Chlamydia Research Paper
Chlamydia
Overview
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK.
It’s passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). In 2010, there were 186,753 people who tested positive for chlamydia in England. Most of these - more than 150,000 - were people aged 24 or younger.
Causes
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which means that you get it through having unprotected sex (sex without a condom) with someone who has chlamydia.
Chlamydia symptoms
Most people who have chlamydia don’t notice any symptoms, and so don't know they have it. Research suggests that 50% of men and 70-80% of women don't get symptoms at all with chlamydia infection.
If …show more content…
you do get signs and symptoms, these usually appear between one and three weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. For some people the symptoms occur many months later, or not until the infection has spread.
Symptoms in women
Around 70-80% of women with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If women do get symptoms, the most common include: pain when urinating (peeing) a change in vaginal discharge pain in the lower abdomen pain and/or bleeding during sex bleeding after sex bleeding between periods heavier periods than usual
If chlamydia is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a major cause of infertility, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes).
Symptoms in men
Around half of all men with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If men do get symptoms, the most common include: pain when urinating (peeing) discharge from the tip of the penis (this can be a white, cloudy or watery discharge) pain in the testicles Symptoms of chlamydia could be pain when you urinate (pee), unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or rectum or, in women, bleeding between periods or after sex.
Find out more about chlamydia symptoms.
Getting tested for chlamydia
Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test. You don't always have to have a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.
Anyone can get a free confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic or a GP surgery.
People under 25 years old can also get tested by the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP). This is often in places such as pharmacies, contraception clinics or colleges.
Treating chlamydia
Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics
IMPORTANT- Complications
If left untreated it can make women infertile
Genital warts
Overview
Genital warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital or anal area. Genital warts are the result of a viral skin infection that is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Genital warts are usually painless and do not pose a serious threat to a person’s health. However, they can appear unsightly and cause psychological distress.
Genital warts are very common. In England, they are the second most common type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) after chlamydia.
Between 2004 and 2008, just over 79,000 new cases of genital warts were diagnosed by GUM (genitor-urinary medicine) clinics in England
Causes
The most common way that HPV can be passed from person to person is during sexual intercourse.
Other forms of sexual activity where HPV can be passed from person to person include: oral sex anal sex skin to skin contact symptoms Genital warts usually appear within two to three months of developing an HPV infection,.
In women, genital warts usually begin as small, gritty-feeling lumps that become larger. In men, the warts look like the warts that sometimes develop on a person’s hands (firm and raised, with a rough surface).
A person can have a single wart, or clusters of multiple warts that grow together to form a kind of ‘cauliflower’ appearance.
Warts are usually painless, although some people may experience symptoms of itchiness and irritation, particularly if warts develop around the anus
Warts in women
The most common places for genital warts to develop in women are: around the vulva (the opening of the vagina), which occurs in 2 out of 3 cases of genital warts inside the vagina, which occurs in 1 in 3 cases
Warts in men
The most common places for genital warts to develop in men are: on the shaft of the penis, usually just below the foreskin, which occurs in about half of all cases on the glans (the head of the penis), which occurs in 1 in 10 cases
Treatment
There are two main types of treatment for genital warts: topical treatment, where a cream, lotion or chemical is applied directly to the wart or warts physical ablation, where the tissue of the wart is destroyed using external forces, such as lasers or electricity or freezing
Genital herpes
Overview
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or type 2. It causes painful blisters to appear on the genitals and the surrounding areas. As genital herpes can be passed to others through intimate sexual contact, it is often referred to as a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Genital herpes is a chronic (long-term) condition, with most individuals having recurrences (it comes back)
Causes
Genital herpes is caused by both type 1 and type 2 HSV. The virus is very contagious and spreads from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact, such as during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Whenever HSV is present on the surface of your skin it can be passed on to a partner.
