Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) & Infertility | Biology Class 12 - NEET PDF Download

Reproductive health has been defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the total well-being in all aspects of reproduction i.e., physical, emotional, behavioural and social. In our country, we have a number of programs aimed at the maintenance of reproductive health. These efforts include creating awareness about the various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), their causes, mode of transmission and prevention from such diseases.  Here we will discuss some common STDs and how to prevent them.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

Venereal diseases which are commonly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infectious diseases transmitted through sexual contact. It is also referred by the name reproductive tract infections (RTI). AIDS, Gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes and warts, chlamydiosis and hepatitis-B are few commonly known STDs.
Bacteria, viruses, and parasites of different strain have contributed their shares. The majority of these diseases develop without showing any symptoms which increase the risk factors, especially in women. Risk factors include infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), abortions, ectopic pregnancies, and in worse conditions, it may even lead to cancer of the reproductive tract. Unusual discharges from genitals, genital ulcers, tumours, itching, etc. are few signs and symptoms of STDs.
Sexually transmitted diseases are the name given collectively to the diseases which spread sexually. However, every STD is not sexually transmitted; they can spread through non-sexual contact also. Non-contact modes include transfusion of contaminated blood and tissue, breastfeeding, sharing of syringes, etc. STDs like AIDS can be passed from the mother to her child during birth, or after birth through breastfeeding. Hence, proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary before its blowout. Medical field researchers have a solution for every STD, while hepatitis-B, genital herpes, and HIV infections stand out of the list. These diseases still baffle them.

Strategies for Prevention

Despite advanced technologies, STDs are still a major threat to the nation. We come across a number of advertisements on the television about various programs promoting safe sexual habits, and awareness about various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). All these efforts by the government and non-governmental organizations aimed at achieving a reproductively healthy society.

General awareness about STDs is necessary to control further waves. The introduction of sex education is one of the steps taken by the government which aims at creating awareness among adolescents about safe sexual practices. Apart from the awareness and education part, it is also essential to provide proper medical facilities to deal with problems related to STDs.

So let’s conclude that ‘Prevention is better than cure’:

• Avoid unprotected sex
• Avoid sexual contacts with multiple partners
• Consult a qualified doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The most common sexually transmitted diseases are Gonorrhea & Syphilis. 

1. Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is an infection transmitted sexually which can affect both men and women. It is a serious disease and can cause extreme health problems if left untreated. It is more common in women than in men. An estimated 78 to 88 million cases of Gonorrhea are reported every year. Along with chlamydia, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, it is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the world.

Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria which is called  Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. The bacteria germinates very rapidly in the mucous membrane of the body and is present in the semen and vaginal fluids of an infected person. It is highly contagious and spreads through the act of sexual contact- vaginal, anal or oral. Women are more likely to contact the disease by having intercourse with an infected male than the other way around.

Gonorrhea Symptoms: 
The symptoms are very subtle and often unnoticeable for months after contracting the disease.  That is why it is extremely important to be aware of even the small signs that can possibly be of the disease. It affects men and women differently.

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Men:
Men who have contracted the disease may notice the following symptoms:

• Burning sensation while urinating
• Abnormal discharge of liquids from the opening of the penis, usually green, yellow or white in color.
• Pain in the lower pelvic area and occasionally, in the testes

Gonorrhea Symptoms in Women:
Gonorrhea in women can produce the following symptoms:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge. It can be green or yellow, thin or watery.
• Burning sensation while urinating.
• Pain in the lower abdomen.
• Blood discharge between periods.
• Swelling in the outer vaginal region.
• Swelling and pain in the throat, in case of oral Gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea Treatment:
It can be completely cured if it is diagnosed in the early stages. Delay may cause some serious complications. The treatment of the disease is generally done with antibiotics. Multiple doses of Gonorrhea treatment antibiotics are generally prescribed to the patient. It is important to finish the full course of the disease may not be cured.

Like all diseases, prevention is better than cure is applicable to this disease too. Using proper protection while having intercourse significantly reduces the chances of contracting the disease. It is also recommended not to indulge in intercourse with people who have already contracted it or has recently been cured.

2. Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium. These pathogens usually enter the body through the tissues that line the rectum, vagina or nose. If not treated quickly, it could get worse over time and causes other medical issues. There are four stages in syphilis Primary, Secondary, Latent and Tertiary.

