STI Prevention
February 20, 2025 is the day for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of infectious diseases. They are mainly transmitted through sexual contact from an infected person to a healthy one. STIs include syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydial and mycoplasma infections, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes and papillomavirus infections. In addition, HIV infection, viral hepatitis B and C, as well as some other diseases (scabies, pubic lice, molluscum contagiosum) are transmitted through sexual contact. Currently, about 30 diseases are known to be transmissible through sexual contact.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 340 million men and women aged 15–49 contract STIs worldwide each year, and one in six people globally suffers from a sexually transmitted disease.
Having any sexually transmitted infection increases the risk of HIV infection by an average of 3–4 times. The risk is particularly high when multiple STIs are present simultaneously.
All infections that can be transmitted through sexual contact can be conditionally divided into curable and incurable. Currently, viral infections such as HIV infection, genital herpes, and human papillomavirus infection cannot be completely cured. However, most STIs, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, are successfully treated with timely medical attention.
With untimely diagnosis or inadequate therapy, STIs can become chronic and cause damage to other organs and systems: joints in chlamydia, cardiovascular and nervous systems in syphilis, and can provoke oncological diseases (cervical cancer in case of human papillomavirus infection).
The presence of STIs can lead to infertility in both men and women, sexual disorders, and adverse pregnancy outcomes (miscarriages, premature births, stillbirths, fetal developmental abnormalities).
The primary source of STIs is an infected person. The transmission route is predominantly sexual. It should be understood that one cannot contract these diseases through handshakes, hugs, friendly kisses, using telephones, food products, public transport handrails, swimming pool or body of water, or insect bites. However, it should be remembered that a number of diseases, such as syphilis, scabies, and molluscum contagiosum, can be transmitted through close household contact.
STIs can only be confirmed or refuted based on laboratory tests. Spontaneous recovery from diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or trichomoniasis is impossible, and upon re-infection, a fully recovered person will fall ill again. Some diseases caused by STIs are incurable, including HPV, HIV, and genital herpes.
The effectiveness of combating sexually transmitted infections is highly dependent on focusing attention on population groups at highest risk of infection, such as individuals involved in commercial sex and their clients, men who have sex with men, and drug users.
STI Prevention
- USE OF CONDOMS
One of the most effective methods of protection against STIs, including HIV, is condoms, provided they are used correctly and consistently. Condoms should be used whenever possible during any vaginal and anal sexual contact. It is even better to avoid casual sexual relationships.
However, condoms are ineffective against viral STIs (genital herpes, human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus), as well as sexually transmitted skin diseases.
- VACCINATION
Safe and highly effective vaccines exist for two viral STIs: hepatitis B and HPV. Their introduction marked a significant step forward in STI prevention. As of the end of 2023, the HPV vaccine was part of routine immunization programmes in 140 countries, the majority of which were high- or middle-income countries. To eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem globally, high coverage targets for HPV vaccination, screening and treatment of precancerous lesions, and cancer management must be reached by 2030 and then maintained for decades.
Significant progress has been made in developing vaccines for genital herpes, with several candidate vaccines already in the early stages of clinical trials. There is growing evidence that a vaccine for meningitis (MenB) may also protect against gonorrhoea. Further research is needed to develop vaccines for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis.
3. Other biomedical prevention measures for some STIs include voluntary medical male circumcision in adult men, the use of microbicides and partner treatment. Research is ongoing to assess the benefits and potential safety of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for STIs, considering antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
What should be done if unprotected contact occurs (we remind you that any unprotected sex – oral, anal, or genital – is risky) with a dubious partner?
It is strongly recommended to visit a dermatovenerologist who will prescribe a course of preventive treatment with appropriate medications and order necessary tests for STIs.
Protection against sexually transmitted infections also includes knowing your health status. Therefore, in any case, you should be tested for STIs after one month. Before this period, laboratory diagnostics will be unreliable.
Although unlikely, in some cases it may be possible to send the "suspected" partner for examination and take further action depending on the results of their tests.
Post-coital prevention of sexually transmitted infections is an emergency measure. It should not be abused, as it is dangerous to health.
Consider morality, lead a healthy lifestyle, be faithful partners to your loved ones, and then – "you will not encounter STIs."
State Institution "Rossonsky RTCGE", February 2025.