Back in the old days, we called it VD (venereal disease, named for Venus, the goddess of love). Nowadays, the terms more commonly used are STD (sexually transmitted disease) or STI (sexually transmitted infection). These diseases go by different names: the clap, lues, drip and others. But, whatever you call it, it’s best to prevent any and all of them. Some are curable, some are not. They are all dangerous to your health and NOT a good way to start the New Year. Let’s look at a few of them here.
AIDS. AIDS is an incurable viral disease that attacks the immune system of its victims and is perhaps the most frightening of all. Those of us who don’t have AIDS can fight off all sorts of infections that we are exposed to every day without even knowing it. The person with AIDS cannot escape even the most benign infection. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. A person can be HIV+ (have the virus in his/her bloodstream) but not have any symptoms of AIDS. The virus may hang around in the body for years before symptoms such as weight loss and diarrhea, feeling run down, feverish, perhaps purplish spots on the skin, ever actually occur.
As the disease progresses, the bacteria and viruses that are all around us take the opportunity to infect the person whose immune system is weakened and cannot combat infections. Many AIDS victims have pneumonia, yeast infections in their mouths and throats, and may have viruses that affect the brain causing blindness and/or deafness and memory loss. AIDS is not curable. Viruses are not killed by antibiotics. The important thing is to prevent it rather than having to treat it. AIDS is now much more treatable with antiviral medicines, but it is a long way from being curable.
HIV is spread three ways: 1) blood to blood (as in sharing needles for drug use or any other blood to blood contact); 2) mother to baby (during pregnancy and breast-feeding); and 3) shared body fluids (exchanged during sexual activity). Testing for HIV can be done in two ways: confidentially or anonymously. Confidential testing means that your name goes on the tube of blood and your insurer, health care provider, etc. can see the results. Because so many people are fearful of what might happen if anyone knows they have HIV, there is also anonymous testing. Your name is never used, just a number, so the only way anyone can get information about your HIV status is from you. The blood test does not look for the actual virus in the blood - it looks for antibodies (your body’s response to the presence of the virus). Unfortunately, it may take up to six months to develop antibodies once you have been infected. So, if your first test comes back negative that is good news, but it’s not the final word. You need to be tested again, six months later, to make sure your body hasn’t produced any antibodies.
OTHER STDs. Another incurable STD is herpes. Herpes simplex is a virus which lives in the root of a nerve and causes little blisters - that’s why they always erupt in the same places. Cold sores that you may get on your lip are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV I). They can be spread to other parts of the body, like the genitalia. HSV II is specific to the genitalia, but can be spread to other body parts with sexual activity. Like HIV, it may hang around in your body for a long time without causing problems, then one day you feel a little tingling sensation, a little itch maybe, then a little burning, and suddenly you have a small crop of blisters. Herpes is treatable with some medicines that calm the symptoms, but it is not curable.
There is, however, some good news in all of this. There are some STDs that can be treated. Syphilis and gonorrhea are caused by bacteria (those can be treated with antibiotics). The bad news about syphilis, though, is that it can fool you, and may not be easily diagnosed. Any PAINLESS sore on the genitalia should send up a red flag. It will go away after some time, so people tend to ignore it. Ignoring syphilis can lead to devastating problems of the nervous system. Syphilis is called “the great pretender” because it can resemble so many other illnesses. Rashes that seem relatively harmless can be syphilis. Chlamydia can cause sterility and does not have very easily recognized symptoms. Women who have many sexual partners should ask for a chlamydia and gonorrhea test (if you have one of these infections, you may well have the other) when they have their annual Pap smear. Cervical cancer, which is what the Pap smear screens for, is also caused by a sexually transmitted virus. It is one of the easiest cancers to screen for and one of the easiest to cure when caught early. If you haven’t had yours yet, ladies, why not start the year out right with a check up?
There are still many other STDs, but the ones covered here are the most common. If you are diagnosed with any of them, make sure that your partner knows that he/she also needs to be treated to prevent unpleasant complications and further spread of the infection.
PREVENTING STDs. The only sure-fire way to prevent sexually transmitted infections is abstinence (I know that’s not what you wanted to hear). Condoms help with preventing the spread of HIV, but they do not guarantee it. Condoms break or people sometimes just don’t want to use them. In the heat of the moment, they take risks that can ruin their future. Abstinence means not having ANY sexual activity (which includes other things besides just intercourse). Many folks changed their activity to just oral sex, thinking they couldn’t get infected that way. It may be less likely, but it’s still possible, especially if the person has a cold sore or cut in their mouth. The best way to limit your risk is by limiting your number of sexual partners.
Health care providers are trained to deal with sensitive topics like sexually transmitted disease. Although discussing it may make you feel uncomfortable, if you suspect you may have been exposed to an STD, it’s very important to alert your Nurse Practitioner or other health care provider to that fact and get tested. Early detection and treatment are the most important factors in allowing you and your partner to get on with your lives. For more information you can contact your local health department or go online and do a search for “sexually transmitted disease” - there are tons of sites that will give you lots of information. Start the New Year right by getting the information you need to stay healthy and happy!
~ Norma Stephens Hannigan is a Family Nurse Practitioner with many years of experience treating truckers. She writes from her home in Laredo, Texas.
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