genitourinary

• Gonorrhea

  A bacterial infection that is transmitted by sexual contact
• Gonorrhea


  • Infects both males and females
  • Most often affects the urethra, rectum or throat
  • In females, can also infect the cervix
• Incubation period


  The time from exposure to the bacteria until symptoms develop, usually 2 to 5 days but sometimes up to 30 days
• Non-Gonorrheal Urethritis (NGU)


  An inflammation of the urethra that is not caused by gonorrheal infection
• Incubation Period


  7–21 days for NGU, compared to 2–5 days for gonorrhea
• No vaccines for NGU
• Syphilis


  A bacterial infection usually spread by sexual contact, starting as a painless sore
• Incubation Period


  Average time between infection and first symptom is 21 days, but can range from 10 to 90 days
• No vaccine for syphilis
• Congenital Syphilis


  Babies born to women with syphilis can become infected through the placenta or during birth
• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)


  An abnormal vaginal condition characterized by vaginal discharge, resulting from an overgrowth of atypical bacteria
• Incubation Period


  On average 4-7 days, with a range of 3-10 days
• Gynevac is a vaccine for bacterial vaginosis
• Genital Warts


  Soft growths that appear on the genitals, a sexually transmitted infection
• Incubation Period


  • 2 to 3 months, with a range of 1 to 20 months
  • Can take up to 10 years for high-risk HPV to develop into cancer
• The Gardasil vaccine is approved for prevention of genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11
• Genital warts


  Can be spread by skin to skin contact and close genital contact
• Genital warts in women

  Can grow on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, the anal canal, and the cervix
• Genital warts in men


  May occur on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum, or the anus
• Genital warts


  Can also develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with an infected person
• Signs and symptoms of genital warts

  • Small, flesh-colored, brown or pink swellings in your genital area
  • A cauliflower-like shape caused by several warts close together
  • Itching or discomfort in your genital area
  • Bleeding with intercourse
• Genital warts can be so small and flat as to be invisible. Rarely, however, genital warts can multiply into large clusters, in someone with a suppressed immune system
• Pap test


  Used to detect vaginal and cervical changes caused by genital warts or the early signs of cervical cancer

  
• HPV test


  Tests for cancer-causing HPV strains, generally reserved for women ages 30 and older
• Genital wart treatments


  • Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara)
  • Podophyllin and podofilox (Condylox)
  • Trichloroacetic acid
  • Sinecatechins (Veregen)
• Herpes


  An infection caused by HSV (herpes simplex virus) that affects the external genitalia, anal region, mucosal surfaces, and skin in other parts of the body
• Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)


  The dominant primary causative agent in genital ulcerative infections
• Incubation period for initial herpes infection

  Average of 4 days (range, 2 to 12) after exposure
• Herpes simplex virus types

  • Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
  • Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)
• HSV-1


  Mainly transmitted by oral-to-oral contact to cause oral herpes, but can also cause genital herpes
• HSV-2


  A sexually transmitted infection that causes genital herpes

  
• Most people infected with HSV don't know they have it because they don't have any signs or symptoms or because their signs and symptoms are so mild
• Symptoms of genital herpes

  • Pain or itching
  • Small red bumps or tiny white blisters
  • Ulcers
  • Scabs

  
• Diagnostic tests for genital herpes

  • Viral culture
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test
  • Blood test
• Antiviral medications for genital herpes

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax)
  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
• There's no cure for genital herpes. Treatment with prescription antiviral medications may help sores heal sooner, lessen the severity and duration of symptoms, reduce the frequency of recurrence, and minimize the chance of transmitting the herpes virus to another

  
• HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, which is a disease that weakens the immune system
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)


  Virus that primarily infects cells of the immune system and causes AIDS
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)


  Disease caused by HIV infection, which weakens the immune system
• Pandemic


  Disease that spreads quickly through human populations all over the world