despite this, many times the disease continues to progress, especially in the absence of valid treatment. months or even years after the primary infection, venereal disease can produce much more serious signs and symptoms, such as recurrent episodes of genital pain, infertility, some forms of cancer, pelvic pain, scrotal redness and swelling, generalized skin rash, inguinal abscess and the appearance of blisters in various body sites.

The fact that the primary signs and symptoms of venereal diseases are often modest and such as not to be recognized complicates their diagnosis and treatment, facilitating their transmission and unfavorable evolution.

For what has been said, the apparently healthy appearance of one's partner and his genital areas does not protect in any way from the risk of acquiring a venereal disease during sexual intercourse.

Complications

If not treated in time, STDs can have serious repercussions on the general health and fertility of infected people. Unfortunately, we have seen that in many cases the primary infection proceeds in an asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic manner, so that the first evident sign is given by a late complication. What would have been easily eradicated by a short antibiotic treatment, thus becomes a venereal disease of the consequences. particularly serious and sometimes irreversible. Think for example of Chlamydia, which can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes causing extra-uterine pregnancy or permanent sterility. Other possible complications of STDs include: arthritis, conjunctivitis, infertility, cervical cancer , heart disease, memory loss, preterm birth, urethral strictures, low fertility in men, abortion and pre and perinatal death.

Relapses, as in the case of genital herpes, are not always related to sexual activity.

Finally, the role of venereal diseases as a cofactor of HIV sexual transmission deserves particular attention; in fact, a significantly higher risk of both transmission and acquisition of the HIV virus in the presence of another venereal disease was calculated.