Drop – sexually transmitted disease/infection

Written by Dr Diteboho Mhlanga

May, 3, 2021

“I have a strange pimple on my penis that comes and goes.”

“There’s a smelly vaginal discharge that’s been bothering me for some weeks now.”

-In the words of patients.

Uhm ya, no one ever wants to be the one saying these things about themselves. And less so in the presence of someone else. The subject of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) is one that television adverts and programs such as Soul City have tried to make as comfortable as possible. These shows aim to eliminate the heavy garment of shame and secrecy wrapped around this common issue. STI’s and a positive HIV status are a reality for millions of South Africans. Dealing with this reality is also the everyday battle for a lot of clinicians in South Africa (and worldwide, actually). Unfortunately we are still seeing the effects of untreated STI’s.

If you are, or have been, sexually active it is probable that you have personally experienced an STI or HIV scare. If not, chances are you know someone who has. In 2017 approximal 2.3 million women aged 19 to 45 years contracted gonorrhoea. This is 2.3 million people without counting men and those in other age groups! In reality that means one in every group of twenty-five people suffered from gonorrhoea. And gonorrhoea is only one of the many common STI’s plaguing us today!

Other common STI’s include chlamydia, herpes and syphilis.

Chlamydia usually sneaks up on you quietly with no symptoms, but can sometimes present as a discharge in both men and women. In women, left untreated it may cause a serious infection in the pelvic organs causing severe pain as well as damage to the reproductive organs in a way that may make it difficult to fall pregnant in the future.
Herpes is caused by a virus and often presents as painful burning sores on genitalia. These may come and go without treatment.
As for Syphilis, it usually introduces itself with a wart or pimple-like lesion that’s painless.

Talking about and dealing with STI’s can be scary. But the good news is that almost all diseases we face on a day to day basis can be treated successfully if caught early. Fortunately our South African health system has made treatment for STI’s easily accessible so early diagnosis is possible. Local and mobile clinics country-wide are equipped to administer treatment for the most common STI’s. With the necessary help readily available, the responsibility falls on us to teach ourselves to be as honest about sexual illnesses as we are about a sore throat and tummy ache. The sooner help is sought the better.

The other good news is that prevention is better than cure. Because STI’s are spread through sexual intercourse, it goes with saying that the less sexual partners you have the lower the risk of contracting infections. The use of a condom in every sexual encounter is also one way to significantly reduce the risk of STI’s as well as HIV infections. Putting on that rubber may be a touchy subject for you or your sexual partner, but it is worth discussing seriously if you are concerned about the health and future health of your special private parts. Just as curative measures require you to be proactive, so do preventative measures.

It is true that stigma surrounding STI’s is probably as rife as that of HIV, which is why the two are almost always spoken of together. It is a fact HIV increases the risk of contracting STI’s and vice versa. But the possibility of stigma should not scare you from making decisions that could be life saving. If you are sexually active start opening up to getting tested for HIV atleast once a year. Train your mind to respond to unusual discharges and sores quickly. Yes, it may be difficult to admit to yourself, and more so to a doctor or nurse sitting in front of you, but you have to do what you need to do. You don’t have to feel like it. Illnesses and diseases do not patiently wait for us to be in the mood or comfortable to go to hospital before they progress and cause havoc! Your insecurities, anxieties and feelings can catch-up with you after you have gotten the jabs and swallowed those pills. Sexual health is as important as life itself.

It may be a long time before you or others around you get rid of the shame and stigma associated with STI’s and HIV. However even in the midst of all the potential drama, do your body and mind a favour and ask for help when you see something unusual. Don’t procrastinate. Go for that HIV test even if you fear the result. Don’t wait till it’s too late. Don’t wait till you feel like it – you may never feel like it. Ultimately, it is easier to deal with a known reality than to live in constant fear of the unknown.

Drop – sexually transmitted disease/infection

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