Symptoms
Symptoms of genital herpes may not appear until months or sometimes years after you are exposed to HSV
A infection of genital herpes can cause several different symptoms including: painful red blisters that burst to leave open sores around your genitals, rectum (back passage), thighs and buttocks blisters and ulcers on the cervix (lower part of the womb) in women vaginal discharge in women pain when you pass urine a high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F) or over a general feeling of being unwell, with aches and pains
These symptoms may last for up to 20 days. However, the sores will eventually scab and heal without leaving any scarring
Treatment
If you have a genital herpes infection, they may prescribe antiviral tablets, called aciclovir, which you will need to take five times a day.
Aciclovir works by preventing HSV from multiplying. However, it does not clear the virus from your body completely and does not have any effect once you stop taking it.
Gonorrhoea
Overview
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. It used to be known as "the clap".
The bacteria are found mainly in discharge from the penis and vaginal fluid from infected men and women. Gonorrhoea is easily passed between people through unprotective sex
Causes
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. The bacteria are usually found in discharge from the penis and vaginal fluid of infected men and women, and are easily passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The gonorrhoea bacteria can infect the vagina or penis and other places that come into contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid during sex. It can live inside the cells of the cervix (entrance to the womb), the urethra (tube where urine comes out), the rectum, the throat and, very occasionally, the eyes. The infection is usually spread through: unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
Symptoms
Symptoms of gonorrhoea usually show up within one week of being infected. But sometimes symptoms may not appear until many months later, About one in 10 infected men and half of infected women will not experience any obvious symptoms after contracting gonorrhoea, which means it can go untreated for some time.
Women
In women, symptoms of gonorrhoea can include: an unusual discharge from the vagina, which may be thick and green or yellow in colour pain when passing urine pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area (this is less common) bleeding between periods or heavier periods (this is less common)
Men
Nine out of 10 men who contract gonorrhoea experience symptoms after they are infected, which can include: an unusual discharge from the tip of the penis, which may be white, yellow or green pain or a burning sensation when urinating inflammation (swelling) of the foreskin pain or tenderness in the testicles or prostate gland (this is rare)
Treatment
It is important to receive treatment for gonorrhoea quickly. It is unlikely the infection will go away without treatment and, if you delay treatment, you risk the infection causing complications and more serious health problems. You may also pass the infection onto someone else. Gonorrhoea is treated with a single dose of antibiotics, If the antibiotics have been effective, you should soon notice an improvement in your symptoms.
Treatment is at least 95% effective but you may need to go back for a follow-up test if:
The signs and symptoms do not go away.
IMPORTANT – complications
In women, gonorrhoea can spread to the reproductive organs and led to infertility
In men, gonorrhoea can cause painful infection in the testicles and prostate gland, which may lead to reduced fertility.
Syphilis
Overview
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is usually passed on through having sex with someone who is infected. The bacteria that cause syphilis are called Treponema pallidum. They can enter your body if you have close contact with an infected sore. Causes
Syphilis is caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum. The bacteria can enter your body if you have close contact with an infected sore, normally during vaginal, anal or oral sex
Symptoms
The symptoms of syphilis are the same for men and women and can be difficult to recognise.
The symptoms develop in three stages: primary syphilis- The most common symptom is the appearance of a small, painless sore or ulcer (called a chancre). The sore will appear on the part of your body where the infection was transmitted, typically the penis, vagina, tongue or lips
secondary syphilis- The symptoms of secondary syphilis will begin a few weeks after the disappearance of the sore. Common symptoms include: a non-itchy skin rash appearing anywhere on the body, tiredness, headaches, swollen lymph glands
tertiary syphilis- The symptoms of tertiary syphilis can begin years or even decades after initial infection. Around a third of people who are not treated for syphilis develop serious symptoms at this stage The symptoms of tertiary syphilis will depend on what part of the body the infection spreads to. For example, it may affect the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, bones, skin or blood vessels, potentially causing any of the following symptoms: stroke paralysis blindness, deafness, heart disease (AT THIS STAGE SYPHILLIS CAN CAUSE DEATH!)
