Sexual Health Flashcards
What are the 8 STIs that we need to know about?
- Chlamydia
- Syphillis
- Public lice
- HIV
- Genital warps (HPV)
- Genital Herpes
- Trichomoniasis
- Gonorrhoea
Symptoms of Chlamydia
- Women: Bleeding between periods/heavier periods, bleeding after sex, lower abdominal pain, unusual discharge, pain when passing urine
- Men: White/cloudy discharge from penis, pain when passing urine, pain in testicles
Treat and treatment for chlamydia
Test: Vaginal swap in women and urine sample in men
Treatment: Doxycycline and Azithromycin
Syphilis symptoms
- Primary: Genital ulcers
- Secondary: Rash on hands+feet, fever, headaches, tiredness
Tertiary: If left untreated, can spread brain = long term damage
Syphilis test and treatment
- Blood test
- Benzathine benzylpenicillin injections or azithromycin 500mg OD
Public lice symptoms
- Visible
- Itching
- Irritation
- Black powdery droppings from lice in underwear
Test and treatment for public lice
- Examination
- Topical insecticide: Permethrin and malathion
HIV symptoms
- Shortly after infection: flu-like fever, rash, joint + muscle pain
- Late stage: Diarrhoea, night sweats, weight loss, recurrent infections
- If untreated, develops into AIDs
HIV treatment (not curable)
- Aim is to make viral load undetectable = not transmissible using anti-retroviral therapy
- PEP = combination of drugs to reduce HIV negative person getting HIV up to 72 hours post exposure (needs prescription)
- PrEP = taken by HIV negative people before + after sex to reduce risk of getting HIV - available in GUM clinics
Genital Warts (Human Papilloma Virus) symptoms
- Can be spread even if no active warts seen
- Small fleshy growth around genital area, usually not painful
Tests and Treatment of Genital Warts (HPV)
- Examination of genitals
- Podophyllotoxin or imquimod cream, crystotherapy, laser therapy, trichloroacetic acid
Genital Herpes (HSV type 2 also can be type 1) Symptoms
- Blistering of genitals leaving open red sores
- Tingling/burning/itching/pain on urination
Test and Treatment of Genital Herpes
- Swap from blister
- Antiviral medication: 1st line = aciclovir 200mg, 2nd line/recurrent infection = Acyclovir 800mg
Trichomoniasis symptoms
- Abnormal/pale-green smelly discharge
- Soreness, redness, itching, pain when urination
Tests and Treatment for Trichomoniasis
- Genital swab, urine sample
- Metronidazole
Need to treat partners
Gonorrhoea symptoms
- Women: Bleeding between/heavier periods, lower abdominal pain, unusual discharge, pain when passing urine
- Men: green/yellow discharge from penis, pain in the testes, pain when passing urine
Tests and Treatment for Gonorrhoea
- Vaginal/rectal swab in men + women, urine sample in men
- Treatment: IM Ceftriazone
What are the different types of contraception?
- Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COCP)
- Progesterone-only Pill, injection or implant
- Intrauterine System (IUS)- Progesterone coil (lasts 10 years)
- Intrauterine Device- Copper coil: acts as spermicide (lasts 10 years)
- Condoms (only protecting against STIs)
- Sterilisation
- Natural rhythm method
Pros and Cons of Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill
Pros: Pro-menstruation effects, fertility returns to normal when pill is stopped, decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers
Cons: Mood changes, nausea, breast tenderness, weight gain, headaches, drug interaction
Progesterone-only Pill pros and cons
Pros: Can be used when COCP contraindicated, not affected by broad spec antibiotics
Cons: Spotting, weight gain, headache, mood changes, less effective than COCP
Progesterone injection (every 3 months) pros and cons
Pros: Not user dependent, amenorrhoea
Cons: Weight gain, takes a while for fertility to return to normal, requires needle
Progesterone Implant (lasts 3 years) pros and cons
Pros: Not user dependent, rapid return of fertility, lighter periods/stop, useful for oestrogen sensitive people
Cons: Irregular bleeding, headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness, acne, no STI protection, implant may wonder, requires procedure
Intrauterine System (IUS) Progesterone coil (lasts 3-5 years) pros and cons
Pros: Not user dependent, decreases/no periods (used as first line treatment for heavy bleeding), rapid return of fertility, less hormonal side effects
Cons: Pain/discomfort on insertion, risk of expulsion, risk of infection (pelvic inflammatory disease), perforation of uterus
Intrauterine Device (IUD)- Copper coil: acts as spermicide - lasts 10 years pros and cons
Pros: Not user dependent, non-hormonal, regular periods
Cons: Heavier more painful periods, risk of expulsion, risk of infection, perforation of uterus
Condoms
Pros: Available for free, no serious side effects, STI protection
Cons: Can interrupt intercourse, ineffective if wrong size
Sterilisation pros and cons
Pros: Don’t worry about contraceptives, not user dependent
Cons: Risk of tube re-joining, can’t be easily reversed, required surgery
Natural rhythm method pros and cons
Pros: No physical side effects to hormones, increases fertility awareness
Cons: Takes 3-6 cycles to learn effectively, keep daily records, external factors can affect fertility indicators (inaccurate asf), avoiding sex during fertile times
