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Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) connote infectious ailments majorly spread via sexual contact. These infections can be caused by protozoa, viruses as well as bacteria. They can also be acquired through blood transfusions, blood transfer during sex, and oral sex (Center for Young Women’s Health, 2017). STDs are also referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or venereal diseases. STDs have been on the rise across the globe among women. This has been catapulted by the practice of adultery amongst most couples leading to one of them infecting the other with venereal diseases. The common STDs among women are syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, Chlamydia and Human Papilloma Virus and Herpes.
Despite the fact that cases of STDs among women have skyrocketed, their views concerning it have been put on current research in a bid to unravel societal take on STDs. These views have caused health professionals and researchers to question whether women familiar with sexually transmitted infections (Gerdes, 2003).
Recent research has shown that sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise among women. Besides, most women have very little knowledge on STDs especially in third world countries. Despite being familiar with the modes of contraction, their sexual practices lag quite behind their knowledge as they continued to engage in unprotected sex. Once they get infected, they cannot differentiate the type of STD they have. These researches have been acting as the source of knowledge from which health professionals seek information to accrue healthy sexual practices and the information is disseminated to the public (Peeling, Rosanna, Sparling, & P. Frederick, 2010).
It is difficult to control STDs among married women where there is a high prevalence of adultery and polygamous marriages. This can also be attributed to increased sexual activity and high sexual desires and demands from women. The desire to experience new sexual practices has made women less conversant with the effects of such acts. Besides, the rate of dissatisfaction among women through the social media has worried health professionals. Additionally, the increase in freedom to sexual activities among couples has had a huge contribution in the scalded cases of infection (In Haugen, In Musser, & In Chaney, 2014).
Prevention and Treatment
Healthcare professionals engage in counseling and teach women the risks of STDs and safe sexual practices. They can also be encouraged to go for testing and screening on any symptoms of STDs (Bissessor, 2015). Besides, healthcare providers need to come up with proper treatment mechanisms for venereal diseases. Despite the government playing active role in the treatment of STDs, infections statistics remain high. The treatment of sexually transmitted infections has also been experiencing some drawbacks. For instance, young nurses are not conversant with some STDs resulting from multiple infections. As a result, women tend to fail to receive the treatment they expect and hence interact with STDs for extended periods before they are detected.
- Bissessor, M. (2015). Advances in clinical testing for sexually transmitted infections. Parkville, Victoria: University of Melbourne.
- Center for Young Women’s Health. (2017, June 8). Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): General Information | Center for Young Women’s Health.
- Gerdes, L. I. (2003). Sexually transmitted diseases. San Diego: Greenhaven Press.
- In Haugen, D. M., In Musser, S., & In Chaney, M. (2014). Sexually transmitted diseases. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Greenhaven Press, A part of Gale, Cengage Learning.
- Peeling, Rosanna, Sparling, & P. Frederick. (2010). Sexually Transmitted Diseases. New York: Humana Pr Inc.