It is essential for sexually transmitted infections, or STIs for short, to be caught quickly to begin the treatment procedure as soon as possible. If STIs go undiagnosed and untreated, there are significant complications that can develop, such as cancer, an increased risk of HIV, infertility, and pelvic inflammatory disease. These not only affect reproductive health but also an individual’s overall well-being, along with quality of life. Romantic partners can also be at risk of developing the same type of STI if it goes untreated and sexual relations continue. Safe sex practices and STI testing are essential factors for managing STI health.
What Is An STI and Why Should You Care?
An STI, or sexually transmitted infection, can be bacterial, parasitic, or viral and is explicitly spread through sexual means, including anal, oral, or vaginal sex. If an individual has been diagnosed with an STI, they should be taking the means to discuss the next steps with their healthcare practitioner, who will provide the necessary support and guidance, and include their romantic partner in these discussions, as well. An STI can be asymptomatic, so it is easy for STIs to pass between romantic partners without either one realizing it is happening. This is why it is essential to be tested for STIs on a frequent basis to ensure that neither romantic partner has contracted one.
What Is the Difference Between STI and STD?
As noted in the previous sections, an STI is shortened for sexually transmitted infection, while an STD is a sexually transmitted disease. An STI relates only to the infection, while an STD means that the infection has progressed to having symptoms and being considered an actual disease. So, in that case, all STDs are considered STIs, but not all STIs have developed into STDs. Anyone who is not experiencing any symptoms is considered to have a sexually transmitted infection, so this is usually the correct term to use in most cases.
What Is the Significance Of An STI?
STIs are significant in that it is a form of infection that can be easily transmitted through any form of sexual contact. With undiagnosed STIs, serious health issues have the potential to develop, including cancer, an increased risk of HIV, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy complications. Due to these health issues, both STIs and STDs are considered public health concerns, and the ideal situation would involve a quick diagnosis and plan of treatment.
Why Are STIs Important to Public Health?
Understanding sexually transmitted infections and the heavy impact they can have on an individual’s health should be topics discussed in public health resources. As previously mentioned, untreated and undiagnosed STIs have the potential to cause cancer, infertility, pregnancy complications, or a greater risk of contracting HIV, all causing a greater likelihood to impact reproductive or sexual health negatively. STIs can spread quickly and without notice initially, since they do not present with symptoms right at the beginning. These are all good reasons to include discussions of STIs and STDs in the prevention and treatment of public health matters.
What Can Be Mistaken for An STI?
There are several health issues and complications that could mimic symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection or disease, including skin conditions, urinary tract infections, or yeast infections. Similar symptoms between UTIs and STIS are blood in the urine, a burning sensation when urinating, cloudy urine, having to urinate frequently, and pain in the lower abdominal area. This is why it is of utmost importance to be tested when experiencing symptoms that are difficult to differentiate to be able to determine what infection an individual has and what treatment method needs to be utilized to go about healing.
What Happens If STIs Are Left Untreated?
Multiple issues can develop if STIs continue to go untreated, including cancer, infertility, neurological problems, organ damage, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy complications. A particular form of STI known as HPV is likely to increase the chances of developing specific forms of cancer, especially those that involve the reproductive system. STIs that are left untreated can cause extensive damage to the reproductive system, leading to difficulties becoming pregnant or, in more serious cases, infertility. Potential neurological issues that can develop from undiagnosed and untreated STIs include blindness, among others. Syphilis is one of the more common STIs that cause overall organ damage, including in the bones, brain, eyes, heart, or kidneys. The two most common STIs that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (fallopian tube, ovary, or uterus inflammation that can lead to swelling and scarring) are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Lastly, STIs that go untreated have the potential to lead to preterm delivery or stillbirths for individuals who are already pregnant.
Can An STI Be Treated Without Antibiotics?
No, antibiotics must be utilized for an STI to be treated. There are no natural treatment methods currently that have shown evidence of treating STIs in the same way that antibiotics do. Specifically, bacterial forms of STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis) will require an antibiotic, while viral STIs (herpes and hepatitis B) will need antivirals to be treated. If an individual has genital warts, multiple forms of treatment are available, including being prescribed a medication, freezing them, or removing them via surgical means.
Choosing a healthy plant-based and vegan diet is most beneficial when it comes to the following:
-
Higher levels of energy;
-
Improved sleep;
-
Aids in energy and overall happiness;
-
Provides a sense of comfort and relief;
-
Could prevent major diseases such as obesity and diabetes;
-
Accomplish weight loss and management; and
-
Improves mental and cognitive functioning.
There are really no excuses not to try healthier habits in your everyday life. If you are a man or woman looking for specific benefits of adopting healthier habits or want to know about the general healing properties of herbs. Please remember to comment or post any health questions or contact us directly!
Also, feel free to share any of your favorite recipes to make and share it with the Assuaged community on our ➡️ Share A Recipe ⬅️ page!
References
Bazan, J.A. (2024, January 2). What an infectious disease doctor wishes you knew about STDs and STIs. The Ohio State University.
Equality Health. (2023, November 28). The dangers of untreated STDs: Consequences and risks. Equality Health.
Healthwise Staff. (2023, November 27). Exposure to sexually transmitted infections: Care instructions. Alberta.
Minority HIV/AIDS Fund. (2024, October 7). Sexually transmitted infections. HIV.gov.
Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy. (2024, November 7). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
St. Luke's Hospital. (2005, November 8). Conditions with similar symptoms as: Sexually transmitted diseases. St. Luke's Hospital.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About sexually transmitted infections (STIs). CDC.
