Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia: watch out for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) this summer.
- In total, there are about thirty sexually transmitted infections.
- According to the World Health Organization, more than one million people contract an STI every day worldwide.
- Condoms are the best protection against STIs.
Sexually transmitted infections increased by 30% between 2020 and 2021. This increase is explained by the various confinements, which have reduced access to screening and by a lack of information for young people. Health professionals are now worried about a possible increase in cases during the summer.
Enjoy, while staying protected!
“With the holidays, we relax, we think less about protecting ourselves, about prevention, we let go”recalls the Ministry of Health in a communicated. To limit the risks, it is necessary to use condoms during sexual intercourse. “Sexually transmitted infections are mainly transmitted by skin contact during sexual intercourse, vaginal, anal or oral.specifies theHealth Insurance. They are caused by infectious agents. “It can be viruses, bacteria or parasites”, explains the health insurance. However, she notes that the increases in Chlamydia infections in women and gonococcal infections in men are linked to a “non-systematic use of condom“Protection also involves vaccination, available for hepatitis B and papillomavirus.
Declining screening
In the event of exposure to one of these infectious agents, it is essential to get tested. Public Health France observes that it is no longer necessarily a reflex. “The decreases in the use of screening in 2020, observed for both HIV and bacterial STIs, may raise fears of a delay in diagnosis and a greater circulation of these infections., explains the organization. But the Covid-19 crisis is not solely responsible for this decrease, health professionals note a lack of information among young people. “These are often asymptomatic STIs so people don’t realize they are infectedindicated Doctor Pascal Pugliese, who works in the infectious disease department of Nice, to France Info. This can have consequences on the circulation of the virus or bacteria, because they will transmit STIs.
How to access the tests?
Of all the existing STIs, some are more common. Health insurance cites chlamydia, linked to the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, human papillomavirus infections, hepatitis B, genital herpes, gonococcal infection, syphilis and mycoplasma infections and/or trichomoniasis. The screening technique is not always the same depending on the STI: it can be a blood test, a clinical examination of the genitals or a urine analysis. These examinations can be carried out by the attending physician, at Family Planning or in a center dedicated to screening.