STIs: Pubic Lice & Mulloscum Contagiosum

Pubic Lice

Pubic lice is a parasitic infection of the genital region. It is a living organism that attaches to pubic hair and lives on the body. It is most commonly spread through close contact with an infected person, however it can also live for a very short time on damp towels and sheets and can be spread through sharing these items. Pubic lice is characterized by mild to severe itching in the genital area. It can be cured with an insecticide, which can be purchased without a prescription

• An infected person may be able to see tiny gray lice in their pubic hair or may be able to feel tiny eggs attached to their hair.
• When treating pubic lice, treatment directions should be followed exactly and all clothes and bedding used by the infected person should be washed in hot water.
• Itching begins about 5 days after infestation

Mulloscum Contagiosum

While mulloscum contagiosum is considered a sexually transmitted infection, it can also be transmitted during nonsexual, intimate contact.  It is a derivation of the small pox virus and is identified and diagnosed by small pinkish white bumps on the genital region and thighs that resemble pimples. It does not need to be treated because it goes away on its own, but the bumps can be removed by burning or freezing.

STIs: Trichonomiasis, Gonorrhea, & Bacterial Vaginosis

Trichonomiasis

Trich is the most common vaginal (as opposed to cervical) STI in women. It is only diagnosed in women, though it can be carried in men as well. It is a parasitic infection caused by a single-cell protozoan.  Common symptoms include a frothy green discharge, itching, and frequent urination. Trich is diagnosed after a practitioner examines the vaginal discharge under a microscope. It is easily treated with oral medication.

• spread through contact with infected fluid
• 7 million Americans infected every year
• men rarely have symptoms

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is the ‘big brother’ of chlamydia and is also a distant relative of syphilis.  It is a bacterial infection that is spread through contact infected bodily fluids.  It can be transmitted through oral sex and can cause an infection in a person’s throat.  The symptoms are similar to those of chlamydia and include unusual discharge, burning, and itching.  Gonorrhea is easily treated with antibiotics, but if it goes untreated for very long periods of time it can cause serious problems such as PID in women and infertility in men.

• women experience symptoms within 2-21 days of infection
• men experience symptoms within 2-6 days of infection
• usually treated with a shot of penicillin (it is resistant to Cipro, the pill that used to be used to treat it)
• affects 600,000 people in US every year

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial Vaginosis occurs when the intricate balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted.  It may occur as a result of sexual activity when foreign bacteria is introduced to the vagina, but can also occur as a result of the use of deodorant soaps, bubble baths, douches, or anything else that changes the pH of the vagina.  The symptoms include white discharge and a fishy vaginal odor.  BV is diagnosed after a pelvic exam and can be easily treated with antibiotics.

Favorite Figure: Sinclair Sexsmith

The reason I chose Sinclair Sexsmith as one of my favorite figures is threefold:

First of all, it was through my avid devouring of Sinclair’s original erotica that really inspired me to question and push the boundaries of my own sexuality, and explore many things, including an asymmetric balance of power. The erotica that they write, as well as the collections that they edit, have inspired some intrigue in things that I had previously not considered.

Second, Sinclair Sexsmith has a deep knowledge of so many topics, and can eloquently and enthusiastically speak to a broad range of sexuality. First of all, Sinclair has a masculine-of-center identity, and lives a personal definition of butch identity. They are a top, and can speak to many BDSM practices, and is constantly exploring their boundaries with their partners, including an asymmetrical balance of power and impact play. In the Sugarbutch Chronicles, Sinclair’s blog, they boldly share deep thoughts about how difficult some explorations are. Opening up their relationship and sharing every raw difficulty and wonderful joy for anonymous readers to learn from is a wonderful skill that I appreciate very much.

And finally, meeting Sinclair (see below) and seeing them lecture and perform in person was pivotal in the development in my queer identity, and I began to have a deeper understanding of the identity and roles I wanted to possess, as well as what roles and identities I am attracted to.

STIs: HIV & Hepatitis B

HIV

HIV is a viral infection that can be transmitted through infected semen or vaginal fluid, blood, or breast milk.  HIV occurs in several stages, and in the last stage, it presents as a disease that compromises the host person’s immune system and makes him or her susceptible to other infections.  It is not that common in the college population, but HIV is so important that doctors recommend that every one that is sexually active get tested for HIV once a year.

