The most common types of sexually transmitted diseases are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes, and trichomoniasis among others (Satterwhite, Torrone, Meites, Dunne, & Mahajan, 2013). Chlamydia is caused by such pathogen as Chlamydia trachomatis. The observed symptoms include the white and yellowish discharge in men and women, the associated abdominal pain, and a fever (Gottlieb, Low, Newman, Bolan, & Kamb, 2014). Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and the unusual vaginal discharges, as well as the discharge from the penis in men, are typical symptoms of the disease. The additional sign is the pain observed while urinating (Satterwhite et al., 2013). Syphilis is caused by Treponema palladium. The signs and symptoms include the appearance of sores around the men’s and women’s genitals. These sores are known as chancres, and they can be painless while causing the patient to ignore the treatment (Gottlieb et al., 2014). Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are treated with the help of antibiotics, similarly to other sexually transmitted diseases of the bacterial nature.
Genital herpes is a disease caused by Herpes Simplex Virus. The symptoms include watery blisters observed around women’s and men’s genitals. There is no treatment for the virus, and the cure is usually suppressive (Satterwhite et al., 2013). The HPV disease is caused by Human Papilloma Virus, and there are many types of this virus. The signs of the disease are genital warts. However, the risky types can cause cancer. The problem is in the fact that HPV is not treated, and the actual cure is directed toward coping with genital warts (Workowski & Bolan, 2015). Such viral infections and diseases as hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS are also transmitted sexually, but they can cause problems that influenced not only the reproductive system but also the whole organism. Symptoms of these diseases can be not observed for a long period of time. The treatment should be complex, and it has a supportive character (Workowski & Bolan, 2015). There are also sexually transmitted diseases of a parasitic nature. Trichomoniasis is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. The symptoms include vaginal discharge in women, frequent urination, the redness of genitals, and pain while urinating (Satterwhite et al., 2013). This infection is treated with the help of antibiotics.
If the treatment is not provided, the consequences of sexually transmitted diseases can include diseases of reproductive organs, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even infertility. Such diseases as gonorrhea can be risky if the treatment is ignored because of the spread of the infection in the blood (Workowski & Bolan, 2015). The absence of the treatment for syphilis can lead to the spread of the infection to other organs, and the development of the disease can cause the person’s death.
The effective care plan for patients who have sexually transmitted diseases should include the following procedures: (1) the treatment with the help of antibiotics and immunomodulating medications, depending on the type of the disease; (2) the period of abstaining from different types of sexual contacts (vaginal, oral, or anal); (3) the use of male latex condoms after the completion of the treatment; (4) the vaccination against types of hepatitis and HPV; (5) the education regarding the monogamous relationships and protected sexual activity; (6) the partner management (Gottlieb et al., 2014). These steps are important to be followed in order to cope with the disease and prevent further problems.
References
Gottlieb, S. L., Low, N., Newman, L. M., Bolan, G., & Kamb, M. (2014). Toward global prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs): The need for STI vaccines. Vaccine, 32(14), 1527-1535.
Satterwhite, C. L., Torrone, E., Meites, E., Dunne, E. F., & Mahajan, R. (2013). Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: Prevalence and incidence estimates, 2008. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 40(3), 187-193.
Workowski, K. A., & Bolan, G. A. (2015). Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. Reproductive Endocrinology, 24(1), 51-56.