Causes of Syphilis:
Syphilis could be caused by

• Having HIV
• Having unsafe sex or unprotected sex (Not using condoms)
• Having sex with partners who have many sex partners.
• Having a sex partner who is infected by the syphilis bacteria.

Symptoms of Syphilis:
Signs and symptoms vary from men to women. The general symptoms of this bacterial infectious disease include:

• Fever
• Pain during sex.
• Lower abdominal pain.
• Rashes over the trunk, hands or feet.
• Painful or burning urination.
• Discharge from the penis.
• Unusual vaginal bleeding.
• Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area.

Diagnosis of Syphilis:
Syphilis can be diagnosed by certain laboratory tests. These tests include an examination of a body fluid sample :

• Blood tests: Blood samples can confirm the diagnosis or the presence of HIV or the stages of syphilis.
• Urine samples. Some sexually transmitted diseases can be confirmed with a urine sample.
• Genital sores: Testing fluid and samples from the sores may be done to diagnose the types of sexually transmitted infections.

Treatment of Syphilis:
Syphilis is generally easier to treat. Treatment usually consists of Antibiotics or Antiviral drugs. Primary and secondary syphilis could be easily treated with a penicillin injection. Penicillin is one of the widely used antibiotics and is very effective in treating syphilis.

Solutions for Infertility

About 12-15 % of couples of reproductive age are disturbed by infertility. What is the actual reason behind infertility? What are the different infertility treatments? We will discuss IVF, GIFT, and ZIFT in this section.

When a man or woman is incapable to contribute fully to pregnancy even after insecure coitus, it is referred to as infertility. Reason for infertility may be known or unknown. Mostly ovulation variation in women is the main reason for infertility. In males, insufficient sperm production or genetic defects etc, are the reasons for infertility.

Infertility can be solved with the help of processes like in vitro fertilization (IVF), zygote intra-fallopian transfer (ZIFT), and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) etc.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a collection of medical manipulation methods to circumvent infertility. The methods include gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), in vitro fertilization (IVF), zygote intra-fallopian transfer (ZIFT), embryo transfer (ET), etc. These all methods aim to increase pregnancy probability to its full term. Cost of treatment and time consumption is counted as two disadvantages of ART.

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization is the most commonly used assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In vitro fertilization, as its name-fertilization is done by fusing ova from female donor and sperm from the male donor outside the body under strict laboratory conditions. This results in a zygote or famously known as a test-tube baby. After the embryo culturing, an embryo is transferred to the uterus of the mother. This method is commonly performed in case of women with damaged or clogged Fallopian tubes.

Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)

Zygote intra-fallopian transfer (ZIFT), also known as Tubal Embryo Transfer is analogous to IVF. ZIFT is an ART procedure where fertilization happens in a laboratory. The thus formed zygote is then conveyed to the Fallopian tube of the mother using laparoscopy. ZIFT proceeds as follow: egg retrieval from ovaries, fertilization, carrying the zygote into the uterine tubes for implantation and further development. ZIFT is not for women with abnormal uterine tubes.

Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT)

Unlike IVF and ZIFT, GIFT is an in-vivo fertilization procedure where the gametes –sperm and ova are conveyed directly into the fallopian tube. In GIFT, fertilization and zygote formation is more natural as it takes place within the female body. However, this technique is carried out only if there is enough sperm count and minimum one fallopian tube is functional. GIFT is an alternative for IVF.

Achievements, accessibility, and easiness of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have elevated the scope and expectations of infertile couples irrespective of the cause of infertility.

Old NCERT Syllabus

Stages of Syphilis

1. Primary Syphilis:
One of the first signs occur about three to four weeks after infection, it begins as painless open sores called “Chancre” it is often found in the mouth, anus or the genitals. Normally caused by direct contact with an infected person (Sexual activity)

2. Secondary Syphilis:

At this stage, sore throat, skin rashes start appearing and the rashes are normally found on the palms or soles or any part of the body. Symptoms include headaches, swollen lymph glands, fatigue, fever, hair loss, aching joints.

3. Latent Syphilis:
After the rashes disappear there will be a period where there are no symptoms this is called “hidden stage”. Even if the symptoms go away, the syphilis infection is still present and start damaging the inner organs. This stage may last up to 5-20 years.

4. Tertiary Syphilis:
Tertiary syphilis could occur years after you are initially infected as this could be life-threatening and could cause serious health problems like Blindness, deafness, mental illness, memory loss, destruction of soft tissue, heart diseases, etc.