Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infectious diseases that people get by having sexual intercourse or contact with a sexual partner who has an STI. None of us likes to think about the dangers of catching an STI but it is important to be aware that some of these diseases can be very dangerous to one's health and it makes sense for us to do everything in our power to avoid catching them.
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) supports STI/Condom week, which aims to make South Africans aware of the dangers of STIs and provide information on how these diseases can be prevented from spreading.
GEMS is always there to help its members, especially in times of crisis when they need to have their health taken care of. However, the Scheme also encourages South Africans to take responsibility for their own health. With the proper and consistent use of condoms when having sex and other measures we can greatly reduce our risk of catching these diseases and passing them on to our loved ones.
STIs are very common in South Africa and those who have sex with a number of partners and who do not take precautions against STIs can easily catch one. More than four million South Africans are treated for STIs every year while many others do not know they have one of these diseases and are not treated.
STIs are usually passed from person to person during vaginal intercourse and 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). 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. An STI such as genital lice, which is usually found in the genital area on pubic hair, is not particularly serious and is easily dealt with by healthcare practitioners.
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 proper care of themselves and obtain the proper medical attention.
While we might like to think that we could not possibly catch an STI, anyone who practises sex is at risk of contracting an STI. Those who have numerous partners or who have sex with a partner who has multiple partners, are at much higher risk however. So too are those who do not use condoms consistently.
Sexually transmitted diseases should be taken very seriously. Some of them can result in death if they are not treated on time. An infection such as syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but if it is left untreated can cause damage to the blood vessels, eyes, heart, bones and central nervous system. Where an individual is not treated, syphilis may even result in death. Chlamydia can cause infertility in women and HPV can cause cancer of the cervix or penis. Some STIs can be passed on from mother to child during birth. STIs such as herpes cause sores on the genitals and make it much easier for an individual to catch HIV.
The best way to avoid catching an STI is not to have sex at all. This is not an option for many people however. You can reduce your risk of contracting an STI by being in a monogamous (having sex with only one partner) relationship. A couple can decide to get tested for STIs to make sure they are free of any infections and then commit to only having sex with each other. This can greatly reduce the chances of catching an STI. Keep in mind though that the risks increase once again if one of the partners strays and starts to have sex with other people.
Another important means of protecting from STIs is to use condoms. They do not offer complete protection against all STIs (they may not prevent you from coming into contact with certain sores) but they are one of the best means of preventing infection available, and they are very effective if used properly and consistently. Condoms need to be used every time one has sex to be effective. They do not offer such effective protection from STIs if they are only used on certain occasions.
An added advantage of condoms is that they can also protect against pregnancy. Women should use the female condom if they have trouble getting their partners to use a condom. Female condoms are not quite as effective in preventing the spread of STIs but they do still offer a good measure of protection.
How to protect yourself from STIs:
References
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/std/
Family Doctor.org: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/sti/165.html
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/soa_std/en/
0860 00 4367 (Call Centre) [email protected] More Contacts >