 |
 |
|
|
|
|
DESCRIPTION
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect more than 12 million men and women in the United States each year. Many are teenagers or young adults.
Using drugs or alcohol increases your chances of getting STDs because these substances can interfere with your judgment and your ability to use a condom properly.
Intravenous (IV) drug use puts a person at higher risk for HIV and hepatitis B and hepatitis C because IV drug users usually share needles.
The more sexual partners you have, the higher your chance of being exposed to HIV or other STDs. This is because it is difficult to know whether a person is infected, or had sex with people who are more likely to be infected due to intravenous drug use or other risk factors.
Sometimes, early in the infection, there may be no symptoms, or symptoms may be easily confused with other illnesses.
You cannot tell by looking at someone whether he or she is infected with HIV or another STD.
Sexually transmitted diseases include HIV/AIDS, chancroid, chlamydial infections, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, pubic lice, genital warts, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), syphilis, viral hepatitis, scabies, candidiais, molluscum contagiousum, bacterial vaginosis, and others.
Early Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases It is important to detect sexually transmitted diseases in their early stages so that prompt treatment can begin and, in the case of some diseases, irreparable damage to the body can be prevented. Use the table below to familiarize yourself with the beginning stages of various STDs.
Disease First Symptoms AIDS (Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Headache, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, persistent fever, oral thrush (a heavy, whitish coating on the tongue and the insides of the mouth), recurrent vaginal yeast infections, persistent diarrhea, lung infections. Candidiasis Itching in the genital area, pain when urinating, a thick odorless vaginal discharge. Chlamydia For women: a white vaginal discharge that resembles cottage cheese, a burning sensation when urinating, itching, painful intercourse. For men: a clear, watery urethral discharge. Often, however, there are no symptoms at all. Genital Herpes Itching, burning in the genital area, discomfort while urinating, a watery vaginal or urethra discharge, weeping, fluid-filled eruptions in the vagina or on the penis. Genital Warts Soft, cauliflower-like growths appearing either singly or in clusters in and around the vagina, anus, penis, groin, and/or scrotal area. Gonorrhea For women: frequent and painful urination, a cloudy vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, inflammation of the pelvic area, rectal discharge, abnormal uterine bleeding. For men: a yellowish, pus-filled urethral discharge. Often, however, there are no symptoms, especially in women. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) A pus-filled vaginal discharge with fever and lower abdominal pain. Syphilis A sore on the genitalia, rash, patches of flaking tissue, fever, sore throat, sores in the mouth or anus Trichomoniasis For women: Vaginal itching and pain, with a foamy greenish or yellow foul- smelling discharge. For men: A clear urethral discharge.
STDs CAN CAUSE
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage a woman's fallopian tubes and result in pelvic pain and sterility.
Tubal pregnancies (where the pregnancy grows in the fallopian tube instead of the womb), sometimes fatal to the mother and always fatal to the fetus.
Death or severe damage to babies born to all infected women.
Sterility - the inability to have children - in both men and women.
Cancer of the cervix in women.
Damage to major organs, such as the heart, liver, kidney and brain, if STDs go untreated.
Death (e.g., with HIV infection).
RISKS
High-risk behaviors include having sex - vaginal, anal or oral with:
- A person who has an STD. This is the riskiest behavior. If you know your partner is infected, avoid intercourse (including oral sex). If you do decide to have sex with an infected person, always be sure to use a new condom from start to finish, every time.
- Someone who has shared needles to inject drugs with an infected person.
- Someone whose past partner(s) were infected. Because AIDS virus can be in the body a long time before a person feels sick, if your partner had intercourse with a person infected with HIV, he or she could pass it on to you even if the sexual contact was a long time ago - even as long as 10 years - and even if your partner seems perfectly healthy.
PREVENTION
To lessen the chance of being infected with AIDS or other STDs, people who take part in risky sexual behavior should always use a condom.
Use of a condom is also important for an uninfected pregnant woman because it can help protect her and her unborn child from STDs.
HOLISTIC TREATMENT FOR STDs
This section will deal primarily with two of the more common of these disorders, gonorrhea and syphilis.
Gonorrhea is caused by a microscopic organism called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, commonly referred to as gonococci. In women, gonorrhea often causes no symptoms. When it does, they include frequent and painful urination, vaginal discharge, abnormal menstrual bleeding, acute inflammation in the pelvic area, and rectal bleeding. Men with gonorrhea usually do experience symptoms, including a yellow discharge of pus and mucus from the penis and slow, difficult, and painful urination. Symptoms usually appear between 2 and 14 days after sexual contact in men and between 7 and 21 days after sexual contact in women. If not treated, the infection can travel through the bloodstream and go into the bones, joints, tendons, and other tissues, causing a systemic illness with mild fever, aching, inflamed joints, and, occasionally, skin lesions. At this stage, the organism is difficult to detect, and the condition is often misdiagnosed as simple arthritis. In men, complications of gonorrhea can include sterility and urethral stricture. See Gonorrhea for more detailed information.
