With over a million people in South Africa receiving treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) annually, equipping oneself with knowledge about these infections is important.

What the term STIs refers to

As the name “sexually transmitted infections” indicates, STIs are a group of infections that are passed on from one person to another during sexual contact. This happens not only during normal sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, but also through anal and oral sex.

STIs are also known by the term venereal disease or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) but the term STIs is probably the most accurate description as the group of diseases involve the transmission of an infectious organism between sex partners.

Some STIs and their causes

STIs are most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria, but also by protozoa, fungi and/or parasites. STIs caused by viruses include genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B & D, HIV/Aids and less frequently also hepatitis A, C and E. STIs caused by bacteria include chlamydia, cancroids, gonorrhoea and syphilis. STIs caused by fungi include yeast infections such as candida albicans and jock itch, or tenia cruris. Parasites cause pubic lice or crabs, as well as scabies, while trichomoniasis is caused by a protozoan (single cell organism).

Facts about STIs

    • STIs can be present without the infected person showing any symptoms
    • One sex partner can pass an STI on to another without ever displaying symptoms of himself or herself being infected
    • STIs affect men, women and children equally
    • If left unchecked, some STIs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and lead to infertility.

 

Sources

www.arrivealive.co.za
www.emedicinehealth.com
www.mariestopes.com.au w
ww.thewellproject.org