STDs and summer period

During the summer period, mostly because of the sunny and warm weather, good mood, new social and sexual contacts with different unknown persons, the number of sexual and skin infections is significantly increased. Some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases include gonorrhea, AIDS, syphilis and Chlamydia.

Rough estimates made after a scientific research on a representative sample in Australia confirms that about 15% of Australian have some sexually transmitted disease and the most vulnerable population are young people aged 16 to 26 years.

Genital warts and Chlamydia most common STDs

Many dermatologists claim that most patients complain about genital warts. Genital warts are soft warts, usually the size of a pin, elongated or cauliflower shaped. They appear on the skin and mucous membrane of the genitals in the area of the anus and sometimes on the mucous membranes of the mouth. They have to be removed by radio waves (high-frequency power) or laser. The treatment can be time-consuming and laborious and the virus that causes genital warts is particularly dangerous for women because it can cause malignant changes in the cervix.  

Doctors appeal especially to young people to take care of their sexual health because what is most dangerous is the fact that many sexually transmitted diseases usually do not show any symptoms. An additional risk is that some sexually transmitted diseases, if not detected and treated on time, can lead to infertility or malignancy. According to the data found at Public Health institutes, the most common genital infection is the one caused by the bacterium called Chlamydia. 

This disease begins to develop a week or two after the sexual intercourse with an infected person and the first symptoms are stinging, itching and burning sensation in the urethra and slightly whitish discharge. Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. The best prevention is visiting an urologist and gynecologist at least twice a year.

What is even worse is that the hospitals have registered a significant increase in the number of patients with gonorrhea. The symptoms of gonorrhea occur within two or seven days after the person gets infected through sexual intercourse. In women, the symptoms come in the form of whitish and yellowish discharge from the vagina that can also have an unpleasant smell, then a burning sensation or pain during urination, cramps and pain in the lower abdomen.

Symptoms in men are whitish and yellowish discharge from the penis and burning sensation or pain during urination. People should also take syphilis into account. This disease can affect all tissues and all organs in the body. The symptoms of this disease vary and depend on the location of infection, the duration of infection and treatment. Any person can be diagnosed with syphilis. There is no innate or acquired immunity to this disease that can even be fatal if it is not treated.

Doctors suggest that prevention is the most important activity. Most STDs are transmitted by sexual contact without protection. The infected person should visit a doctor (women-gynecologists, men – urologists) as fast as possible.