contraception and STIs Flashcards
contraception
contraception - measures that prevent a women from having an unwanted pregnancy
abstinence
- abstinence is not having sexual intercourse at all
- most effective form of birth control
- prevents unwanted pregnancy and transmission of STIs
detection of ovulation
some methods of birth control rely on determining the time of ovulation to abstain from sexual intercourse on the days when fertilisation is most likely
- rhythm method
- temperature method
- mucus method
- symptothermal method
rhythm method
- if a female has a regular 28 day menstrual cycle ovulation is likely to occur on the 14th day
- the egg can survive for only two days without fertilisation and sperm can survive for four days at most in female
- therefore, sexual intercourse should not occur between four days before and four days after ovulation
temperature method
- a female can take her body temperature each morning to determine the time of ovulation more accurately
- ovulation is accompanied by a sharp drop in body temperature and then a rise
mucus method
- ovulation is predicted by observing a change in the mucus of the cervix
- around ovulation, mucus will be clear, stretchy and slippery (like raw egg white)
symptothermal method
- combination of the use of the rhythm method, temperature and cervical mucus methods
- these methods can be reliable if careful records and charts are kept
lactational amenorrhoea
- temporary infertility that follows the birth of a child
- it occurs when a woman is not menstruating and fully breastfeeding
- high level of prolactin in the blood inhibit the secretion of GnRH, which in turn stops the secretion of FSH and LH
- temporarily suppressing ovulation
coitus interruptus
- the withdraw method, the removal of the penis just before male orgasm so the ejaculation takes place outside the female vagina
- high unreliable
- some sperm may escape in the pre-ejaculatory fluids so fertilisation can still occur
mechanical barriers
a variety of mechanical barriers can be used to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg
- condoms
- diaphragm
- cervical cap
- female condom
condoms
- thin latex rubber barrier effective in preventing semen from entering the vagina
- also provide protection against sexually transmitted infections
- the barrier blocks the exchange of body fluids (mucus, semen) during anal, oral or vaginal sex (preventing the spread of bacteria/viruses)
diaphragm
thin rubber cap that fits across the top of the vagina, correct size must be prescribed
cervical cap
similar but smaller than a diaphragm, fits directly over cervix
female condom
- sheath that lines the vagina, closed end fits over the cervix, the other sits over the labia
- protects against sexually transmitted infections
spermicides
-
spermicides work in two ways:
- they contain a substance that immobilises and destroys sperm
- they react with moisture in the vagina to form bubbles of carbon dioxide gas which present a physical barrier to the sperms
- available as creams, tablets, pessaries or aerosol foam
- unreliable when used alone
hormonal contraception for women
changes hormonal levels in the female’s body to prevent ovulation
- contraceptive pills
- hormonal implant
contraceptive pills
- “the Pill”, taken daily
- combined pill - oestrogen and progesterone, prevent ovulation
- mini pill - contains only progesterone substitute, progestogen, this makes the cervical mucus thicker so that sperm cannot enter the uterus and changes the lining of the uterus making it more difficult for a fertilised egg to implant
hormonal implant
- another way of delivering progesterone is to use Implanon a soft plastic stick about 4cm long that is inserted beneath the skin on the inner side of the upper arm
- it will provide contraception for three years
intrauterine devices
IUDs are small devices inserted into the uterus
- hormonal IUD
- copper IUD
hormonal IUD
slowly releases progesterone hormone
copper IUD
- plastic frame with copper wire around it
- inhibiting the movement of sperm
emergency contraception for women
- sometimes it is necessary to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse
- the morning-after pill (progesterone tablet) can be taken
- it works by preventing or delaying ovulation, preventing sperm from reaching an egg and preventing the implantation of an embryo in the lining of the uterus
sterilisation
- for males: vasectomy
- for females: tubal ligation
Male sterilisation – Vasectomy
Involves the removal of a small piece of each vas deferens, the ends are then tied or sealed with heat
female sterilisation – Tubal ligation
Involves cutting and removing a piece of the fallopian tubes and the ends are tied
STIs
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Infections that are transmitted by close body contact, usually with the genital organs
- They are caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites that are passed from an infected person to a partner during sexual activity
Types of STI’s
Bacterial:
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia
Viral:
- Genital herpes
- Human papilloma virus
- HIV/AIDS
Chlamydia
- Bacterial
- The most common STI
- Caused by a highly specialised bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis
- Spread by vaginal, or anal sex with an infected person
chlamydia symptoms
- Men experiences an infection of the urethra, yellow mucus-like discharge and a burning sensation when passing urine, can spread to the epididymis and cause inflammation.
