https://youtu.be/2iWShIc3SiI
Absolutely amazing video clip... I really appreciate it..... Its an eye opener for our new generation who forget their roots and traditions. That's what have made us retrogress somehow to lead to immoral aspects.... Thumbs up to sender, Sister Swa
Being in a monogamous relationship, or abstaining from sex, doesn't necessarily guarantee from sexually-transmitted infection.
Valentine's day usually invokes the notions of love and romance.
Just imagine, you are on a nice dinner date with your other half and spend the night together in an almost fairytale-like evening.
But this lovely memory soon gets shattered when you or your partner discover unusual symptoms in the genital region.
Suddenly, worry – and even suspicion of each other – fills the atmosphere between the two of you.
And it doesn’t help that it is a topic many people might find difficult to bring up with their partners.
Truth be told, most men and women who are in faithful relationships or who have not had sex before do not expect any unusual symptoms in their genital region.
To suddenly discover a wart, a painful ulcer, or even a smelly and fishy discharge from the vagina, can be distressing.
Whether it’s kissing, skin to skin contact, or vaginal, oral or anal sex, each of these interactions can pose a risk of disease transmission.
But before you jump the gun and start thinking that your partner has cheated on you or lied about their sexual history, hold your horses – he or she could still be innocent!
Here are the top three sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) that one may develop even if you are in a faithful relationship OR have not had sex before.
> Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1
HSV-1 results in an incurable viral disease commonly known as herpes, which usually causes cold sores and oral ulcers in and around the lips and gums.
These cold sores and ulcers usually cause quite a bit of discomfort, especially when eating.
However, during the recovery stage of the cold sore or ulcer, you will usually not feel anything and may not even remember that you have it.
But it is still infectious at this stage and you may inadvertently spread the virus to your partner while kissing them.
The tricky part comes if you’ve engaged in oral sex with your partner.
Your partner may then develop ulcers around their genital region.
It is a misconception that genital ulcers are exclusively caused by HSV-2 as HSV-1 can also cause such ulcers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 70% of the world’s population are carriers of HSV-1. The good news is that oral and genital herpes are often asymptomatic (do not have symptoms).
They also do not spread to your partner when there are no active ulcers.
They only flare up when your immune system is weakened and become contagious through contact when an ulcer is present.
Flare-ups can occur once every few months to once every few years, to even once every few decades.
You may experience tiredness, chills, fever and body aches before the painful ulcers emerge, often in the same place either at the genitals or mouth.
It is not all doom and gloom however, as you can get an accurate diagnosis with either a swab test of the active ulcer or a blood test two to three months after an active infection.
Getting a confirmed diagnosis can equip you with knowledge on how to prevent this infection with lysine supplements or by treating any active ulcers with antiviral medicines such as valacyclovir.
If left untreated, these ulcers often get painful, but will eventually recover by themselves after two to three weeks.
> Human papillomavirus (HPV) warts
I know it’s a lot to take in after hearing about HSV, but hang in there as we discuss our next disease: HPV warts.
These are cauliflower-like warts caused by HPV.
There are over 100 strains of HPV.
Apart from the 14 cancer-causing high-risk strains, there are also numerous low-risk strains that cause warts.
HPV warts do not turn into cancer, but are often unsightly and manifest themselves in and around the genital region.
HPV is a very common virus that can be found in a large majority of sexually-active persons.
However, it is often well-controlled by our immune system and does not cause any major symptoms.
HPV can be exchanged between you and your partner during sexual contact.
And when your body encounters a new HPV strain, it can cause the warts to develop.
The good news is that although it is unsightly, these warts are often harmless and can be treated with a variety of options, including creams, freezing with liquid nitrogen, and ablation with heat or electrocautery.
While these warts are easily treatable, a cause of greater concern are the high-risk strains like HPV 16,18 and 45.
These strains affect women more because of their ability to cause cervical cancer.
However, both women and men can protect themselves and their partners by getting vaccinated against these strains.
So fret not if you notice an unusual cauliflower-like lump or wart in the genital region; just speak to your doctor to get it assessed and treated.
> Bacterial vaginosis
Last but not least, one of the biggest causes of a fishy and foul-smelling vaginal discharge is the condition known as bacterial vaginosis.
It occurs when there is an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your vagina, and is often caused by the bacteria called Gardnerella vaginalis, the most common bacteria in the vagina.
In the event of a big build-up of bacteria, it can also cause one to develop symptoms of vaginitis, i.e. inflammation of the vagina, resulting in swelling, pain, and even painful sexual intercourse.
Until now, doctors and scientists do not know the exact mechanism of how this occurs, but sex – with or without condoms – often exacerbates this condition.
This condition can be easily diagnosed with a vaginal swab and treated with a vaginal pessary or oral antibiotics.
If you have read up to here, fret not, today can still be an amazing day for you and your partner – just make sure you practise safe sex and get yourselves tested for STIs as a precaution if you haven’t already.
By Dr Julian Hong who is a general practitioner (GP) in Singapore. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
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