Treatment
Primary and secondary syphilis can be successfully treated with a single dose of penicillin (which is given as an injection into your buttock).
Later stages of the disease need to be treated with three penicillin injections, which are given at weekly intervals
IMPORTANT- Complications
It is estimated that people with syphilis are three to five times more likely to catch HIV. This is because the genital sores caused by syphilis can bleed easily, making it easier for the HIV virus to enter the blood during sexual activity.
Public lice
Overview
Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis) are tiny parasitic insects that live in coarse human body hair, such as pubic hair.
They spread through close body contact, most commonly sexual contact.
Causes
Pubic lice are not related to poor personal hygiene. They are usually caught through close bodily contact with someone who is infected.
The lice crawl from the hair of one person to the hair of another person. They cannot jump, fly or swim
Pubic lice are most commonly passed on through sexual contact. This includes vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Using condoms and other methods of barrier contraception does not protect you against pubic lice.
Other types of close bodily contact, such as hugging and kissing, can also spread the lice.
Other ways of spreading public lice
It is also thought that you can get pubic lice from infected items such as: clothing, bed linen. Towels, toilet seats. However, it's much rarer for lice to be spread in this way.
Symptoms
After you come into contact with public lice, it can take five days to several weeks before you notice any symptoms.
The symptoms of pubic lice are the same for both men and women, and include: itching in the affected areas inflammation and irritation in the affected areas caused by
scratching black powder in your underwear blue-coloured spots on your skin where the lice are living, such as on your thighs or lower abdomen (these are caused by lice bites) small spots of blood on your skin that are also caused by lice bites
Adult pubic lice are very small (about 2mm long) and are difficult to see. The lice are yellow-grey or dusky red in colour and have six legs.
Treatment
Pubic lice can be treated at home with insecticide cream, lotion or shampoo. It will usually need to be applied once and repeated after three to seven days.
Overview
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK.
It’s passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). In 2010, there were 186,753 people who tested positive for chlamydia in England. Most of these - more than 150,000 - were people aged 24 or younger.
Causes
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which means that you get it through having unprotected sex (sex without a condom) with someone who has chlamydia.
Chlamydia symptoms
Most people who have chlamydia don’t notice any symptoms, and so don't know they have it. Research suggests that 50% of men and 70-80% of women don't get symptoms at all with chlamydia infection.
If …show more content…
you do get signs and symptoms, these usually appear between one and three weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. For some people the symptoms occur many months later, or not until the infection has spread.
Symptoms in women
Around 70-80% of women with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If women do get symptoms, the most common include: pain when urinating (peeing) a change in vaginal discharge pain in the lower abdomen pain and/or bleeding during sex bleeding after sex bleeding between periods heavier periods than usual
If chlamydia is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a major cause of infertility, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes).
Symptoms in men
Around half of all men with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If men do get symptoms, the most common include: pain when urinating (peeing) discharge from the tip of the penis (this can be a white, cloudy or watery discharge) pain in the testicles Symptoms of chlamydia could be pain when you urinate (pee), unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or rectum or, in women, bleeding between periods or after sex.
Find out more about chlamydia symptoms.
Getting tested for chlamydia
Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test. You don't always have to have a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.
Anyone can get a free confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic or a GP surgery.
People under 25 years old can also get tested by the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP). This is often in places such as pharmacies, contraception clinics or colleges.
Treating chlamydia
Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics
IMPORTANT- Complications
If left untreated it can make women infertile
Genital warts
Overview
Genital warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital or anal area. Genital warts are the result of a viral skin infection that is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Genital warts are usually painless and do not pose a serious threat to a person’s health. However, they can appear unsightly and cause psychological distress.
Genital warts are very common. In England, they are the second most common type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) after chlamydia.
