Genital herpes is classed as an STD (sexually transmitted disease) it is caused by either the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Genital herpes is usually caused by HSV-2 (type 2).
Genital herpes is usually spread by direct contact with an infected person. Sexual intercourse or oral sex is usually the most common way of the virus spreading. Genital herpes usually entails the sufferer experiencing breakouts or episodes, in-between they experience symptom-free periods.
The first outbreak is always the most severe; it usually starts with a tingling, itching, or a burning sensation or pain around the genitals followed by the appearance of painful red spots which, within a day or two, evolve through a phase of clear fluid-filled blisters which rapidly turn whitish-yellow. The blisters burst, leaving painful ulcers that dry, scab over and then heal in approximately 10 days.
Symptoms of recurrent outbreaks are usually limited to genital blisters, sores, and swollen glands. After an outbreak the blisters are usually most painful 24 hours after they appear, the person may also have symptoms much like the flu and aches or pains - especially are felt down the back and the back of the legs.
These symptoms can often be mistaken for jock itch since both conditions are very similar in their initial symptoms. They are both very uncomfortable; they both produce red irritated skin and appear in the thighs, groin or genital area. Genital herpes is not life threatening but as soon as outbreaks occur treatment should be sought to avoid scarring, pain and some other complications.
Stress plays a major role in outbreaks and their strength. A weakened immune system or a diet too high in acid-forming foods can also be factors. Stress also diminishes the power of the human glandular system, which exerts a tremendous influence on the workings of the immune system.
Can you protect yourself or others? Condoms offer some protection against Genital Herpes by covering the infected area or the mucous membranes which are the likely place of infection. However, be warned condoms do not provide 100 % protection because a lesion may be found which the condom did not cover and such the virus is passed.
Most people think that kissing is a safe activity. Syphilis, Herpes and other infections can all be contracted through harmless simple acts such as kissing so you need to be careful.
Infected people should take precaution when in contact with uninfected persons during sexual activity. Vigilance is the best companion for herpes.
Home Cures - Do they work???
The problem with most medications is that they concentrate on the symptoms rather than attack the root cause of the herpes, the real secret is attacking the root causes. Supporting your immune system should always be your first goal. A weakened immune system is more prone to outbreaks. There are special diet foods that you can eat to help boost your immune system.
Herpes Outbreaks usually occur when the immune system is weak or at a low point, allowing the virus to cause an outbreak. The most important thing to do is to focus on improving your immune health and keeping your body resilient so that this virus doesn't have a chance to outbreak.
Nutritionally things that you can do to fortify your immune system are to eat more nutritious foods like more vegetables, more proteins, more healthy fatty acids, more raw foods, more nut seeds and foods like avocados.
Other things that you can do are reducing your intake of sugars, improving your sleep patterns, improving your exercise patterns. There are a couple of foods that actually promote herpes growth that you want to eliminate on the onset of an outbreak; these are chocolates and nuts in particular. Also fortify your lysine content with a supplement from your local health shop
So in essence to control the outbreaks is to boost your immune system to fight the causes not the problems.
New remedies have the ability to cure the outbreaks of genital herpes in male and female sufferers within six months they use a combination of foods and remedies these are showing great results in tests, but at the moment thou these do not destroy the virus they work on the principle that the symptoms or outbreaks do not return. Your first point of call should always be your immune system.
Chlamydia is now the single most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis and the number of new diagnoses in the UK has been climbing steadily since the 1990s.
In 2010 there were over 160,000 confirmed cases of Chlamydia, compared to 123,018 in 2008. To put this in context, in the year 2000 there were only 60,000 cases!
Why the rise?
It should not be ignored that more and more people are being tested for Chlamydia and other STIs these days and this does contribute to the growing number of reported cases. There has also been an increase in the number of people having unsafe sex particularly those belonging to the 16-24 age bracket.
How do you get Chlamydia?
Chamydia can live inside the penis, vagina and rectum. Traces of Chlamydia can be found in vaginal fluids and in male semen and the infection can be passed on through the exchange of these fluids during unprotected sex.
In addition to this it is possible to transmit Chlamydia through oral sex or by sharing sex toys that have not been properly washed. Chlamydia may also be passed from a mother to her unborn baby where it can manifest itself as conjunctivitis or even pneumonia.
What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?
