1. @femiojay's tweet made me remember to do this. I'm also a sexually transmitted infections (STI) expert.
Let's do a little of sexual health this morning.
STIs are infections that are gotten through sex (whichever type).
Let's do a little of sexual health this morning.
STIs are infections that are gotten through sex (whichever type).
2. There are also some infections that can be transmitted during sex because of close contact that are not exactly STIs but are transmitted because of close contact. An example is scabies.
3. Back to STIs...they can be classified into those that cause genital ulcers like herpes, syphilis. Those that cause discharge like chlamydia, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis amongst others. Others are LGV, Chancroid, genital warts amongst others.
4.Other infections that can be gotten through sex include Hepatitis B and C, HIV which can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, needle pricks and from mother to child.
5. Facts about STIs
Men are more likely to present earlier with symptoms (in STIs that have discharge as the symptom like gonorrhea and chlamydia) than women. In up to 80% of cases, women may not have symptoms of discharge like men. The reverse is the case in men.
Men are more likely to present earlier with symptoms (in STIs that have discharge as the symptom like gonorrhea and chlamydia) than women. In up to 80% of cases, women may not have symptoms of discharge like men. The reverse is the case in men.
6. This means that women are more likely to have the complications of the disease like infertility, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy. Men get treated early because they have symptoms.
Women are more likely to get infected by their male partner than vice versa.
Women are more likely to get infected by their male partner than vice versa.
7. The risk of genital herpes transmission from male to female is 19% while it is just about 5% from female to male. The risk of contracting gonorrhoea from a male partner as a lady is 60-80% after a single sexual encounter. While it is just 20 to 30% from a woman to a man.
8. HIV is also transmitted more easily from male to female. It's more common to find discordant couples with the man negative and the woman positive than vice versa.
9. The reason for the effective transmission from males to females is because of the greater exposure in women to pooled semen in the vagina and the likelihood of more trauma in the genital area.
10. One of the most common causes of recurrence of STIs is lack of contact tracing. There are four Cs of treating STI...Counseling, Compliance with medications, Contact tracing, Condom use. If you don't trace sexual contacts and treat them, there's a risk of reinfection.
11. Myths about STI
I want to remain a virgin till I get married so I'll do anal sex only. Believe it or not, I have seen some cases of this. You can get STI from any form of sexual intercourse; oral, anal or vaginal
I want to remain a virgin till I get married so I'll do anal sex only. Believe it or not, I have seen some cases of this. You can get STI from any form of sexual intercourse; oral, anal or vaginal
12. Oral sex is inyama. Are you not afraid of STI? Not true Remember I'm talking as a doctor now. Please don't quote any holy book..thank you. You can get STI from any form of sexual intercourse
13. if you don't practice safe sex which includes avoidance of multiple sexual partners and use of condoms...
It is not particular to oral sex alone. One thing I must caution here though, if you presently have a cold sore or you just recovered,
It is not particular to oral sex alone. One thing I must caution here though, if you presently have a cold sore or you just recovered,
14. Don't go giving oral sex to your partner please. You can transmit herpes this way.
If he or she appears 'clean' down there, I can't get an infection. Wrong. A lot of STIs can be transmitted even when asymptomatic. Practice safe sex at all times.
If he or she appears 'clean' down there, I can't get an infection. Wrong. A lot of STIs can be transmitted even when asymptomatic. Practice safe sex at all times.
15. This last one is a myth that may be related to women only when there's infertility. There's something they make you believe is wrong with you called 'eda' where semen comes out of the body minutes after sexual intercourse. I'm here to tell you it's a fallacy.
16. Your body as a woman is not closed at both ends. What goes up...will surely come down. And depending on the sexual style you did, the semen may stay up longer than normal. The amount of secretions that flows out is also dependent on the quantity of semen that is released.
17. Stop giving your money to people giving you one herb or the other to take care of 'eda' please. A drop of good sperm containing semen is enough to make you pregnant...all things being equal. That 2-3 mls of semen contains about 20million/ml of sperm!
18. And you only need one lucky one to fertilise your egg.
Remember the presence of one STI (especially the ulcer ones) increases the risk of other STI and also the risk of HIV transmission. If you think you have a STI, please see your doctor WITH your partner(s) for treatment.
Remember the presence of one STI (especially the ulcer ones) increases the risk of other STI and also the risk of HIV transmission. If you think you have a STI, please see your doctor WITH your partner(s) for treatment.
19. Whew....that was a long one.
Any questions or clarifications will be answered on the thread. Thank you.
Any questions or clarifications will be answered on the thread. Thank you.
