Added: 11/27/2005 |
Genital Warts-One of the Many Symptoms of STD?sPrevention of diseases is one of humankind's most prevalent preoccupations. No one likes to get sick for even a short period of time and those viruses and bacteria that create chronic or even fatal conditions are particularly disliked. Sexually transmitted diseases display an assortment of symptoms including one of the most universally recognized, genital warts.
Genital warts are the result of a virus. It is called a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and it as it is sexually transmitted from host to host it falls under the heading of a sexually transmitted disease or STD. While papillomavirus can be treated it can't be cured and various types of this virus cause the visible genital warts which are the most common sign of HPV infection. Sometimes the infection disappears on its own but not always and there can be serious repercussions.
Usually having an HPV and it's occasionally resulting genital warts aren't a serious health issue but sometimes these genital warts can grow big enough to cause problems such as blocking urine flow. Genital warts, particularly those of larger size, because they are more in the way, can also become infected.
There are types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer many years after an HPV infection and those can be detected by having a PAP smear done. This PAP smear will detect any changes that might have been caused by the HPV which could ultimately, if left untreated lead to a cancerous situation. Prevention of diseases is one of the best ways to keep a fairly innocuous situation from becoming life threatening. Warts that appear on the hands and feet aren't caused by the same virus that causes genital warts but by another kind of HPV type of virus that isn't sexually transmitted.
There are several other sexually transmitted diseases that display other symptoms than genital warts and while some can be cured others can merely be treated. Chlamydia is one such sexually transmitted disease that falls into the curable category but up to 80% of women and up to half the men that succumb to this bacteria have no symptoms. A good dose of antibiotics will cute this STD. Since having chlamydia makes HIV easier to catch and give it's a good idea, with the thought of prevention of diseases in the fore of ones mind, to pay attention to possible signs and get treatment if necessary. One symptom is discharge from the penis or vaginal depending on which is applicable for the individual. Another good reason to be on the alert and get tested and treated is that Chlamydia can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and infertility when a woman contracts the bacteria.
Another bacterial STD that makes HIV easier to catch and give and also responds reliably to treatment with antibiotics is syphilis. While easily treatable and easily transmissible unless the usually painless sores that are its only primary symptoms are recognized there can be seriously negative long term issues down the road. Untreated syphilis can result in organ damage, brain damage and death. Following through with a regiment geared towards prevention of diseases when syphilis is the culprit might save the life of an infant. The bacteria can be passed from mother to fetus and often kills the baby.
Gonorrhea is curable and yet another bacterial infection that is transmitted sexually. There are definite highly undesirable signs that something is amiss when one contracts this infection. Both men and women suffer discharges from their respective sexual organs, there is abdominal pain in women as well as unusual bleeding. Men may experience pain and/or burning while urinating. If left untreated it can lead to PID and infertility in women and testicle infection in men.
A thorough discussion of genital herpes is beyond the scope of this article. However, suffice it to say that there are two types that are sexually transmitted and there are no drugs, available at this time that effectively eliminates the virus from the body. There are treatments that can subdue flare-ups, although many people don't recognize symptoms they are experiencing as symptoms of herpes, and as such don't seek treatment and continue to pass it around.
Prevention of diseases is the best way to keep these STD's at a minimum and knowing what to look for and what to do can help facilitate that prevention.
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