Syphilis is caused by a type of bacteria called Treponema pallidum. This disease is occasionally contracted through close physical contact such as kissing, as well as through sexual intercourse. If not treated, this illness progresses, usually over the course of many years, through three basic stages. In the first stage, a chancre -- a red, painless ulcer -- appears at the spot where the bacteria entered the body. In the second stage, a rash and patches of flaking tissue appear in the mouth or genital area. There may be systemic symptoms, usually mild, as well, such as headache, nausea, and general discomfort. If the disease progresses to its third stage (which is rare in the United States), brain damage, hearing loss, heart disease, and/or blindness can occur. See Syphilis for more detailed information.
NUTRIENTS Supplement Suggested Dosage Comments Very Important Acidophilus As directed on label 3 times daily, on an empty stomach. To restore "friendly" bacteria. Important when taking antibiotics, which are usually prescribed for STDs. Acidophilus & Bifidus, NOW Foods, 8 Billion, 60 Caps, Acidophilus Powder, Non-Dairy, 4 oz. Bulk Garlic (Kyolic) 2 capsules 3 times daily. A natural antibiotic and immune system stimulant. Garlic Bulb Cloves Supplement, Nature's Way, 580 mg, 100 Caps, Garlic Oil Tincture, Alcohol Free, Nature's Way, 1 fl. oz., Odorless Garlic Supplement, NOW Foods, 2500 mg, 250 Softgels Free-form amino acid complex As directed on label. Needed for tissue repair. Use free-form amino acids for quicker absorption and assimilation. Spectrum Shake (Amino Acids), Original (Unsweetened Vanilla), 1 lb. 4 oz., Spectrum Shake (Amino Acids), Vanilla, 1 lb. 3 oz. Vitamin C 750-2,500 mg 4 times daily. Boosts immune function and is an antiviral agent. Vitamin C 500 w/Rosehips, 100% Natural, 500 mg, 250 Caps, Vitamin C 1000 w/Rosehips, 100% Natural, 1000 mg, 250 Caps, Electro C Powder, Vitamin C Supplement, Cherry Flavor, 1250 mg, 8 oz., Ascorbic Acid / Vitamin C Powder, NOW Foods, 100% Pure, 1 lb. Zinc 100 mg daily. Do not exceed this amount. Important for the health of the reproductive organs. Promotes wound healing and boosts immune function to fight a broad range of microbes. Use zinc gluconate lozenges or OptiZinc for best absorption. Zinc (Chelated), 100% Natural, Nature's Way, 30 mg, 100 Caps, Colloidal Silver & Zinc Lozenges, SilvaSolution, 90 Lozenges, Zinc, Ionic Mineral Supplement, Fully Absorbable, 100 +/- ppm, 16 fl. oz. Important Colloidal silver Use sublingually or topically as directed on label. An antiseptic that rapidly reduces inflammation and promotes healing of lesions. Colloidal Silver & Zinc Lozenges, SilvaSolution, 90 Lozenges, Colloidal Silver Pump Spray, SilvaSolution, 2 fl. oz., Colloidal Silver Liquid, SilvaSolution, 10 ppm, 16 fl. oz. Kelp 1,000-1,500 mg daily. Supplies balanced vitamins and minerals. Kelp Supplement, Nature's Way, 100 Caps, Certified 650 mg, Kelp Seaweed (Norwegian) Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz., Kelp Seaweed Norwegian, NOW Foods, 100% Natural Acophyllum nodosum, 550 mg, 250 Caps Vitamin B complex 50 mg 3 times daily. Necessary in all cellular enzyme system functions. Vitamin B, 100 Complex, w/ coenzyme B-2, Nature's Way, 100 Caps., Ultimate B, Vitamin B Complex Formula, Nature's Secret, 60 Tabs Helpful Coenzyme Q10 30-60 mg daily. A powerful free radical scavenger. CoEnzyme Q10, Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, 60 Tabs, Co-Q10 Liquid, Trace Minerals, 4 fl. oz., Co-Q10, 100% Pure Powder, NOW Foods, 1 oz., Vegetarian Multivitamin and mineral complex As directed on label. All nutrients are needed and necessary in balance. Use a high-potency formula. MultiVitamin Supplement, 100% Natural, Nature's Way, 100 Tabs, MultiVitamin & MultiMineral with Iron & Selenium, Nature's Way, 100 Caps, Alive, Whole Food Energizer MultiVitamin & Mineral with Naturally Occurring Iron (No Iron Added), Nature's Way, 90 Tabs Raw glandular complex
Plus
Raw Thymus glandularAs directed on label.
