Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are conditions passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Millions of people around the globe have STDs, especially in developing countries, including Ghana and other African nations. Prevention of STDs is entirely possible, but to make it happen, we need to get informed and learn as much as we can about them. The main purpose of this post is to highlight common STDs and show you how to recognize their symptoms.
Genital herpes
Genital herpes is a common STD caused by the herpes simplex virus. The virus is categorized into two types: HSV-1, which is mainly transmitted through oral-to-oral contact, usually causing cold sores, but can also induce genital herpes and HSV-2, which is an STD.
How common is genital herpes?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 3.7 billion people under the age of 50, or 67% of the world population, have HSV-1 infection. About 417 million people aged 15-49, or 11% of the world population, have HSV-2 infection. Estimates show that 350 million women (87%) and 355 million men (87%) in Africa have HSV-1 virus. On the other hand, the HSV-2 virus affects 17 million women in 18 million men in Africa.
Evidence confirms that the prevalence of genital herpes in Ghana is high, and it could be attributed to high endemicity and inadequate intervention, especially in women.
Read More: Genital Herpes in Ghana
Who is at risk of developing genital herpes?
Generally speaking, every sexually active man or woman can develop genital herpes. That being said, some people are at a higher risk than others. Common risk factors associated with genital herpes include:
- Having unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex
- Having multiple sex partners
- Having a sexual partner who tested positive for genital herpes
- Being a woman
Symptoms of genital herpes
The ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of some STD helps an affected man or woman to get much-needed treatment. That’s why it’s important to learn how to recognize symptoms of genital herpes, particularly because most people are not even aware they have it. In most cases, symptoms are mild, and patients think they will go away on their own without realizing they have an STD, which they can transmit to other people.
Symptoms tend to develop two to 12 days after exposure to HSV. People usually experience:
- Pain and tenderness in the genital area
- Itching in the genital area
- Small red bumps or tiny white blisters
- Ulcers which can rapture, bleed, ooze, and make it difficult to urinate
- Scabs on the sites where ulcers rapture
An affected person experiences flu-like symptoms during the initial outbreak. They may also experience headache, muscle ache, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the groin. Sores associated with genital herpes develop on buttocks, thighs, anus, mouth, and even urethra. Women can also develop sores on the cervix and external genitals while men can notice them on scrotum and penis.
Men and women with recurrent herpes develop symptoms about 48 hours before the outbreak. They may notice tingling, pain, and itching at the site of infection. The pain may, in some cases, extend down to buttocks and knees.
Read More: Genital Herpes Symptoms
Why get treated?
Unfortunately, many men and women don’t go to see their doctor get this STD treated. When left unmanaged, genital herpes can lead to many complications such as increased risk to other STDs, meningitis, proctitis (rectal inflammation), bladder problems, and infection of the newborn.
How is genital herpes treated?
The cure which could eliminate genital herpes entirely doesn’t exist, but it is still possible to get the necessary treatment. The main objective of the treatment is to lower the chances of transmitting genital herpes to other people, reduce the frequency of occurrence, lower severity of symptoms, and help sores heal. For this purpose, doctors prescribe antiviral medications such as Acyclovir (Zovirax) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex).
Getting tested regularly is important, and luckily, today, you can order a test online and do it in the comfort of your home rather than scheduling an appointment at the doctor’s office.
Read More: Genital Herpes Treatment
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an STD caused by infection with the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which tends to infect moist and warm areas of the body such as urethra, eyes, throat, vagina, anus, and female reproductive tract.
How common is gonorrhea?
Sometimes referred to as “the clap,” gonorrhea is one of the most prevalent STDs. On a global level, 87 million new cases of gonorrhea are diagnosed each year. Like many other STDs, gonorrhea is also more prevalent in developing countries. For example, one study showed that out of 950 subjects from Ghana, 28% of them had gonorrhea, and men were more likely to develop it than women.
Read More: Gonorrhea in Ghana
Who is at risk of developing gonorrhea?
