Topic > A Research Paper on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Its Types

IndexIntroductionConclusionBibliographyIntroductionPeople in today's society are very quick to do things, without realizing all the different types of consequences that their actions entail. Whether it's buying a car, having a drink, or eating an entire meal at McDonald's. Apart from this, people are also very ready to have unprotected sexual intercourse with others without realizing the negative effects involved in the pleasures. In addition to the fact that you can get pregnant, several types of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can occur. In this article, the researcher will discuss three different types of diseases that can be sexually transmitted, which include bacterial diseases, viral diseases, and fungal diseases. The research will focus on the structure of each type of STD, how they reproduce and what each life cycle is like. The first page will be about chlamydia, a bacterial sexually transmitted disease. The second page will talk about a viral infection; HIV leading to AIDS. Finally, the last disease treated will be vaginal mycosis, which is an example of a fungal disease. Throughout the article, each STD example will go into detail regarding the different treatments for each disease, if applicable, the symptoms, and how they relate to the structure and life cycle of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is important to know and understand what type of disease because there may be different ways to treat it, depending on the severity. This research paper will open the minds of its readers and allow them to see the effects of not making smart decisions and staying protected, whenever they have any type of sexual intercourse, be it oral, vaginal or anal. It is important to know and understand what possible infections you might have when you are sexually active because if you are unsafe while having sex, you run the risk of spreading infections to your sexual partners. Once you witness the first symptom of something you feel is not normal in your body; you should make an appointment to go to the doctor to see if you need medications or alternative ways to kill the infection. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Bacterial transmitted diseases are exactly what they sound like; diseases that contain bacteria. Bacteria are cells made up of different variables such as nutrients, water, waste and enzymes. Unlike humans, bacteria are prokaryotes. They do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. According to the Microbiology Society, bacteria are able to reproduce through binary fission; asexual reproduction in which the bacterium breaks down into two identical daughter cells. The bacteria's DNA then splits in two and is synthesized. The bacteria can reproduce within twenty minutes, if they receive adequate nutrients and other positive conditions. An example of a bacterial sexually transmitted disease is chlamydia. Chlamydia is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis, which affects the anorectal tract, eyes, genital tract, throat and/or urinary tract. This is a disease that both men and women can contract after having oral, anal, or vaginal sex. The only way someone could get this disease is if one of the people they have sex with already has it. As mentioned above, both men and women are at risk of contracting chlamydia. The cause could be abuse of sexual protection or an excessive number of sexual partners. According to the United States Library of Medicine(2019), chlamydia is more common in young adults; especially in young women. Women who are diagnosed with chlamydia will have the potential to pass it on to their children. There are several symptoms related to chlamydia infection. For women, symptoms include pain during urination, pain during sexual intercourse, and a yellow-looking form of discharge. Men, on the other hand, feel a burning sensation on the exposed opening of the penis, discharge and, like women, also feel pain when urinating. It is extremely important to see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Once you go to the doctor to explain the symptoms you are experiencing, the doctor will most likely ask for a urine sample to see if there are any signs of the disease. It is terrible to go to the doctor because if the infection is not treated, it can spread to different parts of the body. For example, if the infection were to spread to a woman's fallopian tubes; can lead to sterility. Prescription antibiotics are normally the treatment for chlamydia, but it is essential that someone infected with chlamydia takes the medications as directed, to avoid becoming infected again. Beyond that, chlamydia can generally be prevented through abstinence and you may be less at risk if you have safe sex. Chlamydia coincides with what was said about the life cycle of bacteria because both develop rather quickly. As mentioned above, bacteria can reproduce quickly in fifteen to twenty minutes. If the drug is taken correctly; it takes about seven days for the infection to clear. Sexually transmitted viral diseases are infections caused by the action of a virus. When people think of a virus, they think of the common cold or the stomach virus you tend to get. What people don't understand is the severity to which the presence of a virus can lead. Viruses can be found with different shapes and sizes. They are created from DNA or RNA. They are known to occupy a host to reproduce and replicate. According to the Microbiology Society, a virus's sole purpose is to produce other viruses. Once a virus manages to attach itself to its host, it is able to duplicate its genetic makeup, thus creating more viruses. According to Khan Academy, a virus is considered non-living, as it is unable to reproduce without the help of a host; without the host, the virus is useless. An example of a sexually transmitted viral disease is the human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is the result of HIV infecting the person through sexual intercourse. HIV causes immune system cells to collapse, thus allowing other viruses to attack easily. AIDS is a chronic disease that can lead to the death of the person who contracts it. The first symptoms of AIDS are very mild, but then lead to infections such as yeast and ulcers. Eventually, a person may be at risk of having a sarcoma or lymphoma. HIV affects both men and women. In the Annual Review of Public Health (2013), a study shows that women from developing countries, primarily South America, are at greater risk of contracting HIV than those from the United States. It mentions that women with lower incomes are also more likely to contract the infection. This is important to know because HIV is not limited to a single race or gender, and people should understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to receive adequate medical care. As mentioned above, AIDS is caused by the HIV virus. The virus cannot be transmitted through direct contact, but it will be if there is some form of exchange between bodily fluids, such as semen and breast milk. It is very common to get this infectionviral