Between 2004 and 2008, just over 79,000 new cases of genital warts were diagnosed by GUM (genitor-urinary medicine) clinics in England
Causes
The most common way that HPV can be passed from person to person is during sexual intercourse.
Other forms of sexual activity where HPV can be passed from person to person include: oral sex anal sex skin to skin contact symptoms Genital warts usually appear within two to three months of developing an HPV infection,.
In women, genital warts usually begin as small, gritty-feeling lumps that become larger. In men, the warts look like the warts that sometimes develop on a person’s hands (firm and raised, with a rough surface).
A person can have a single wart, or clusters of multiple warts that grow together to form a kind of ‘cauliflower’ appearance.
Warts are usually painless, although some people may experience symptoms of itchiness and irritation, particularly if warts develop around the anus
Warts in women
The most common places for genital warts to develop in women are: around the vulva (the opening of the vagina), which occurs in 2 out of 3 cases of genital warts inside the vagina, which occurs in 1 in 3 cases
Warts in men
The most common places for genital warts to develop in men are: on the shaft of the penis, usually just below the foreskin, which occurs in about half of all cases on the glans (the head of the penis), which occurs in 1 in 10 cases
Treatment
There are two main types of treatment for genital warts: topical treatment, where a cream, lotion or chemical is applied directly to the wart or warts physical ablation, where the tissue of the wart is destroyed using external forces, such as lasers or electricity or freezing
Genital herpes
Overview
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or type 2. It causes painful blisters to appear on the genitals and the surrounding areas. As genital herpes can be passed to others through intimate sexual contact, it is often referred to as a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Genital herpes is a chronic (long-term) condition, with most individuals having recurrences (it comes back)
Causes
Genital herpes is caused by both type 1 and type 2 HSV. The virus is very contagious and spreads from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact, such as during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Whenever HSV is present on the surface of your skin it can be passed on to a partner.
Symptoms
Symptoms of genital herpes may not appear until months or sometimes years after you are exposed to HSV
A infection of genital herpes can cause several different symptoms including: painful red blisters that burst to leave open sores around your genitals, rectum (back passage), thighs and buttocks blisters and ulcers on the cervix (lower part of the womb) in women vaginal discharge in women pain when you pass urine a high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F) or over a general feeling of being unwell, with aches and pains
These symptoms may last for up to 20 days. However, the sores will eventually scab and heal without leaving any scarring
Treatment
If you have a genital herpes infection, they may prescribe antiviral tablets, called aciclovir, which you will need to take five times a day.
Aciclovir works by preventing HSV from multiplying. However, it does not clear the virus from your body completely and does not have any effect once you stop taking it.
Gonorrhoea
Overview
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. It used to be known as "the clap".
The bacteria are found mainly in discharge from the penis and vaginal fluid from infected men and women. Gonorrhoea is easily passed between people through unprotective sex
Causes
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. The bacteria are usually found in discharge from the penis and vaginal fluid of infected men and women, and are easily passed from one person to another through sexual contact. The gonorrhoea bacteria can infect the vagina or penis and other places that come into contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid during sex. It can live inside the cells of the cervix (entrance to the womb), the urethra (tube where urine comes out), the rectum, the throat and, very occasionally, the eyes. The infection is usually spread through: unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
Symptoms
Symptoms of gonorrhoea usually show up within one week of being infected. But sometimes symptoms may not appear until many months later, About one in 10 infected men and half of infected women will not experience any obvious symptoms after contracting gonorrhoea, which means it can go untreated for some time.
Women
In women, symptoms of gonorrhoea can include: an unusual discharge from the vagina, which may be thick and green or yellow in colour pain when passing urine pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area (this is less common) bleeding between periods or heavier periods (this is less common)
Men
Nine out of 10 men who contract gonorrhoea experience symptoms after they are infected, which can include: an unusual discharge from the tip of the penis, which may be white, yellow or green pain or a burning sensation when urinating inflammation (swelling) of the foreskin pain or tenderness in the testicles or prostate gland (this is rare)
Treatment
It is important to receive treatment for gonorrhoea quickly. It is unlikely the infection will go away without treatment and, if you delay treatment, you risk the infection causing complications and more serious health problems. You may also pass the infection onto someone else. Gonorrhoea is treated with a single dose of antibiotics, If the antibiotics have been effective, you should soon notice an improvement in your symptoms.
