How to Spot the Signs and Symptoms of Common STIs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can pose a serious threat to your sexual health, not to mention your overall wellbeing. But how do you know if an STI has affected your wellness? The Mayo Clinic warns, ‘You could have an STI and be asymptomatic — without any signs or symptoms. In fact, this happens with a lot of STIs. Even though you have no symptoms, you’re still at risk of passing the infection along to your sex partners. That’s why it’s important to use protection, such as a condom, during sex. And visit your doctor on a regular basis for STI screening, so you can identify a potential infection and get treated for it before passing it along to someone else.’ However, some STIs do appear with certain symptoms. So what do you watch out for?

 

1. Chlamydia: According to the Mayo Clinic, ‘Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. Chlamydia may be difficult for you to detect because early-stage infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms. When they do occur, they usually start one to three weeks after you’ve been exposed to chlamydia. Even when signs and symptoms do occur, they’re often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook.’ The signs and symptoms of chlamydia include:

• Painful urination


• Lower abdominal pain


• Vaginal discharge in women


• Discharge from the penis in men


• Pain during sexual intercourse in women


• Testicular pain in men

 

2. Gonorrhoea: ‘Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection of your genital tract,’ the Mayo Clinic explains. ‘The first gonorrhoea symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days after exposure. However, some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur.’ You may have developed gonorrhoea if you experience:

• Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina


• Pain or burning sensation when urinating


• Abnormal menstrual bleeding


• Painful, swollen testicles


• Painful bowel movements


• Anal itching

 

3. Trichomoniasis: The Mayo Clinic details, ‘Trichomoniasis is a common STI caused by a microscopic, one-celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. This organism spreads during sexual intercourse with someone who already has the infection. The organism usually infects the urinary tract in men, but often causes no symptoms in men. Trichomoniasis typically infects the vagina in women. When trichomoniasis causes symptoms, they may range from mild irritation to severe inflammation.’ Signs and symptoms may include:

• Clear, white, greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge


• Discharge from the penis


• Strong vaginal odour


• Vaginal itching or irritation


• Itching or irritation inside the penis


• Pain during sexual intercourse


• Painful urination

 

4. HIV: ‘HIV is an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus,’ the Mayo Clinic notes. ‘HIV interferes with your body’s ability to effectively fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease, and it can lead to AIDS, a chronic, life-threatening disease. When first infected with HIV, you may have no symptoms at all. Some people develop a flu-like illness, usually two to six weeks after being infected…These early signs and symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for those of another viral infection. During this period, you are very infectious.’ The early HIV signs and symptoms may include:

• Fever


• Headache


• Sore throat


• Swollen lymph glands


• Rash


• Fatigue

 

The Mayo Clinic points out, ‘More persistent or severe symptoms of HIV infection may not appear for 10 years or more after the initial infection. As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms.’ These include:

• Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection


• Diarrhoea


• Weight loss


• Fever


• Cough and shortness of breath

 

The signs and symptoms of later stage HIV infection include:

• Persistent, unexplained fatigue


• Soaking night sweats


• Shaking chills or fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C) for several weeks


• Swelling of lymph nodes for more than three months


• Chronic diarrhoea


• Persistent headaches


• Unusual, opportunistic infections

 

Categories: bacterial infection, genital tract, HIV, hiv infection, lymph nodes, mayo clinic, painful urination, sexual intercourse, STIs, swollen lymph, Symptoms, vaginal discharge

Impotence Investigation: Do Herbal Sex Supplements Work?

Both men and women experience sexual health problems, which can have a knock-on effect on the rest of your wellness. Your sex life plays an important role in your relationship, not to mention your overall sense of wellbeing, which is why many people turn to all kinds of methods to get their arousal and performance back on track. Herbal supplements are a prime favourite with those wanting to boost their sexual experience without going the medical Viagra route, but do they actually work, and are they safe?

 

According to Marc Bonnard, MD, a psychiatrist specializing in sex therapy and the author of The Viagra Alternative, certain herbs may actually have an advantage over pharmaceutical alternatives. He writes, ‘Herbs work in a more leisurely fashion,’ replacing the balance between your mind and body that is ‘so important for a positive sexual experience.’ Certain physiological functions – such as hormonal imbalances and poor circulation – contribute to sexual dysfunction, and alternative treatments aim to fix these faulty functions. However, even though this supplements are marketed as “all-natural” and you don’t need a prescription, Bonnard, like other experts, warns that these products are potentially potent and can have toxic side effects. That said, let’s take a closer look at some of the herbal ingredients you’ll find in popular sexual supplements:

 

1. Damiana: The leaves and stems of the damiana plant are used as an aphrodisiac in Mexico, but here in the UK you can get the sex-boosting plant in tablet form. You can also prepare the dry leaves in a tea, but the Mayo Clinic does warn that the product has not been tested in humans – so tread with caution.

 

2. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone): Your adrenal glands produce this hormone naturally, which aids in the production of sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen. In men with low testosterone levels, some small studies have shown promise in helping these participants improve their sexual function. However, you can only blame a small number of impotence problems on low testosterone.

 

3. Ginkgo: Bonnard points out that ginkgo seeds and leaves can help men with erectile dysfunction by getting ‘the blood flowing to the right spots.’ Yet the Mayo Clinic counters that there is not solid evidence to show that ginkgo works effectively against impotence. Moreover, both Bonnard and the Mayo Clinic agree that the plant can be dangerous, especially if you are on prescription blood-thinning medication. This is because gingko can affect the clotting of your blood.

 

4. Ginseng: Used as an aphrodisiac in Asia, this aromatic root is used as and has been shown to have some energy-boosting properties, albeit without any evidence to prove that ginseng has a direct impact on impotence. However, we could all use a little more energy in the bedroom, so use this dried root in powder or liquid form, or prepared as a tea to be sipped slowly.

 

5. Kava: While Bonnard admits that kava probably won’t do the trick for cases of ‘true ED,’ the root has a positive effect on your mood, which may help to resolve your sexual troubles – such as low libido – that are affected by stress and your emotions.

 

6. L-Arginine: This is an amino acid found naturally in fish, peanuts and beans. L-arginine works to increase the amounts of nitric oxide in your bloodstream, which, in turn, increases your blood flow. While little scientific research into this amino acid has been undertaken, L-arginine should work against impotence, theoretically speaking, as an erection requires blood flow to the penis.

 

7. Maca Root. This Peruvian herb has been shown to improve the penis functon in male lab rats, and anecdotal reports from men assert that it can jump-start your sexual systems. However, it is yet to be tested in humans.

Categories: amino acid, Blood, blood flow, bonnard, herbal sex supplements, Impotence, mayo clinic, nbsp, sexual, sexual experience, sexual function