Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections that spread from one person to another during unprotected sex. They are caused by microorganisms: viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi. They are very common, and many people who have them do not show symptoms. According to official data, they are currently one of the most important public health issues and are some the leading causes of consultations in local health centers.
STIs can be dangerous, but the good news is that testing is not complicated and most of these infections are easy to treat.
There are several sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We are here to help you understand everything.
Genital Herpes (Type 1 and 2)
Causing Agent
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Type 1 and 2
Transmission
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Unprotected sex
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Contact with toilets
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Contact with towels or wet, contaminated clothing
Description
Because there are 2 different kinds of herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) that can live on many body parts, lots of people are confused about what to call these infections. But it’s actually pretty simple:
When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 on or around your genitals (vulva, vagina, cervix, anus, penis, scrotum, butt, inner thighs), it’s called genital herpes.
When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 in or around your lips, mouth, and throat, it’s called oral herpes. Oral herpes sores are sometimes called cold sores or fever blisters.
HSV-1 usually causes oral herpes, and HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes — each strain prefers to live on its favorite area. But it’s totally possible for both types of herpes simplex to infect either area. For example, you can get HSV-1 on your genitals if someone with a cold sore on their lips gives you oral sex. And you can get HSV-2 in your mouth if you give oral sex to someone with HSV-2 on their genitals.
Symptoms of Genital Herpes
The most common symptoms of genital herpes is a group of itchy or painful blisters on your vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, butt, anus, or the inside of your thighs. The blisters break and turn into sores.
You might have these other symptoms too:
• Burning when you pee if your urine touches the herpes sores
• Having trouble peeing because the sores and swelling are blocking your urethra
• Itching
• Pain around your genitals
If your genital herpes is caused by HSV-2, you might also have flu-like symptoms, such as:
• Swollen glands in your pelvic area, throat, and under your arms
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Feeling achy and tired
When blisters and other genital herpes symptoms show up, it’s called an outbreak. The first outbreak (also called the “first episode” or “initial herpes”) usually starts about 2 to 20 days after you get infected with herpes. But sometimes it takes years for the first outbreak to happen.
The first herpes outbreak lasts about 2 to 4 weeks. Even though the blisters go away, the virus stays in your body and can cause sores again. It’s really common to get repeat outbreaks, especially during the first year you have herpes. You might notice some warning signs a few hours or days before outbreaks flare up, like itching, burning, or a tingly feeling on your genitals.
Herpes outbreaks are no fun, but the first one is the worst. Repeat outbreaks are usually shorter and less painful. Most people with herpes get fewer outbreaks as time goes on, and some stop having them altogether.
Herpes symptoms may be more painful and last longer in people with illnesses that damage your immune system, like leukemia and HIV.
Symptoms of Oral Herpes
Usually, oral herpes is less painful than genital herpes and doesn’t make you feel as sick. Oral herpes causes sores on your lips or around your mouth — called cold sores or fever blisters. You can also get sores inside your mouth, but that usually only happens the first few times you have symptoms.
Cold sores last a few weeks and then go away on their own. They can pop up again in weeks, months, or years. Cold sores are annoying, but usually harmless in kids and adults — they can be really dangerous to newborn babies, though.
Hepatitis B
Causing Agent
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Transmission
-
Blood or bodily fluids during sex
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Sharing syringes
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From mother to child during childbirth
Symptoms
About half of adults with Hepatitis B never get any symptoms. The symptoms can also feel like other illnesses, like the flu. So it’s possible to have the infection and not know it.
When people do show signs of hepatitis B, they usually show up between 6 weeks to 6 months after getting the virus. Hepatitis B symptoms typically last for a few weeks, but sometimes stick around for months.
