Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the second leading cause of infectious disease in Europe, behind respiratory infections.
For this reason, the , warns about the public health problem caused by the increase in STI cases in Spain, both due to its magnitude and its complications and sequelae, especially if early diagnosis and treatment is not carried out.
What are the main sexually transmitted infections?
SEMES specialists point out that there are more than 30 bacteria, viruses or parasites that are transmitted through sexual contact.
The 8 main pathogens for the development of this type of pathology are:
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He treponema pallidumwhich causes syphilis.
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The Neisseria gonorrhoeae either gonococcusorigin of gonorrhea.
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The chlamydia trachomatis.
- trichomonas vaginalis (trichomoniasis).
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Hepatitis B virus.
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Herpes simplex virus.
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HIV.
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The human papilloma virus.
These pathogens are spread predominantly sexually, including vaginal, oral, anal sex, or direct contact with skin or mucous membranes.
But there is an added problem around sexually transmitted infections and that is that on many occasions they coexist at the same time in the same patient.
He Dr. Juan Gonzalez del Castillocoordinator of the SEMES Emergency Infections Group, explains in this regard that:
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“The coexistence in period and place of two or more epidemics that share social factors, in such a way that they feed back on each other and end up interacting and causing complex sequelae, is called syndemic.
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We refer to this term to highlight the coexistence of HIV with the rest of STIs. HIV infection and STIs are clearly interrelated, sharing risks, incidence and transmission mechanisms”.
And there is a significant overlap between HIV and other STIs.
Twenty-eight percent of men who have sex with men diagnosed with syphilis and 15% of gonorrhea patients identified at STI centers were co-infected with HIV.
In addition, some STIs, especially ulcerative ones such as syphilis or genital herpes, increase the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV infection.
STIs increase more among women
According to the Report of the in recent years there has been an upturn in cases of sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea.
And although the growth has been widespread, analyzing the data shows that it is women who have experienced the greatest increase in diagnoses.
Thus, according to estimates by the Carlos III Health Institute, between 2016 and 2019 the cases of STIs in women in Spain increased by 156%.
In this sense, the Dr. Iria Miguénscoordinator of , has indicated that, according to the same report, if the cases provided by the surveillance systems of the autonomous communities are taken into account, the increase in cases between 2012 and 2019 stands at 1,073%, reaching its peak of infections with 16,304 cases per year.
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“80% of the total cases diagnosed were in women between the ages of 15 and 35, since fewer infections are registered after that age due to the stabilization of the number of sexual partners.
Also, 70% of the women considered that their knowledge about STIs is deficient”, says the expert.
Sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy
Taking into account the age group most affected by infections in women, SEMES specialists insist on the implication that these diseases have in pregnancy.
Thus, it is estimated that in Spain between 20 and 25% of those infected with HIV are women, and that the virus can be transmitted from mother to child in 45% of cases, if the woman is not receiving treatment.
On the other hand, Dr. Miguéns adds that in other STIs such as primary or secondary syphilis, the probability of contagion is 70% to 100%.
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“syphilis in pregnancy it is very easy to detect and treat, so it is not justifiable that today girls and boys continue to be born with congenital syphilis”, the doctor emphasizes.
Regarding hepatitis B, the expert recalls that mother-to-child transmission of this virus can cause chronic infections in newborns that over time can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
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“As with other infections, there are alternatives that can prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis BTherefore, the use of rapid tests for the diagnosis of these STIs is recommended for both mothers and their partners to stop transmission.
How to prevent sexually transmitted infections
Given these worrying data and in order to stop the spread of STIs, SEMES experts provide a series of recommendations to practice sex safely:
- Information. One of the basic questions that specialists in urgencies and emergencies raise is to receive reliable information before starting to have sexual relations. To do this, they recommend going to a health center authorized for it.
- the condom It’s fundamental. This prophylactic method is essential in any sexual relationship, be it vaginal, anal or oral sex.
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After having maintained risky sexGo to a health center as soon as possible.
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In the case of having risky sexual relations or having multiple sexual partnersit is necessary to perform STI tests regularly.
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Finally, the experts insist on a fundamental issue and that is that oral contraceptives, the morning after pill, or the vaginal ring do NOT prevent the spread of STIs. “Both male and female condoms are the only contraceptive methods capable of avoiding contagion,” they emphasize from SEMES.