As directed on label.Promotes immune function. Thymus Organic Glandular (Hypoallergenic), Allergy Research Group, Nutricology, 75 Caps Vitamin K 100 mcg daily. Antibiotics destroy the intestinal bacteria that produce vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting. The standard dietary allowance for Vitamin K is about 1 mcg per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day or about 65 to 80 mcg per day for most adults and can usually be achieved by consuming adequate amounts of leafy green vegetables. Or
AlfalfaAs directed on label. A good source of vitamin K, which is needed for blood clotting and healing, and is depleted by antibiotics. Alfalfa Leaves, Nature's Way, 405 mg, 100 Caps
HERBS
Alfalfa is a good source of needed nutrients and vitamin K, which is needed for blood clotting and healing. Vitamin K is depleted by antibiotics.
Echinacea, goldenseal, pau d'arco, and suma may alleviate symptoms. Alternate two or more of these herbs. Consume three cups of herbal tea daily or take herbs in capsule or extract form as directed on the product label. Caution: Do not take goldenseal internally on a daily basis for more than one week at a time, do not use it during pregnancy, and use it with caution if you are allergic to ragweed.
Hops helps to relieve pain and stress.
Note: Bulk herbs are available through Mountain Rose Herbs. For herbal supplements, HerbalRemedies.com has a selection of capsules, tablets, tinctures and powders. See links below.
Mountain Rose Bulk Herbs
Mountain Rose Aromatherapy Oils
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils A-B
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils C-E
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils F-L
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils M-P
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils Q-Z
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Oil Blends & Resins
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Diffusers, Nebulizers, & Burners
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Oil Kits
Click Here To Visit Herbal Remedies Product Page
HOLISTIC RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
Use a latex (not sheepskin) condom for any sexual activity until the infection has cleared completely. These diseases are highly contagious. Be aware, however, that even the use of a condom does not guarantee protection against STDs. Abstinence is the only way to avoid any chance of transmitting the infection.
If you are taking penicillin or other antibiotic for sexually transmitted disease, be sure to add some form of acidophilus to your diet to replace "friendly" bacteria.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Antibiotics are the usual treatment for both syphilis and gonorrhea. It is important to take any prescribed antibiotic for the full course, even if symptoms abate. Do not stop taking the medication early.
If you are taking antibiotics, avoid alcohol.
A strain of gonococci that are resistant to both penicillin and tetracycline has spread rapidly since it was first identified in 1985. This strain is, however, curable with other antibiotics.
Many health care providers consider cervical dysplasia (a precancerous condition of the cervix) to be a sexually transmitted disease. They believe that it is caused by papilloma virus, the same viruses that cause venereal warts. See Cervical Dysplasia and Genital Warts for more information.
Many STDs that were in decline are becoming more common. Many experts link this rise to the AIDS epidemic; AIDS increases susceptibility to disease of every kind.
SEE YOUR MIDWIFE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE STD SYMPTOMS:
Discharge from the vagina, penis or rectum.
Pain or burning during urination or intercourse.
Pain in the abdomen (women), testicles (men), and buttocks and legs (both men and women).
Blisters, open sores, warts, rash, or swelling in the genital or anal area, or mouth.
Persistent flu-like symptoms - including fever, headache, aching muscles, or swollen glands - which may precede STD symptoms.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION
National AIDS Hotline
(800) 342-AIDS
Web site: http://www.cdcnac.org
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Hotline
(800) 227-8922
Bacterial Vaginitis
Candida (Yeast Infection)
Cervicitis
Cervical Cancer
Cervical Dysplasia
Chancroid
Chlamydia Infection
Condom Usage to Prevent STDs
Contraception - Female Condom
Contraception - Male Condom
Contraception Methods Compared
Ectopic Pregnancy
Genital Herpes
Gonorrhea
Granuloma Inguinale (Donovanosis)
Viral Hepatitis
HIV & AIDS
HIV & AIDS In Pregnancy
Infertility Problems In Men
Infertility Problems In Women
Lice (Pediculosis; Head Lice; Body Lice; Crab Lice; Pubic Lice)
Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV; Lymphogranuloma Inguinale)
Molluscum Contagiousum
Pelvic Examination & Pap Smear
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID; Salpingitis)
Pregnancy & Drug Dependence
Scabies
Syphilis
Urethritis
Vaginal or Vulvar Cancer
Vaginitis, Bacterial (Gardnerella Vaginitis; Nonspecific Vaginitis; Bacterial Vaginitis)
Vaginitis, Candidal (Vaginal Yeast Infection; Vaginitis, Monilial)
Vaginitis, Postmenopausal (Atrophic Vaginitis)
Vaginitis, Trichomonal (Trichomoniasis)
Vulvovaginitis Before Puberty
Warts, Genital (Condyloma Acuminata; Human Papillomavirus (HPV); Veneral Warts)
Women's Health Examinations
NOTIFY YOUR MIDWIFE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
You or a family member has questions or concerns about STDs.
MoonDragon's Health Index Page
