Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infectious diseases that you can get by having sexual intercourse or contact with a sexual partner who has an STI. Few of us think about the consequences of becoming infected with an STI, which can be very dangerous to your health and can even prove life threatening if not quickly dealt with and properly treated.
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) supports STI/Condom Week, which aims to make South Africans aware of the dangers of STIs while providing vital information on how these diseases can be prevented from spreading. GEMS is always there to help its members, especially when faced with a healthcare problem.
The Scheme actively encourages its members to take responsibility for their health. With the proper and consistent use of condoms when having sex you can greatly reduce your risk of getting an STI, and worse still passing it on to someone who you care for. STIs are extremely common throughout the world with more than one million people contracting an STI worldwide every day. Those who have sex with a number of partners and who do not take the necessary precautions against STIs are responsible for spreading these potentially dangerous infections which are passed from person to person during vaginal, anal and oral sex.
There are a number of different kinds of STIs including HIV, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, hepatitis B, the human papilloma virus (HPV) and genital lice (or crabs). Genital herpes is an example of a STI that is very prevalent in South Africa where it is estimated that approximately one in five South Africans is living with genital herpes. Some STIs such as gonorrhoea can be completely cured through the use of antibiotics, while others such as HIV can be treated but cannot ever be completely cured. Genital lice, which is usually found in the genital area on pubic hair, is not particularly serious and is easily dealt with.
Even STIs that are not completely curable, such as HIV, can be managed today and those infected can live long, rewarding lives if they take good care of themselves and obtain the appropriate medical attention.
While you may think that you cannot possibly become infected with an STI, anyone who is sexually active is at risk. If you do not use a condom, have more than one sexual partner or have sex with someone who has many other sexual partners, chances are you may land up getting infected.
Sexually transmitted diseases should be taken very seriously as they can prove fatal if not treated carefully and early enough. If untreated, an infection such as syphilis can cause damage to the blood vessels, eyes, heart, bones and central nervous system and can even result in death. Certain STIs like chlamydia can cause infertility in women whereas others such as HPV can cause genital herpes, which can result in unpleasant sores on the genitals and make it much easier for an individual to contract HIV. Some STIs can even be passed on from mother to child during childbirth. All the more reason to protect yourself and your loved ones by using condoms responsibly when engaging in acts of sexual intercourse.
One of the most common sexually transmitted diseases is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which can cause cancer of the cervix. Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer among South African women and almost 1 in 41 South African women are at risk of developing the disease at some stage of their lives. Unlike certain other types of STIs, HPV presents few symptoms and it can stay in your body for years without you even realising you have it. The longer it stays in your body, the more likely your chances are of developing cervical cancer. That's why it is so important for women to go for regular pap smears in order to catch the disease early before it can cause serious harm. A programme to vaccinate girls against the virus is in the process of being introduced in South Africa.
If you think you may have an STI or your partner may have one, visit your doctor or clinic to get tested. Also bear in mind that some STIs such as HPV and Chlamydia show no symptoms and can cause major health problems later on in life if left untreated. Even if you think you don't have an STI because you have no symptoms or if you think the problem will go away on its own, you are putting yourself and your sexual partners at risk especially if you are having unprotected sex.
If you are in doubt, here are some of the more common symptoms of STIs:
How do I avoid getting an STI?
The best way to avoid catching an STI is to not have sex at all but this is not a practical option. Another way to avoid getting an STI is to commit to one sexual partner who has been tested and cleared for STIs. One of the best means of protection against STIs is condoms. While they may not offer complete protection from STIs, they are most certainly the best means of prevention available. Condoms need to be used every time you have sex to offer full protection against infection. Condoms also help prevent pregnancy. There are also female condoms available for women who have trouble getting their partners to use a condom. While female condoms are not quite as effective in preventing the spread of STIs, they still offer an adequate means of protection.
How to protect yourself from STIs:
For any GEMS member queries please phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or visit our website at www.gems.gov.za. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.
References
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/std/
Family Doctor.org: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections.html
Health Society of South Africa: http://www.healthsociety.co.za/article.asp?ID=167
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en/
0860 00 4367 (Call Centre) [email protected] More Contacts >