• HIV is the virus, AIDS is the disease that results when the virus reaches the final stage
• Tests can be oral swab or a blood draw
• Risk of HIV infection is highest during the first few months of infection in a partner, when the infection is likely to be unrecognized
• Every sexually active person should have an HIV test every year
• HIV test is testing for antibodies that the body builds up in response to the virus, so tests can take up to 3 months after infection to be positive
• About 980,000 cases of AIDS have been reported to CDC in US

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that can be transmitted through infected blood as well as infected bodily fluids such as semen or vaginal fluid. Symptoms are similar to flu symptoms and include fever, tiredness, nausea, and headaches. Hepatitis B also causes jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes and a darkening color of the urine.  It is usually vaccinated against in children.

• symptoms usually appear 2-3 months after infection.
  
• treatment takes about 6 months
• about 78,000 people in US infected every year

STIs: Syphilis & Chlamydia

Syphillis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is not very common in the college population, though my rates have begun to increase in the past couple of years.  The symptoms occur in stages, the first stage is the presence of a painless, round sore that can appear anywhere on the body. The second stage is a rash on the hands and feet.  If it is not treated, it can go dormant for decades before causing heart and brain problems, blindness, and death in the late stage.  The most famous syphilis victims include Christopher Columbus and Al Capone.  Syphilis is tested for with a blood draw and easily treated with a shot of penicillin.

• enters body through broken mucous membrane (commonly transmitted during unprotected anal sex)
• if someone is allergic to penicillin, there are alternative antibiotics
• 35,000 new cases reported each year in US

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that usually infects the urethra.  It can be tested for with a urethral swab or a urine sample. Chlamydia is extremely common in the college population and should be tested for every year in sexually active people. Chlamydia is easily cured with antibiotics.  If it goes untreated for a long period of time in women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.  In most people, chlamydia does not present symptoms, but when it does they include burning after urination, discharge, abdominal pain, and spotting after intercourse in women.

• All sexually active women under age 25 need an annual chlamydia test because it can cause infertility and usually has no symptoms
• Can also infect eyes, throat, cervix
• 3 million people become infected in the US every year.
  

STIs: Herpes & HPV

Herpes

Herpes a viral infection with two types.  One type infects about 66% of sexually active adults and causes cold sores or fever blisters on the mouth or face.  The other type infects the genital region and is present in about 22% of sexually active adults.  Most people don’t know that they have herpes because usually there are not any symptoms.  If the genital version does cause symptoms, they are most commonly swollen glands in the groin and blisters in the genital area.  Herpes can be transmitted through oral-genital contact and it can be transmitted even if the host is not presenting any outward symptoms.  Herpes is tested for with a blood test and though it cannot be completely eliminated from the body, the symptoms can be treated and controlled through daily suppressive medication. 

• Herpes Simplex Virus I causes cold sores on the mouth/face
• Most people contract this virus when they’re very young
• Herpes Simplex II infects the genital region
• HSVI of the genital region usually only occurs once
• If symptoms develop, they usually do so in 3-7 days after exposure
• Herpes lives in the dorsal root of the spinal nerves
• Asymptomatic viral shedding- HSVII is spread through skin to skin contact (not necessarily during outbreak
• Immune system keeps the virus down, it may be exacerbated by lack of sleep, poor nutrition, stress
• Suppressive therapy- a pill taken everyday to prevent outbreaks and transmission (i.e., Valtrex)
• Herpes test isn’t included in general STD testing (you need to request it)
• Test only looks for type two
• Most contagious when sores are open
• Sores usually last 1-2 weeks

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)

HPV is a virus with over 100 strains.  The majority of sexually active women will be infected with at least one strain in their lifetime, though most of the time the body’s own immune system will fight off the infection.  Luckily, women can get vaccinated against 4 of the most harmful strains to prevent infection from these strains.  Some of the most harmful strains can cause genital warts and cervical cancer.  HPV is spread through skin to skin contact and can be transmitted even if the carrier does not have any symptoms. HPV is usually detected through an abnormal pap smear in women.

• about 30 of the 100 strains are sexually transmitted (other strains cause common warts on hands, feet, etc.)
• men typically serve as carriers of HPV (aren’t at very high risk for cancer because the cervix is the target of these strains, but can have genital warts)
• HPV has nothing to do with body fluids, it’s in the skin
• HPV infection usually does not present visible symptoms (with the exception of wart-causing strains)
• HPV test not given to women under 30 because body will most likely fight off infection
• Some HPV infections go away on their own within 8-13 months after infection
• 20 million people in US infected with HPV at any given time

Resources for Male Survivors

redqueenxlt:

letstalkaboutrape:

I posted last week asking people if they knew of some good resources for male victims of sexual assault. Here is the list people came up with:

www.malesurvivor.org

www.violenceunsilenced.com

www.rainn.org

www.pandys.org

www.1in6.org

www.soulspeakout.org

http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/

Thanks everyone!

reblog for signal boost

(via slutwalkseattle)