Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• STIs - unprotected sexual intercourse leading to the transfer of pathogens via exchange of body fluids

  • An example is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the virus that usually leads to the development of acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS)
  • HIV can also be spread via sharing needles with an infected person, blood transfusions with infected blood and from mother to foetus through the placenta and mother to baby via breastfeeding
• HIV infection effects (1):

  • People often suffer mild flu-like symptoms after infection
  • these symptoms pass and for a period of time infected people might not know they are infected
  • The virus infects a certain type of lymphocyte of the body's immune system
  • lymphocytes usually seek out and destroy pathogens that enter the body, producing antibodies that attach to pathogens
  • HIV avoids being recognised and destroyed by lymphocytes by repeatedly changing its protein coat
• HIV infection effects (2):

  • HIV infects a certain type of lymphocyte and uses the cells’ to multiply
  • reduces the number of lymphocytes of the immune system, and also the number of antibodies that can be made
  • Decreases the body’s ability to fight off infections, eventually leading to AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency)
  • no effective immune response
• HIV infection diagram

  A) tso copies

  B) attaches

  C) genetic

  D) material

  E) host cell

  F) cellular machinery

  G) copies

  H) copies

  I) host cell

  J) destroyed

  K) decreased

  L) reduced

  M) antibodies

  
• The spread of STIs such as HIV are best controlled by:

  • Limiting the number of sexual partners an individual has
  • Not having unprotected sex, but making sure to always use a condom
  • Getting tested if unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners has occurred
  • Raising awareness by education programmes
• HIV infects the lungs, brains and eyes and causes symptoms like weightloss and diarrhoea

  • causes death because the immune system can’t respond to these infections
• HIV acts slow so it’s difficult for patients to realise until later

  • HIV positive people remain positive forever
• Advanced infection stage of HIV is AIDs

  • HIV is the virus
  • AIDs is the disease
• Medicine can supress HIV but you are still HIV positive
• Ways of getting HIV

  • blood
  • semen
  • vaginal secretions
  • anal fluids
  • breast milk
• Anal and vaginal intercourse with a person who ahs HIV while not using a condom
• Sharing equipments for injection of illicit drugs, hormones and steroids with a person with HIV
• Women living with HIV that is pregnant or recently gave birth may transfer the disease to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding
• What is the name of the type of contraception that protects people from STIs?

  Barrier contraception
• How do blood cells defend the body against disease?

  Antibody production and engulfing the cell of the disease
• Define STI

  An infection that is transmitted via the body fluids during sexual contact
• Why do antibiotics not work on HIV

  Antibiotics don’t work on HIV as they only work on bacteria while HIV is a virus 
• What are ways of controlling the spread of STI

  • Use of condoms / reducing the number of sexual contacts /
  • Tracing sexual contacts
  • Testing for STIs
  • Treating infections
  • Educating people
• What are forms of natural birth control?

  Abstinence, withdrawal, monitoring or checking the cervix, monitoring or checking body temperature
• What are surgical methods of birth control?

  female sterilisation and vasectomy