Bacterial vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition caused due to a change in the balance of different kinds of bacteria in the vagina. When there are symptoms, they often appear as a form of vaginitis - an irritation of the vagina often associated with a vaginal discharge. BV is not always sexually transmitted. However, women who are sexually active run a high risk of developing the condition. Most women will get BV at some point in their reproductive years. BV can develop when an external factor, such as sexual contact, disrupts the balance between bacteria that protect the vagina from infection and those that don't.

• strong, unpleasant vaginal odor
• Vaginal discharge

However, many women do not have any symptoms.

• Vaginal intercourse

• Pelvic exam
• Examination of vaginal fluid
• Microscopic examination of vaginal tissue

• Antimicrobial creams

• Condoms offer good protection against BV.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a type of bacteria. It can cause sterility in women and men. In women, it infects the cervix and can spread to the urethra, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. It can cause bladder infections and serious pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and sterility. In men, chlamydia infects the urethra and may spread to the testicles, causing epididymitis, which can cause sterility.

Chlamydia can also lead to Reiter's syndrome - especially in young men. Reiter's syndrome involves eye infections, urethritis, and arthritis. One in three men who develop Reiter's syndrome become permanently disabled. In infants, chlamydia can cause pneumonia, eye infections, and blindness. Chlamydia is the most common and most invisible sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the world.

• discharge from the penis or vagina
• pain or burning while urinating, more than usual urination
• excessive vaginal bleeding
• painful intercourse for women
• spotting between periods or after intercourse
• abdominal pain, nausea, fever
• inflammation of the rectum or cervix
• swelling or pain in the testicles

Up to 85 percent of women and 40 percent of men with chlamydia have no symptoms. Many women discover they have chlamydia only because their partners are infected. Other women discover that they must have had it for some time when they are treated for the infertility that it can cause. Symptoms appear in seven to 21 days - if they appear. If your partner is a man, and he has a urinary tract infection, you may have chlamydia.

• vaginal and anal intercourse
• from the birth canal to the fetus

• Can be confused with gonorrhea and other conditions. Examination of tissue samples or urine is necessary for correct diagnosis.

• Both partners can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

• Condoms offer very good protection against chlamydia.

HERPES

There are two forms of genital herpes - herpes simplex virus-1 and herpes simplex virus-2. Although herpes-1 is most often associated with cold sores and fever blisters, both forms of herpes may be sexually transmitted. During pregnancy, herpes may cause miscarriage or stillbirth. If active herpes infections are present during childbirth, newborn infants may suffer serious health damage, including developmental disabilities and, rarely, death. Transmission to a newborn is more common during the first episode of the herpes infection and less common during recurrent herpes outbreaks. One million new cases are diagnosed every year. Like many other viruses, the herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains in the body for life.

• a recurring rash with clusters of itchy or painful blister sores appearing on the vagina, cervix, penis, mouth, anus, buttocks, or elsewhere on the body
• painful ulceration that occur when blisters break open
• the primary outbreak may cause pain and discomfort around the infected area, itching, burning sensations during urination, swollen glands in the groin, fever, headache, and a general run-down feeling.

Symptoms usually appear from 2-20 days after infection; but it may be years before an outbreak occurs.

Recurrences are sometimes related to emotional, physical, or health stresses. During recurrences it is important to observe strict rules of day-to-day hygiene. Wash hands frequently and do not touch the sores. If the sores are touched inadvertently, wash hands immediately. Be particularly careful when handling contact lenses and touching the eyes.

• touching, sexual intimacy - including kissing
• vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse.

HSV may be passed from one partner to another or from one part of the body to another, whenever contact is made with an active herpes virus. Oral sex play can pass herpes from the mouth to the genitals or from the genitals to the mouth.

HSV is most contagious from the time the sores are present until they are completely healed and the scabs have fallen off. Unfortunately, recent studies show that some people may be contagious when they have no symptoms. Mucous membranes of the mouth, anus, vagina, penis, and the eyes are especially susceptible to infection.

Can be confused with syphilis, chancroid, and other sexually transmitted infections. Examination of the sores and laboratory culturing of fluid samples taken from the sores are important. Definitive diagnosis may not be possible if the sores are dried or scabbed by the time you see a clinician. If you think you have herpes, it is important to have a diagnosis early in the outbreak.

No cure. Symptoms can be relieved and the number of recurrences reduced with the drugs

Partners should refrain from sexual intimacy from the time they know the blisters are going to recur until after the scabs have completely fallen off the healed sores. Condoms offer some protection against the virus between outbreaks.

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)

PID is a progressive infection that harms a woman's reproductive system. PID occurs throughout the pelvic area, in the fallopian tubes, the uterus, the lining of the uterus, and in the ovaries. Treated or untreated, PID can lead to sterility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pain. The more episodes of PID a woman has, the greater are her chances of becoming infertile. PID is not always the result of an STI - but in most cases it is. The sexually transmitted infections that most commonly cause PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia.

• unusually long or painful periods, and unusual vaginal discharge
• spotting and pain between menstrual periods or during urination
• pain in the lower abdomen and back
• fever, chills
• nausea, vomiting
• pain during intercourse.

• Antibiotics, bed rest, and sexual abstinence. Surgery may be required to remove abscesses or scar tissue, or to repair or remove reproductive organs.

• pelvic exam
• microscopic examination and/or culture of vaginal and cervical secretions
• laparoscopy: an optical instrument is inserted through a small cut in the navel to look at the reproductive organs.

Symptoms can be confused with those of appendicitis and other infections. Diagnosis can be difficult if patients are too embarrassed to admit sexual activity.

• Condoms offer very good protection against infections commonly associated with PID.

SYPHILIS

Untreated, the syphilis organism - "spirochete" - can remain in the body for life and lead to disfigurement, neurologic disorder, or death.

• Syphilis has several phases that may overlap one another. They do not always follow in the same sequence. Symptoms vary with each phase, but there are no symptoms most of the time.

• Painless sores or open, wet ulcers - chancres - often appear from three weeks to 90 days after infection. They last three to six weeks. They appear on the genitals, in the vagina, on the cervix, lips, mouth, or anus. Swollen glands may also occur during the primary phase.
• Secondary Phase: Other symptoms often appear from three to six weeks after the sores appear. They may come and go for up to two years. They include body rashes that last from two to six weeks — often on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. There are many other symptoms, including- mild fevers, fatigue, sore throat, hair loss, weight loss, swollen glands, headache, and muscle pains.
• Latent Phase: No symptoms. Latent phases occur between other phases or can overlap them.
• Late Phase: One-third of untreated people with syphilis experience serious damage to the nervous system, heart, brain, or other organs and death may result.