For many people sex is a very important part of their lives bringing pleasure and joy, and it is an expression of love and intimacy in their partnership. However, since during sexual activities there is always close body contact and an exchange of body fluids, one can get infected with various diseases.
Some infections are transferred mainly through sexual contacts (sexual intercourse, oral sex, anal sex or petting). They are therefore called sexually transmitted diseases. It is important to know which diseases exist, how you can recognize them and, above all, how you can protect yourself against them.
If you know about them, most of the diseases can be successfully treated and cured. Many infections may cause only few symptoms in the initial phase; men, in particular, often hardly notice an infection. Sometimes the symptoms may disappear after some days or weeks even without medical treatment, without the disease being cured. It is possible that permanent health damage may occur only after a longer period of time.
It is very important to know that you can’t know by looking at your partner, whether he or she is infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
How can I get infected?
How can I protect myself?
What are the symtoms of a sexually transmitted diseas?
Where can I be tested?
Which types of sexually transmitted diseases are there?
Basically, sexually transmitted diseases are passed on through one person’s body fluids containing infectious agents, which get into the body of another person. With some diseases, the infectious agents can get through the mucous membranes into the partner’s body (i.e. infections with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, hepatitis); with other diseases, (small) injuries of the skin or mucous membrane are necessary for the transmission (HIV). Body fluids which can contain such infectious agents are sperm, vaginal fluid or blood. Mucous membranes are in the vagina, the mouth, the urethra and in the intestines. Other diseases can also be transferred directly through skin contact (infections with genital herpes and human papillomavirus).
Completely safe protection against such an infection is possible only by entirely doing without sex or by two healthy partners being totally faithful. With new partners or outside a stable partnership, it may very well happen that a partner is infected with a sexually transmitted disease. This cannot be noticed by looking at the partner. Therefore it is necessary to protect yourself
For your protection it is important to know the typical ways of transmission. Basically the safer sex rules, which protect against an HIV infection, are also appropriate to protect you from getting infected with other diseases.
Safer sex means that sperm, vaginal fluid and blood don’t get into the partner’s body. There are different ways to prevent that:
- use condoms during vaginal and anal sex
- use condoms while having oral sex with a man
- use a latex sheet while having oral sex with a woman
- in case you are sharing a sex toy: wash it, before using it with
another partner or use a condom on it, which you change before you use
it with another partner
- a further possibility of protection during vaginal sex is the female condom
In addition, you should avoid contact with disease-related skin changes (ulcers, small blisters and genital warts). You can find more detailed information concerning the issues mentioned above also at the Deutsche-Aidshilfe e.V. (German AIDS Assistance).
With women, some infections cause increased, badly smelling or yellowish / greenish / brownish vaginal discharge. Further symptoms can be lower abdominal pain or bleeding between the periods. Men infected with a sexually transmitted disease may notice purulent (creamy yellowish) discharge from the urethra. Burning sensations during urination as well as reddening, small blisters, nodules or ulcers in the genital area may also be signs of an infection.
Women can visit a gynaecologist for examination and treatment. Men can consult an urologist or a dermatologist. In Hamburg there is also the possibility of receiving professional counselling and testing free of charge at the Counselling Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Zentralen Beratungsstelle für sexuell Übertragbare Krankheiten
At the FPZ we offer counselling on risks of infection and how you can protect yourselves.