It is important to remember that the symptoms of Chlamydia are often not visible. You could have Chlamydia and have no idea whatsoever. When symptoms do present themselves you can expect to see the following:-
Men: The Chlamydia infection can cause a small amount of discharge from the penis, as well as some irritation at the head. You may experience a burning sensation when weeing as well as a painful swelling of the testes.
Women: Unusual vaginal discharge can be seen in women with Chlamydia, whilst pain during and after intercourse is not uncommon. Women may also experience bleeding after sex and between periods. In addition to this they may suffer with lower abdominal pain and a burning sensation when weeing.
If left untreated
The infection may spread to elsewhere in your body and cause health problems. A Chlamydia infection can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and damage a woman's fallopian tubes. It can lead to a decrease in sperm production and fertility for men.
Can Chlamydia be cured?
YES! Chlamydia is relatively easy to cure and in most cases a simple course of antibiotics lasting no longer than a week does the trick.
Where do I get tested?
Luckily there are a number of options for those wanting to get tested. Nowadays you can get test kits delivered to your door and all you need do is text a number! You can get the results via text message, email, phone or through the post. Alternatively you can visit your local GUM clinic. Those in the Lancashire and Cumbria regions can order a test kit online through the best2know website by following one of the links in this article. They actually recommend that you should be tested every six months or so for "piece of mind".
Of course if you discover that you do have Chlamydia then you should set about the process of informing any previous sexual partners so that they too can be tested. Best 2 Know can help you to do this in a sensitive and considerate manner.
Remember that in order to minimise the chances of getting Chlamydia you should always wear a condom when having sexual intercourse, and certainly when doing so with a new partner.
The number of people suffering from sexually transmitted infections has been consistently increasing recently. The second most commonly reported infection among sexually active men and women is gonorrhoea. This infection usually affects men who are 20 to 24 years old and women who are 16 to 19 years old. It is a bacterial infection, which is caused by a bacterium known as neisseria gonorrhoeae. You can get infected with this bacterium through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sexual intercourse. You can also get infected with gonorrhoea if you share your sex toys with an infected person. It is observed that ejaculation during a sexual act is not necessary for transmission of this infection.
What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea?
The general gonorrhoea symptoms include itching, rashes, bleeding, discharge and painful bowel movements. Men who are infected with this bacterium, can suffer from symptoms such as burning sensation while urinating, coloured discharge from the penis, and in rare cases, swollen or painful testicles. Men usually experience the symptoms some 2 to 5 days after getting infected. Gonorrhoea symptoms experienced by women include painful or burning sensation while urinating, vaginal bleeding between periods and increased vaginal discharge. The symptoms in a women are usually less aggressive than that of men, and there is also a probability that they do not experience any symptoms at all.
What are the risk factors of this infection?
If gonorrhoea is left untreated, it can spread in to your blood and joints, which can prove life threatening. Leaving this infection untreated can also lead to complications such as epididymitis in men, which is a condition leading to infertility. It can also increase the probability of a woman's chance of having an ectopic pregnancy. Untreated gonorrhoea symptoms can also increase your risk of getting infected with the more dangerous HIV virus. In order to avoid such consequences, you can get your self diagnosed for the infection with the help of gonorrhoea test kit, after at least two weeks of having unprotected sexual intercourse.
How can gonorrhoea be treated?
You can completely cure this infection with the help of antibiotics such as Cefixime, Azithromycin and Doxycycline. Cefixime and Azithromycin are medications that can be taken in a single dosage, which can help in curing the gonorrhoea infection. But such single powerful dosage of medications can be harmful for people who are allergic to strong antibiotics. Such people can go for a medication such as Doxycycline, which is required to be taken for a long time. You need to take this medication twice a day for 7 days in order to treat gonorrhoea symptoms. It is recommended that you complete your course of medication even if the symptoms disappear before you finish the course.
How can you diagnose this infection?
You can diagnose gonorrhoea either through urine tests, which is more popular or conducting culture tests by growing bacteria in the laboratory itself. Most doctors usually prefer the second method of urine test, as it happens to give very accurate results. You can order for a gonorrhoea test kit in order to take the test. You are provided with a specimen tube, which you are supposed to return to the laboratory, filled with your urine sample. This urine sample of yours is used to detect the presence of genes of the bacteria if any. If the test results are positive, it indicates that you are infected with the bacterium.