Treatment is at least 95% effective but you may need to go back for a follow-up test if:
The signs and symptoms do not go away.
IMPORTANT – complications
In women, gonorrhoea can spread to the reproductive organs and led to infertility
In men, gonorrhoea can cause painful infection in the testicles and prostate gland, which may lead to reduced fertility.
Syphilis
Overview
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is usually passed on through having sex with someone who is infected. The bacteria that cause syphilis are called Treponema pallidum. They can enter your body if you have close contact with an infected sore. Causes
Syphilis is caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum. The bacteria can enter your body if you have close contact with an infected sore, normally during vaginal, anal or oral sex
Symptoms
The symptoms of syphilis are the same for men and women and can be difficult to recognise.
The symptoms develop in three stages: primary syphilis- The most common symptom is the appearance of a small, painless sore or ulcer (called a chancre). The sore will appear on the part of your body where the infection was transmitted, typically the penis, vagina, tongue or lips
secondary syphilis- The symptoms of secondary syphilis will begin a few weeks after the disappearance of the sore. Common symptoms include: a non-itchy skin rash appearing anywhere on the body, tiredness, headaches, swollen lymph glands
tertiary syphilis- The symptoms of tertiary syphilis can begin years or even decades after initial infection. Around a third of people who are not treated for syphilis develop serious symptoms at this stage The symptoms of tertiary syphilis will depend on what part of the body the infection spreads to. For example, it may affect the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, bones, skin or blood vessels, potentially causing any of the following symptoms: stroke paralysis blindness, deafness, heart disease (AT THIS STAGE SYPHILLIS CAN CAUSE DEATH!)
Treatment
Primary and secondary syphilis can be successfully treated with a single dose of penicillin (which is given as an injection into your buttock).
Later stages of the disease need to be treated with three penicillin injections, which are given at weekly intervals
IMPORTANT- Complications
It is estimated that people with syphilis are three to five times more likely to catch HIV. This is because the genital sores caused by syphilis can bleed easily, making it easier for the HIV virus to enter the blood during sexual activity.
Public lice
Overview
Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis) are tiny parasitic insects that live in coarse human body hair, such as pubic hair.
They spread through close body contact, most commonly sexual contact.
Causes
Pubic lice are not related to poor personal hygiene. They are usually caught through close bodily contact with someone who is infected.
The lice crawl from the hair of one person to the hair of another person. They cannot jump, fly or swim
Pubic lice are most commonly passed on through sexual contact. This includes vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Using condoms and other methods of barrier contraception does not protect you against pubic lice.
Other types of close bodily contact, such as hugging and kissing, can also spread the lice.
Other ways of spreading public lice
It is also thought that you can get pubic lice from infected items such as: clothing, bed linen. Towels, toilet seats. However, it's much rarer for lice to be spread in this way.
Symptoms
After you come into contact with public lice, it can take five days to several weeks before you notice any symptoms.
The symptoms of pubic lice are the same for both men and women, and include: itching in the affected areas inflammation and irritation in the affected areas caused by
scratching black powder in your underwear blue-coloured spots on your skin where the lice are living, such as on your thighs or lower abdomen (these are caused by lice bites) small spots of blood on your skin that are also caused by lice bites
Adult pubic lice are very small (about 2mm long) and are difficult to see. The lice are yellow-grey or dusky red in colour and have six legs.
Treatment
Pubic lice can be treated at home with insecticide cream, lotion or shampoo. It will usually need to be applied once and repeated after three to seven days.