through the use of sex, whether vaginal, anal or oral. According to Meyer and Adler (2019), no vaccination has been created that can prevent AIDS; there have been many attempts but none have been successful. Some treatments that people tend to undergo include radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Viral infections are not as easy to treat as bacterial or fungal infections. Like other types of infectious diseases, ways to prevent getting AIDS is to take adequate contraceptives. If you want to exclude even the slightest possibility of contracting the infection, abstinence is always the safest bet. Apart from this, keeping a limited number of sexual partners and sharing any form of injection tools also helps to avoid contracting HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) refers to information based on the structure and life cycle of a general virus. because both last a long time if not treated properly. HIV attaches itself to us humans, thus insisting that we are its hosts, which then leads to its spread once sexual intercourse occurs. Fungal diseases are diseases that involve the presence or involvement of fungi in the disease. According to Boundless Biology, fungi are eukaryotes that may be associated more with animals than plants. They contain a nucleus and membranous organelles. They are capable of reproducing through both asexual and/or sexual reproduction, where they can be classified as perfect or imperfect fungi. Being a perfect mushroom means that the fungus is capable of reproducing by both asexual and sexual reproduction, while imperfect fungi are capable of reproducing asexually only due to mitosis. Besides that, their sexual reproduction is formed through three stages: plasmogamy, karyogamy and gametangy. An example of a sexually transmitted fungal disease is a yeast infection, which may also be known as candidiasis. Yeast infections are caused by Candida albicans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (nd), this fungal infection is an extremely common vaginal condition that affects the genital areas. It is most commonly found in the vagina, but can also live in the mouth, throat, and/or intestines. There are several ways to contract this disease and they can range from a woman not drying herself properly after taking a shower, to diabetes or even menopause. As mentioned above, women are more prone to contract this disease. Yeast infections may be present while a woman is pregnant, does not have a strong immune system, or is currently taking hormonal-based contraceptives (CDC, n.d.). Although yeast infections are known to be found in women, men can also contract the disease, which then leads to inflammation of the head of the penis; also known as balanitis. Besides the fact that there are many factors to actually having a yeast infection, there are also more symptoms. Common symptoms resulting from a vaginal yeast infection include, but are not limited to: itching, pain, irritation, pain during sexual intercourse, rashes around the vaginal area, etc. It is important for a person to check themselves when they see any of the symptoms and not ignore them. Although a yeast infection is treatable; there is no need to make your body suffer with pain. As mentioned above, a yeast infection is treatable. There are several types of medications and creams you can take to reduce swelling and irritation. According to Purcell and Calvagna (2018), treatments can usually last from one to seven days. Some treatments may be over-the-counter, but others may require a prescription such as Diflucan. Even if thisinfection can be cured, it is always better to take precautions and think about how to prevent it in the first place. Ways to prevent a yeast infection include drying yourself properly after showering, wearing cotton underwear, and avoiding anything that has to do with scented products around the vaginal area. Yeast infections relate to the typical understanding of a fungus, because when someone thinks of fungi, they automatically think of mushrooms. One of the symptoms of a yeast infection is that spores may be present, which is one way to tell that a yeast infection is possible. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayConclusionIt is veryIt is important to understand the difference between different types of STDs. Having discussed the three types of STDs (bacterial, viral, and fungal), the reader is now able to distinguish them. This research was able to cover the basic knowledge of what bacteria, viruses and fungi are, thus providing a clearer explanation when talking about current sexually transmitted diseases. When people generally tend to find new symptoms or feel that something is wrong with them, they go to the Internet to see if they can figure out what exactly they have. Although some websites can provide simple answers, it is always better to consult a doctor and check the situation before it gets worse. It's important to do this right away and not wait for the disease to go away, because you never know if it could be something treatable like a yeast infection, or something as terrible as HIV. The one thing all infections have in common is a way to prevent them in the beginning; have protected/safe sexual intercourse and/or practice abstinence. People must remember that every action has a consequence and this turns out to be positive or negative; the bright side is that they were smart and because they were smart, they didn't hurt themselves, and the downside is that they didn't take proper precautions and ended up getting an infection. It is also crucial that people communicate with their sexual partner if they have a sexually transmitted disease, because they could pass it on to their partner, and it is not morally correct if they had sexual intercourse with him and were not aware of the situation. This research paper is intended to enhance information for those who choose to read it and allow readers to be aware of the pros and cons of being sexually active and hopefully shed some light for those who will read it. Bibliography Information on microbiology – Bacteria. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://microbiologyonline.org/about-microbiology/introducing-microbes/bacteriaBoundless. (n.d.). Biology without limits. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/characteristics-of-fungi/Calvagna, MMS, and Purcell, GJ. MD. FF (2018). Candidiasis. Salem Press Health Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=94417184&site=eds-liveChlamydia Infections | Chlamydia | Chlamydia symptoms. (February 27, 2019). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/chlamydiainfections.htmlHIV/AIDS. (2019, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prevention.htmlHocking, J.S., Vodstrcil, L.A., Huston, W.M., Timms, P., Chen, M.Y., Worthington, K., … Tabrizi, S.N. (2013 ). A cohort study of Chlamydia trachomatis treatment failure in women: a study protocol. BMC Infectious Diseases, 13, 379. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-13-379 Introduction to viruses. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-human-body-systems/hs-the-immune-system/a/intro-to-virusesJames M.