- Most infected women have no symptoms, some women have pelvic inflammatory disease
chlamydia treatment
When an infection is diagnosed it can be treated with antibiotics
gonorrhoea
- Bacterial
- Mainly affects the mucous membranes of the excretory and reproductive systems, the rectum and occasionally the eyes and throat
- Caused by a bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae spread during sexual intercourse
gonorrhoea symptoms
- Males experience inflammation in the urethra, resulting in a burning feeling in the penis and extreme pain when urinating. Yellow discharge of pus from the penis
- In female’s symptoms go unrecognised in more than 70% of infected women. Usually no pain, pus produced may be mistaken as discharge. Women may have the disease for months before pain occurs
gonorrhoea treatment
Antibiotics
syphilis
- bacterial
- Caused by a thin, flexible, spiral shapes bacteria Treponema pallidum
- Contracted by direct sexual contact and affects men and women in the same way
stages of syphilis infection
- Stage 1: sores(3-90 days after exposure)
- Stage 2: body rash (4-10 weeks after initial infection)
- Stage 3: affects internal organs (3-15 years after initial infection)
- Stage 4: continuation of stage 3
syphilis symptoms
First symptom is one or more small sores on sex organs or other skin, skin rashes, ulcerated mouth or throat, mild fevers
syphilis treatment
Antibiotics for all stages of syphilis, surgery may be necessary in later stages
genital herpes
- virus
- Common STI caused by the Herpes simplex virus, There are two forms of the virus:
- Herpes simplex type 1 - ‘cold sores’ on the lips
- Herpes simplex type 2 – produces blisters on the genital
organs
- transmitted by skin-to-skin contact and therefore can be passed on during genital, oral or anal sex
genital herpes symptoms
Blisters develop on penis or labia and vagina for females. Flu-like symptoms or a rash.
genital herpes effects
- Blisters break, develop scabs and heal, although the virus passes into the nervous system where it remains for life
- The virus can reinfect the skin or mucous membranes at any time
genital herpes treatment
There is no way of removing herpes virus from the body once infected. Treatment includes medication to reduce pain and sexual abstinence for duration of the eruption
human papilloma virus (HPV)
- virus
- The warts are caused by a virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Transmitted by a sexual partner infected by the virus
- Some types of HPV can cause cancer of the cervix
HPV symptoms
Genital warts are usually found on the genital areas
HPV treatment
Prescription medication for warts
HPV prevention
Use condoms, get the HPV vaccine which can prevent most cases of cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers.
HIV/AIDS
- virus
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known to cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) - It is now a pandemic meaning that it has spread to all parts of the world
HIV/AIDS effects
- Infection weakens the body’s immune system, so the infected person is highly susceptible to infection by other micro- organisms and to some forms of cancer
- HIV is a retrovirus containing RNA core rather than DNA, it infects white blood cells (T-lymphocytes), and integrates its DNA into the lymphocytes DNA and produces millions of copies of itself
- AIDS is the last stage of infection; a person develops AIDS when the immune system has been damaged to the degree that it is no longer able to resist other infections
how is HIV transferred?
HIV is transferred when body fluid from one person enters the blood stream or comes in contact with mucous membranes
- Body fluids like – menstrual blood, pre-ejaculatory fluid, vaginal and cervical fluids and breast milk
- Normal social contacts such as hugging, kissing and handshaking will not spread HIV
- Unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral) with infected person and the sharing of needles will spread the virus
HIV treatment
no vaccine or cure for HIV currently, however there are antiretroviral drugs that slow the reproduction of the virus and supress the progression of the disease
preventing STIs
- Abstinence is the only method of completely preventing the transfer of STI’s
- Practicing safe sex can reduce the chances significantly
- Safe sex involves using a condom to prevent the transfer of bodily fluids from one person to the other
