HOW A HISTORY OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS SPARKED A 21ST CENTURY PANDEMIC
Read this article to understand the relationship between HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections and how we can protect ourselves from HIV and STIs.
According to Gross & Tyring (Eds.) (2011), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are also known as sexually transmitted diseases or venereal diseases. They have been with us from- time immemorial, although unrecorded. The earliest known STIs were syphilis and gonorrhea. According to Sarbu et al. (2014), records of gonorrhea date to hundreds of years ago, while syphilis has been around since 1494. Gonorrhea and syphilis are suspected of having come to human beings through sheep. Around 1930, HIV came to human beings, and it is also believed to have come from chimpanzees. De Cock, Jaffe & Curran (2012) stated that in 1981 HIV turned into a pandemic and persisted into the 21st century. Read on for more insight into the interconnection between the history of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.
The History of Sexually Transmitted Illnesses and HIV
Sexually transmitted diseases have been with human beings for hundreds of centuries. The most ancient sexually transmitted diseases are undocumented. One theory suggests that gonorrhea is the disease described by Huang Ti, a Chinese emperor in his book (2600). Another theory speculates that the disease is referred to as “an issue of seed” in the Bible in Leviticus. Gonorrhea seems to have been originally present at a time when it was not understood. It seemed to be mysterious to the people and Galen, a Greek physician was the first one to name the disease "gonorrhea” as he described it as unwanted semen discharge. Gonorrhea has also been known as the clap. The first record of syphilis can be traced to 1494/1495 during the French war. When the soldiers came back to the country after the war, they came with syphilis. According to McGough (2010), syphilis was known as the "French disease" at that time. Lastly, HIV is the latest sexually transmitted pandemic and the first recorded history was in 1959 when it was found in the blood samples of a Congolese man. Gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV are believed to have been from animals, as a result of bestiality.
It is worth noting that it took years for scientists to understand the three sexually transmitted diseases properly to find a treatment plan and have been successful in inventing medication to cure gonorrhea and syphilis. To date, HIV has a treatment plan but it has no cure.
What are STIs?
STIs are diseases spread through sexual activities. This means that STIs can be spread through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. People think that STIs are harmless because they are treatable, but the scare is that STIs can increase your chances of getting HIV/AIDS. The symptoms of STIs are as follows;
- Burning sores, itching in the vagina, mouth, rectum, and penis. Note that the visible symptoms are found where the infection started.
- Fluids or smelly discharge from your sexual organs.
- Lower abdominal pain.
STIs are risky because sometimes they do not show any symptoms. You may have an STI and not know. The good news is that syphilis and gonorrhea are treatable. Untreated STIs can cause;
- Inflammation in your pelvic area (pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- Inability to get pregnant.
- Illness and even death of the infant.
What is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)?
HIV is caused by the transmission of the virus from one person to another. HIV is suspected of having come from a CHipanzee in Congo. Having unprotected sex and sharing syringes are some ways that can spread the virus. Kissing and shaking hands cannot transmit HIV. When HIV attacks the body, the person's immunity goes down, and they will be too weak to fight diseases.
The Relationship Between STIs in the 21st Century
- The mode of transmission is the same.
- Both diseases are spread in the same way, sexually. However, some STIs and HIV can sometimes be spread from the pregnant mother to the child. HIV can be spread during breastfeeding, but it is important to note that HIV cannot be spread through saliva,
- If you have an STI, the risk of contracting HIV is higher.
Having an STI changes the lining of the vagina, mouth, and anus, and sometimes you may have sores which makes it easier for HIV to enter the body. Moreover, when you have an STI, it means that you are having unprotected sex, and therefore you may get infected with HIV.
Your Chances of Contracting HIV are Higher If Your Partner Has HIV and an STI.
When a person has both an STI and HIV, their immunity is greatly compromised, and they seem to have more HIV in their ejaculation or vaginal fluid. The transmission of HIV, therefore, becomes easier. It is important to note that you cannot know if someone has HIV just by looking at them, and some people do not even know that they are infected. Couples may need to have HIV tests to know their status, and the rest need to be vigilant about wearing condoms during sex.
You are at More Risk of Contracting HIV and STIs if;
- You have unprotected sex, i.e., vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
- You share syringes.
- You have an STI.
- You have multiple sex partners.
- People are influenced by alcohol and drugs because they tend to cloud their judgment, and it's no wonder that the substances are present at parties, places where having reckless sex is probable.
How to Protect Yourself From HIV and STIs
HIV and STIs are everyone's diseases, meaning that you can be infected if you are sexually active. But that won't mean that we should not take care of ourselves;
- Always use a condom every time you have sex. Condoms are said to be 99% effective, and the 1% ineffectiveness arises from improper wearing and use of the condom.
- You and your partner should have an HIV/STI test so that you may know your status.
Treating STIs Will Not Prevent You from Getting HIV
Getting treated for an STI helps keep you comfortable. However, treating STIS will not prevent you from getting HIV. It would help if you took extra precautions to take care of yourself, using condoms.
Conclusion
Before doctors knew what we needed to do to protect ourselves from sex, people were devastated because not only were people being infected by STIs and HIVs in huge numbers, but the diseases were killing many people too. By the early 90s, HIV was a deadly disease because it killed people within months. Gonorrhea and syphilis can be treated, but HIV does not have a cure even though it is treatable. Thanks to science, millions of people worldwide are currently living with HIV. People live a full life with HIV, and they are no longer referred to as HIV patients but ‘people living with HIV’. The two sexually transmitted diseases and HIV are no longer killing people as much as they did in the past.
References
De Cock, K. M., Jaffe, H. W., & Curran, J. W. (2012). The evolving epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. Aids, 26(10), 1205-1213.
Gross, G., & Tyring, S. K. (Eds.). (2011). Sexually transmitted infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Springer Science & Business Media.
McGough, L. (2010). Gender, sexuality, and Syphilis in Early Modern Venice: the disease that came to stay. Springer.Sarbu, I., Matei, C., Benea, V., & Georgescu, S. R. (2014). Brief history of syphilis. Journal of medicine and life, 7(1), 4.