Just like with other sexually transmitted diseases, every man or woman who engages in sexual intercourse can develop gonorrhea. But, the risk is higher in some groups. Factors that increase your odds of developing gonorrhea include:
- Younger age
- Having a new sex partner
- History of other sexually transmitted diseases
- History of gonorrhea
- Having a sex partner who also has concurrent partners
Symptoms of gonorrhea
Some people have no symptoms at all, but it doesn’t mean there is no infection. The absence of symptoms can still mean you are infected and also able to transmit this STD to other people. Generally speaking, signs and symptoms of gonorrhea develop one to 14 days after the infection. Men and women experience gonorrhea differently, and below you can see how they feel when they develop this STD.
Men tend to experience:
- Painful, red, warm and swollen joints
- White, yellow, or green urethral discharge that looks like pus
- Pain in the eyes, sensitivity to the light, pus-like discharge from the eyes
- Pain in scrotum or testicles
- Itching
- Difficulty swallowing or swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Frequent or painful urination
- Anal discharge, itching, and pain in the anal area bleeding when passing stool
On the flip side, women with gonorrhea may notice:
- Fever
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Swollen, red, warm, and painful joints
- Vaginal discharge yellow or green in color
- Swelling of the vulva
- Frequent and painful urination
- Sore throat, itching, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Bleeding in between periods
- Heavier periods
- Abdominal or pelvic pain and vomiting
- Bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Itching and pain in the anal area
Read More: Gonorrhea Symptoms
Why get treated?
As seen above, some men and women may not notice any symptoms at all, but they are still infected. That is why it is crucial to get tested regularly, and home tests could be incredibly practical in this case. Being proactive about sexual health and symptoms of gonorrhea allows you to get the necessary treatment in a timely manner. When left ignored, gonorrhea can cause multiple complications such as infertility, an infection that spreads to other areas and joints in the body, a higher risk of HIV/AIDS, and complications in babies born to infected mothers.
How is gonorrhea treated
The primary route of treatment of gonorrhea is through antibiotics. Partners of infected men and women are also encouraged to get tested in order to prevent transmitting the STD back and forth or to other people.
Read More: Gonorrhea Treatment
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common, sexually transmitted disease that affects men and women alike. Just like other STDs, Chlamydia is caused by bacteria, and in this case, that is Chlamydia trachomatis. The STD can be spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, but it is also possible for pregnant women to spread Chlamydia to their babies during delivery.
How common is Chlamydia?
According to the WHO, about 127 million cases of Chlamydia are diagnosed each year. That is a staggering number. One of the most common reasons behind the ever-growing incidence of Chlamydia, especially in developing nations such as Ghana, is the lack of public awareness. In fact, the prevalence of STDs in Ghana is expected to grow as stigmatization continues. And, as you are already aware, stigmatization occurs due to the absence of the above-mentioned public awareness.
Read More: Chlamydia in Ghana
Who is at risk of developing Chlamydia?
Factors that increase a person’s risk of developing this sexually transmitted disease include:
- History of some STD
- Having sex without a condom
- Changing multiple sex partners in a year
- Being sexually active before the age of 25
Getting tested regularly can help decrease your risk of developing Chlamydia. Regular tests also raise awareness of this STD, fight stigmatization, and prevent spreading Chlamydia to other people. Besides “traditional” testing at clinics or hospitals, people can also get at-home tests for Chlamydia, which may be practical for those who want more privacy throughout the whole process.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is often considered as “silent” infection because many people have it although they don’t experience any symptoms. But, just like with other STDs, the absence of symptoms can still mean you are infected, and you can transmit it to someone else. Bear in mind that even if Chlamydia doesn’t cause any symptoms, it can still damage the reproductive system. First signs and symptoms tend to occur one to two weeks after the exposure to the bacterium. Men and women tend to experience this STD differently. Below, you can see the signs and symptoms of Chlamydia in men and women.
Men may notice the following:
- Pain in the testicles
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Green or yellow discharge from the penis
It’s also possible to get the infection in anus. In this case, a man may notice pain, bleeding, and discharge from this area.
