A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a contagious infection distributed mostly via sexual contact. 1 The terms STD and sexually transmitted infection are often used interchangeably (STI).
There is one significant difference between the phrases, according to Dr. Cornelius Reitmeijer, director of the Denver STD/HIV Prevention Training Center An STI is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause or not cause symptoms and can lead to a sexually transmitted illness (STD) The differences between STI and STD, as well as kinds, symptoms, testing, and treatment, will be discussed in this article.
The Distinction
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the starting point for STDs (STIs). When a sexually transmitted bacterium, virus, or other germ enters the body and begins to multiply, infection develops. Once established, the infection has the potential to develop into a disease (an STD).
While this distinction may be established, most health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, see the phrases as interchangeable in practise (CDC). There has been a movement toward employing STIs, according to the American Sexual Health Association, but there is no unanimity among medical and public health professionals. 3
In a 2015 article in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Dr. H. Hunter Handsfield noted that STDs became common nomenclature in the 1970s, in part to avoid the stigmatised phrase “venereal illness” (VD).
Disease vs. Infection
Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites are known as STIs.
6 They’re commonly spread by an exchange of body fluids or skin-to-skin contact while the illness is active during sexual activity.STIs can also be transmitted through non-sexual behaviours in which body fluids are shared. People who share needles, for example, can spread the human immunodeficiency virus to one another (HIV). Some STIs can also be spread by kissing someone on the lips, albeit this is a low-risk method for the majority of STIs.
STDs are illnesses that develop as a result of STIs. Infections are the beginning of all STDs. Pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria that cause illness, enter the body and begin proliferating. Diseases are caused when microorganisms disturb normal physiological functioning.
It’s crucial to remember that certain STIs don’t always progress into illnesses. Most human papillomavirus (HPV) instances, for example, clear away on their own without producing health concerns. However, HPV can cause illnesses such as genital warts and cervical cancer.
Types
The following are examples of STIs and STDs:7
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis are bacterial infections.
Hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus 2 (genital herpes), HIV, HPV Parasitic: Trichomoniasis Viral: Hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus 2 (genital herpes), HIV, HPV Parasitic: Trichomoniasis Viral: Hepatitis B virus.
Symptoms STD-related symptoms differ based on the kind of infection. Symptoms might arise over a period of days, weeks, or even years, although not everyone has them. When symptoms appear, the STI has developed into a disease.
If you have a STI, you may have the following symptoms:8
Penis or vaginal discharge that is abnormal
In the vaginal or anal region, sores or warts
Itching or redness in the vicinity of the sores
Sores in the mouth and surrounding it
Urinating causes pain or a burning feeling.
Vaginal odour that isn’t typical
Swollen lymph nodes in the groyne Pain during sex
Symptoms vary depending on whether or not a STI develops into an STD. Some will be comparable to the examples above, while others will be unique and, in some cases, more dangerous. These are some of them:9
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of memory
Nausea
Hearing and vision changes
Loss of weight
How to Perform a Test
Some or all of the tests listed below may be used by your healthcare professional to diagnose the type of STI you have. These tests include the following: 8
A physical or pelvic examination will be performed by your healthcare practitioner to search for symptoms of infection.
Blood tests: To identify illnesses like syphilis or HIV, your healthcare professional will take a blood sample (either a blood draw or a finger prick).
Urine tests can be used to check for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. You’ll deliver a sample of urine in a sterile cup as directed by your healthcare professional during the test.
Fluid samples from the vaginal or penis can be obtained to be inspected under a microscope for organisms like the parasite that causes trichomoniasis.
Treatment
Antibiotics (drugs used to treat bacterial infections) can help treat and cure STIs and STDs caused by bacteria and parasites, but they can’t help with viral infections.
9 These medications can be given as a single injection or as an oral tablet that must be taken over a period of time.
Antiviral or antiretroviral drugs are commonly used to treat STIs caused by viruses.
11 The majority of viral STIs can be treated, but there is no known cure.
How Can I Prevent a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)?
The easiest approach to avoid a STI is to avoid it altogether. Condoms and dental dams, for example, can dramatically minimise the likelihood of a STI spreading. Vaccines for some illnesses, such as HPV and the hepatitis B virus, are also available.
Summary
Most health organisations, including the CDC, use the terms STI and STD interchangeably. Some people make distinctions between the two labels because they feel STI is less stigmatised.
Sexual contact is the most common way for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) to spread. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites can all cause STIs. A sexually transmitted infection (STI) may or may not cause symptoms and develop into a sexually transmitted illness (STD). Symptoms of STDs differ based on the kind of infection.
A healthcare professional can use a variety of tests to detect the type of STI you have. Antibiotics can be used to treat and cure bacterial sexually transmitted infections. Antivirals and antiretrovirals can help with viral infections, although they are seldom curative.