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis B:
• Feeling really tired
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Joint pain
• Headaches
• Fever
• Hives
• Dark-colored urine
• Pale, clay-colored bowel movements (Excrement)
• Jaundice: yellowing of the eyes and skin from the human papilloma virus
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Causing Agent
Virus (there are approximately more than 100 types, 30 of which affect the vagina)
Transmission
-
Unprotected sex
Symptoms
Most people infected with HPV have no symptoms or show any signs of health problems until it becomes serious. Certain types of HPV (type 6 and 11) can cause genital warts; other types (16, 18, 31 and 45) can cause cervical cancer and other less common cancers such as vulva, vagina, anus and penis. Often, HPV types are classified as 'low risk' (causing cancer). In 90% of cases, the person's immune system naturally fights HPV infection in a period of two years.
Genital warts appear in the genital area as small individual granites or in groups. They can be flat or raised, single or in groups and in certain cases, shaped like a cauliflower. They may appear weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person or they may never appear. If left untreated they can disappear, remain the same, or increase in size and number. They will not turn into cancer. High-risk HPV can cause normal cells to become abnormal. These abnormal cells can lead to cancer over time. High-risk HPV most often affects cells in the cervix, but it can also cause cancer in the vagina, vulva, anus, penis, mouth, and throat.
The good news is most people recover from HPV infections without any health problems at all. We don’t know why some people develop long-term HPV infections, precancerous cell changes, or cancer. But we do know that having another disease makes it difficult for you to fight infections which makes it more likely HPV will cause cervical cancer. Smoking cigarettes also makes HPV more likely to cause cervical cancer.
There’s no cure for HPV, but it usually takes several years for cancer to develop, and abnormal cells in the cervix can be detected and treated before they turn into cancer. And the vast majority of HPV infections are temporary and not serious, so don’t spend a ton of energy worrying about whether you have HPV. Just make sure you’re not skipping your regular checkups, including a pap smear and/or HPV tests.
There isn’t a test for high-risk HPV in the vulva, penis, anus, or throat, and the HPV itself doesn’t have any symptoms. If it becomes cancerous, then there may be some symptoms.
• Penile cancer — cancer of the penis — might show symptoms like changes in color or thickness of the skin of your penis, or a painful sore might show up on your penis.
• Anal cancer might cause anal bleeding, pain, itching, or discharge, or changes in bowel habits.
• Vulvar cancer — cancer of the vulva. — might show symptoms like changes in color/thickness of the skin of your vulva. There may be chronic pain, itching, or there may be a lump.
• Throat cancer might cause a sore throat, ear pain that doesn’t go away, constant coughing, pain or trouble swallowing or breathing, weight loss, or a lump or mass in your neck.
If you develop any of these symptoms, see a doctor right away.
HIV and AIDS
Causing Agent
(HIV) Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Transmission
-
Unprotected vaginal or anal sex
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Sharing needles or syringes
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Getting stuck with a needle that has HIV-infected blood on it
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Getting HIV-infected blood, semen (cum), or vaginal fluids into open cuts or sores on your body
Symptoms
People usually look and feel completely healthy for a long time after they’re infected. It can take up to 10 years or more for HIV to present any symptoms. That's why it's really important to get tested for HIV regularly, especially if you’ve had unprotected sex or shared needles. HIV treatments can help you stay healthy much longer.
Later HIV/AIDS symptoms
HIV destroys cells in your immune system called CD4 cells or T cells. Without CD4 cells, your body has a hard time fighting off diseases. This makes you more likely to get really sick from infections that usually wouldn’t hurt you. Over time, the damage HIV does to your immune system leads to AIDS.
AIDS is the last stage of HIV where you get rare infections (called opportunistic infections) or types of cancer, or if you’ve lost a certain number of CD4 cells. This usually happens about 10 years after getting HIV if you don’t get it treated. Treatment can delay or even prevent you from ever developing AIDS.
For more information on the HIV / AIDS section.
Sources:
Planned Parenthood® . (2018). Infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS). Recuperado de https://www.plannedparenthood.org/es/temas-de-salud/enfermedades-de-transmision-sexual-ets
Sosa Josué; Sansores Deily; Suárez Lizandra y Rodríguez Lucía. (2018). Infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS). Recuperado de libro de campaña de promoción de la salud sexual y reproductiva (P. 47).