Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact.
Contact can be vaginal, oral and anal, but can also be transmitted through other intimate contact.
There are several types:
- Mushrooms
- Bacteria
- Virus
They are infections, i.e. health disorders, some of which go almost unnoticed or produce few symptoms, while others have more serious symptoms.
The period of infection is usually asymptomatic, i.e. you feel little or nothing, but you can still infect other people.
It is important that, if STIs are suspected, medical attention is sought immediately.
There are more than 30 diseases, distributed throughout the world, with an imprecise knowledge of their incidence.
85% of known cases occur among 15-30 year olds, the most common being the so-called "Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)", which is so common that almost all men and all sexually active women contract it at some point in their lives. There are different types of HPV, in some cases it is harmless and disappears spontaneously, but some types can cause genital warts or cancer.
How do I know if I have HPV?
It is diagnosed by specific tests on vaginal discharge. Usually by cytology.
When the lesions are external (condyloma) they are easily diagnosed, no tests are necessary.
If they are on the cervix, they are diagnosed early with cytology. However, to determine whether the lesions are benign or malignant, a biopsy is necessary. This is why it is so important to have regular cytology tests.
What do I have to do to be cured?
Treatment and monitoring according to the doctor's instructions (gynaecologist, dermatologist, general practitioner, etc.).
At Ginecenter we have laser treatments specifically designed to treat this ailment (wart removal).
It is quick and in most cases does not require local anaesthesia and ensures good healing.
Depending on their characteristics, the disappearance of the lesions in each person will require a different amount of time.
The treatment is carried out on both men and women.
How can I prevent HPV?
You should mainly use a condom when you have sex, as your partner may be the carrier of the virus, even if he or she has no symptoms.
They can also cause genital warts or certain cancers in men.
The vaccine is a very important tool in prevention, it produces defences against the virus and acts against 90% of the types, including the most severe ones.
It is highly recommended that both men and women get the vaccine.
The vaccine is given in a 3-dose series and targets the HPV types that most commonly cause cervical cancer and can cause some cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus and oropharynx. It also protects against genital warts.
Do you think you may have been infected with HPV or do you want to prevent infection?
The HPV vaccine Cervical cancer prevention is recommended for girls from the age of 12 and women up to the age of 26 (if they have not been vaccinated or completed the recommended doses), but if they have not been vaccinated in that age group, it is important to be vaccinated.
The suspected diagnosis of cytology must be completed with the biopsy and anatomo-pathological report (microscopic study of the affected tissue), which definitively rules it out or confirms it and, in the latter case, makes it possible to design the treatment guidelines to be followed.
