Sexually transmitted diseases
“Contagion sexually or through towels or underwear”? This is the most frequent question I am asked when diagnosing an infection that is part of the sexually transmitted diseases and the answer often causes doubts, discussions and suspicions in the couple which sometimes lead to confessions of infidelity or misunderstandings.
A brief list of the most common sexual diseases that can be diagnosed in an outpatient setting follows, with an indication of the most frequent ways of contagion:
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae or Gonococcus:
bacteria that cause cervicitis, urethritis, proctitis and conjunctivitis.
Contagion: it can occur through unprotected sexual intercourse of any kind: practicing oral, vaginal, anal sex, both active and passive. A deep and prolonged kiss is enough, or the simple contact between the genitals, or the brushing of the penis on the anus of the infected person, or through mutual masturbation. But the contagion can also occur through the exchange of underwear and towels; with the use of contaminated sex toys and genital instruments; finally in the passage of the bacterium from the infected mother to the newborn; from the genitals the disease through the hands can infect other parts of the body such as the eyes.
Chlamydia Trachomatis:
small bacterium causing various genital infections, often silent, which can lead to infertility.
Contagion: it can occur through unprotected sexual intercourse of any kind: practicing oral, vaginal, anal sex, both active and passive. The simple contact between genitals or mutual masturbation is enough, but the contagion can also occur through the exchange of underwear and towels; with the use of contaminated sex toys and genital instruments; finally in the passage of the bacterium from the infected mother to the newborn.
Trichomonas Vaginalis:
protozoan that causes vaginitis, cervicitis or urethritis with variable clinical manifestations.
Contagion: safe sexual contagion with no symptoms in about 50% of cases. Easier transmission to women: 60% of male partners of affected women have the infection, while 70-100% of women of affected partners have the infection.
Syphilis:
infection transmitted by treponema pallidum.
Contagion: it can occur through unprotected sexual intercourse of any kind: practicing oral, vaginal, anal sex, both active and passive. The simple contact between genitals or mutual masturbation is enough, but the contagion can also occur through the exchange of underwear and towels; with the use of contaminated sex toys and genital instruments; by contact of the genitals with skin or mucous membrane lesions caused by syphilis or which occur in the course of the disease.
By passing the bacterium from the infected mother to the child (congenital syphilis).
Symptoms appear 3 to 6 weeks after the risky intercourse.
Genital Herpes:
virus that causes characteristic ulcerated and painful blisters on the genitals or lips.
Contagion: it can occur through unprotected sexual intercourse of any kind, and even those with the use of a condom if there is contact between the intimate areas: by practicing oral, vaginal, anal sex, both active and passive. Simple contact between the genitals or mutual masturbation is enough. Also, through kisses, caresses, effusions (the virus is eliminated on the skin and mucous membranes); through contact with the lesions (they are very infectious!). But the contagion can also occur through the exchange of underwear and towels; with the use of contaminated sex toys and genital instruments; finally in the passage of the bacterium from the infected mother to the newborn. Symptoms appear with a variable latency based on the host’s immune defenses.
Papilloma Virus:
over 100 types of viruses widely known for their association with warts and cervical cancer.
Contagion: it can occur through unprotected sexual intercourse of any kind: practicing oral, vaginal, anal sex, both active and passive. The simple contact between the genitals, or the brushing of the penis on the anus of the person with warts, or through mutual masturbation and direct contact with the skin of the infected person is enough.
But the contagion can also occur through the exchange of underwear and towels; with the use of contaminated sex toys and genital instruments.
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As an obstetric gynecologist I receive my patients every week in the offices of Milan and Florence.
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