STIs Flashcards
Describe the term commensal micro-organism
A micro-organism that derives food or other benefits from another organism without hurting or helping it
Describe the term sexually transmissible organism
A virus, bacteria, protozoan, insect or arthropod spread by sexual contact
May be commensal or pathogen
Describe the term STI
An infection by a pathogen with is sexually transmissible and which is unlikely to be transmitted by non-sexual means
Describe the term STD
A disorder of structure or function caused by a sexually transmitted pathogen
i.e. pelvic inflammatory disease or genital warts
Why take a sexual history when considering STDs as a possiblity?
- determining possible cause for symptoms
- detecting high risk behaviour and advising re-reducing future risk
- tracing contacts
How do you risk assess a man for STI?
Have you ever had sexual contact with a man?
Have you ever injected drugs?
Sexual contact with
- anyone who’s injected drugs?
- anyone from outside the UK?
Medical treatment outside UK?
Involvement with sex industry
What STIs do condoms prevent transmission of? What do they not?
HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea
They don’t prevent spread of herpes and warts
Oral sex also carries a risk; fellatio > cunnilingus
STI symptoms
Unusual discharge from vagina, penis or anus
Pain when peeing
Lumps, skin growths around genitals/anus
Rash
Unusual vaginal bleeding
Itchy genitals or anus
Blisters and sores around genitals or anus
Describe chlamydia symptoms
Most people don’t notice any symptoms
If you do usually between 1 and 3 weeks after
Women;
- 70% no symptoms
- pain urinating
- unusual vaginal discharge
- pain in tummy/pelvis
- pain during sex
- bleeding after sex
- bleeding between periods
Men;
- pain urinating
- watery, cloudy or white discharge
- burning or itching in urethra
- pain in testicles
Describe gonorrhoea symptoms
Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Symptoms usually within 2 weeks of being infected although some people will not experience symptoms
Women
- unusual vaginal discharge may be thin or watery and green or yellow colour
- pain urinating
- pain or tenderness lower abdomen
- bleeding between periods (less common)
Men
- unusual discharge
- pain or burning urinating
- inflamed foreskin
- painful or tender testicles (rare)
Describe trichomoniasis symptoms
Transmitted by Trichomonas Vaginalis (TV), symptoms usually develop within a month of infection
Up to half of people will have no symptoms
Women
- abnormal vaginal discharge
- producing more discharge, may have unpleasant fishy smell
- soreness, swelling, itching around vagina
- pain or discomfort urinating or having sex
Men
- pain urinating or ejaculating
- frequency
- thin, white discharge
- soreness, swelling, redness head of penis or foreskin
Describe genital warts symptoms and diagnosis
Caused by HPV
- 1 or more painless growths or lump around vagina, penis or anus
- itching or bleeding genitals or anus
- change to normal urine flow
Diagnosis by examination and history
- looking at the lumps
- possibly looking in vagina, anus or urethra depending where warts are
Describe pelvic inflammatory disease
- chronic pelvic pain
- infertility
- increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
Usually treated with a 2 week course of antibiotics
How is gonorrhoea diagnosed?
Nucleic Acid Amplification Test ( swab aka NAAT)
Men may provide a First Void urine sample (women this is not as accurate)
Some clinics carry out rapid tests via microscope, others may have a 2 week wait
Gonorrhoea treatment
Antibiotics
Usually one injection (buttock or thigh normally) followed by one tablet
Follow-up appointment two weeks later generally
