SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

Ground Rules Appropriate and mature behavior/comments are expected. Anatomical terms will be used. Questions that might involve values or ethics, will not be answered, but will be referred home. Personal stories should not include individual names.

Summary

STD STI What is the difference? STD = sexually transmitted disease. STI = sexually transmitted infection. STI and STD are sometimes used interchangeably. More recently, the term STI has been used rather than STD (especially in the medical sector). One reason is because infections do not always become a disease.

Understanding HIV & AIDS

What does HIV stand for?

This particular virus can only infect humans Let’s break it down…. Human This particular virus can only infect humans Immunodeficiency HIV weakens your immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. A "deficient" immune system can't protect you Virus A virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host

HIV can harm you because it attacks your body’s immune system HIV is a sexually transmitted disease for which there is no vaccine or cure You cannot take antibiotics to get rid of HIV in your body like some other STI’s.

Charlie Sheen

http://viewpure.com/68I7JlVhuhY?ref=bkmk When HIV becomes AIDS video - 4 minutes

What are opportunistic infections?

AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Acquired Deficiency Let’s break it down…. AIDS is not something you inherit from your parents. You acquire AIDS during/after birth. Immune Your body's immune system includes all the organs and cells that work to fight off infection or disease. Deficiency You get AIDS when your immune system is "deficient," or isn't working the way it should. Syndrome A syndrome is a collection of symptoms and signs of disease. AIDS is a syndrome, rather than a single disease, because it is a complex illness with a wide range of complications and symptoms.

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection Your immune cells drops below the level of 200 cells per mm (healthy is about 500-1500) Your body can no longer fight off infections

Left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS On average, the untreated HIV infected patient will progress to AIDS in about 5-10 years.

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 HIV AIDS Little or no symptoms (Asymptomatic) could last up to 10 years HIV Fatigue, weight loss, fever and diarrhea. Possible mental changes White blood cell count drops below 200. Opportunistic infections appear Stage 2 Stage 3 AIDS

semen BLOOD Breast milk Fluids that transmit HIV: semen Vagina Fluids BLOOD Breast milk

How is HIV transmitted?

Sexual activity with an infected person ABSTINENCE from sex is the only 100% effective way to prevent HIV infection through sexual transmission.

with an infected person Sharing needles with an infected person

Infected mother to her infant Before, during the birth process or breast feeding

HIV is NOT Spread By… Shaking hands Breathing infected air Kissing with a closed mouth Mosquito bites Sharing eating utensils with a person who is infected Donating blood in the U.S.

Is there a cure for aids?

However…

(ART)= ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY These drugs DO NOT cure people with HIV/AIDS, they just suppress the virus. They can live a longer, healthier life and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

It’s VERY important to remember that people infected with HIV who are on ARV drugs can STILL TRANSMIT HIV to others!

41% of the cases of HIV infection in Idaho occur in ages 20-29 years.

IDAHO STATS

Sexually Transmitted infections

There are 3 groups of STI’s 1. Bacterial 2. Viral 3. Parasites Bacterial STI’s include gonorrhea and syphilis. These can often be treated and cured if caught early enough. Viral STI’s Include HIV, HPV (genital warts), and herpes. They have NO cure, but their symptoms can be eased with treatment. Some Infections are not “technically” STI’s, but they can be spread through close human contact, including sex. Examples are Scabies (mites) and Pubic lice (parasites).

WASHINGTON — There were more cases of sexually transmitted diseases reported in the United States last year than ever before, according to new federal data. Rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis — three of the most common S.T.D.s — grew for the second consecutive year, with sharper increases in the West than other regions. And while all three diseases are treatable with antibiotics, most cases continue to go undiagnosed, potentially causing infertility and other problems.

1 in 4 teens contract a sexually transmitted infection every year You can’t tell if someone has an STI by their appearance. Many STI’s can be treated, but early diagnosis is vital. STD’s are serious diseases that can cause sterility, blindness, deafness, insanity, and death. A person with an STI may have no symptoms.  Today, 40% of sexually active teen girls have had an STD that can cause infertility and even death.

Each year, millions of teens contract an STI. Many were too embarrassed to ask for help or didn’t recognize the symptoms.

Health problems caused by STDs tend to be more severe and more frequent for women than for men, in part because for women there are often no visible symptoms, so they do not seek care until serious problems have developed.

Let’s look at A list of Common Sti’s

Feel good about your decision! Dating should be fun, and abstinence helps teens enjoy healthy relationships. Who wants to worry about STI’s or pregnancy????