On the other hand, women may experience these symptoms:
- Bleeding between periods
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix)
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Vaginal discharge
- Burning sensation while urinating
In some cases, the STD can spread to the fallopian tubes.
Read More: Chlamydia Symptoms
Why get treated?
Reasons to be proactive about the prevention and treatment of Chlamydia (as well as other STDs) are numerous. Besides lowering the risk of transmitting Chlamydia to someone else, you can also decrease the likelihood of experiencing various complications. When left ignored or unmanaged, Chlamydia can harm your health in more ways than one. Some of the most common complications include increased risk of other STDs, pelvic inflammatory disease, infection near the testicles, infections in newborns, infection of prostate, reactive arthritis, and infertility.
Read More: Chlamydia Treatment
How is Chlamydia treated?
Just like other STDs, Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. A patient may receive a one-time dose, or he or she may need to take the drugs a few times a day for five to 10 days, depending on the severity of symptoms. Generally speaking, the infection goes away in one to two weeks. It goes without saying you need to abstain from sex during this time.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacterium Treponema pallidum, and it develops in four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. The bacteria can spread from one person to another through direct contact with a syphilitic sore. Just like other STDs, this one also spreads through sexual contact i.e., vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
How common is syphilis?
The World Health Organization reports that 6.3 million cases of syphilis are recorded each year around the globe. In 2016, the last year for which data is available on a global level, 1 million pregnant women had active syphilis, which led to 350,000 adverse birth outcomes. Of these, 200,000 accounted for stillbirths and neonatal death. In Africa, the prevalence of syphilis is high, especially in males in rural areas. One study of pregnant women showed that the cumulative prevalence of syphilis among 4181 blood donors over a five-year period was 2.58% in Ghana.
Population-based studies show greater prevalence, and scientists point out that the lack of precise information can be correct with further research on this topic. More precise information allows scientists and healthcare professionals to create programs to raise awareness and prevent this STD from spreading.
Read More: Syphilis in Ghana
Who is at risk of developing syphilis?
You may have a higher risk of developing syphilis if these factors apply to you:
- HIV infection
- Regularly engaging in unprotected and risky sex
- Man who has sexual intercourse with other men
- Changing multiple sexual partners
Symptoms of syphilis
Symptoms of syphilis vary from stage to stage.
The primary syphilis is usually indicated by chancre (small sore), which appears on the site where bacteria entered the body. The chancre develops about three weeks after exposure to bacteria. It may be hidden in rectum or vagina, so many people don’t notice it. Chancre tends to go away on its own in one to three weeks. Some people can have one chancre only, but others may have several, and it tends to be painless.
Secondary syphilis occurs within a few weeks after the chancre has healed. A person may notice:
- Rash starting on the trunk and spreading across the body
- Sores in mouth or genitals
- Hair loss
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
The above-mentioned symptoms may go away in a few weeks, but in some cases, they come and go throughout the year.
Latent syphilis occurs when a person isn’t treated in the first two stages. This phase has no noticeable symptoms, but it may last for years before it progresses to the tertiary stage. The last stage of syphilis involves the spreading of the STD to other organs such as the brain, blood vessels, heart, bones, liver, and joints.
Read More: Syphilis Symptoms
Why get treated?
Without proper treatment, syphilis can progress from one stage to another and cause a number of complications such as the formation of small bumps or tumors on the skin, bones, and other organs, cardiovascular problems, neurological problems, higher risk of HIV, and complications in pregnancy and with childbirth.
How is syphilis treated?
Syphilis is easy to treat when diagnosed in early stages when doctors usually prescribe penicillin. In most cases, one injection is necessary. In later stages, syphilis can be difficult to treat, which is why it’s crucial to see the doctor as soon as you notice sore on your genital area.
Read More: Syphilis Treatment
Conclusion
Sexually transmitted diseases are common but are preventable. Practice safe sex, get tested regularly, and learn how to recognize signs and symptoms. The more you know, the safer you are.
Read More: STD’s in Ghana
References
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6081947/
https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-019-4035-y#Sec5
https://www.ghanahealthservice.org/ghs-item-details.php?scid=22&iid=78
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-019-3967-6#Sec11