Module 3S1 Reproductive Systems

2.3.5S1 page 2

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Summary of Sexually Transmitted Infections

The first row has been completed as an example.

STI	Cause of Infection	Transmission of Infection	Symptoms of Infection	Treatment of Infection	Effects on Male or Female Reproductive System	Prevention of Infection
Chlamydia	Bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis	Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth.	- discharge from penis or vagina - burning pain while urinating - fever * 75% of infected people show NO symptoms.	Easily treated and cured with antibiotics	If infection is not detected can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID can then cause pain and scar tissue in Fallopian tubes and uterus. **Women infected have a five times greater possibility of becoming infected with HIV if exposed.	- abstinence - reduce number of sexual partners - use condoms - personal responsibility

 

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STIs have plagued humans for thousands of years. They can affect anyone at any time regardless of gender, age, race, wealth, religion, or culture. In order to make informed choices regarding your reproductive health, you must be aware of the main causes and effects for the most common STIs.

 

This lesson will only address seven of the most common, serious, and rapidly spreading STIs. There are many other STIs, cancers, and other reproductive disorders that can affect fertility. No specific readings will be assigned for cancers that affect fertility in this lesson. You have likely encountered cancers in earlier biology courses and they will be covered again the lesson assignment and in Unit C.

 

Read pages 486–490 in the textbook to learn how STIs affect human reproductive systems. You can supplement what you learn by reading the pamphlet “STI – Sexually Transmitted Infections” published by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

 

Self-Check

Examine the following graphs detailing infection rates of certain STIs by age group in Alberta. For each graph write an interpretation of the data presented by examining the age group and rate of infection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discuss

 

Although STIs can be a difficult topic to discuss it is important to make sure you have a good understanding of what they are and how they are transmitted. Use the discussion area of your class to discuss one, some, or all of the following questions:

1. Why is it so difficult for teens and young adults to believe they can acquire an STI?
2. How would you get the message of the seriousness of STIs across to young people?
3. If a person tests positive for an STI, should health agencies have the right and responsibility to inform the individual’s sexual partners? Why or why not?
4. Can the use of a condom prevent all STIs?

Self-Check

See how well you understand STIs by completing “Section 14.2” questions 1–6 on page 491 of the textbook.

 

Self-Check Answers

 

Section 14.2: Review Answers

 

1. Examples of Viral and Bacterial STIs

Viral STIs	Bacterial STIs
HIV/AIDS	chlamydia
hepatitis (A, B, and C)	gonorrhea
genital herpes	syphilis
HPV

 

2. PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) is a disease that occurs in women; it is caused by undetected Chlamydia that has spread to the cervix and oviducts. PID is painful and can lead to the build-up of scar tissue in the oviducts and open sores on the cervix. This may lead to infertility (oviduct damagge) and/or an increased risk of acquiring HIV. Chlamydia and PID also pose risks to babies who come into contact with the disease during birth, including potential respiratory infections and eye infections. PID can also arise if gonorrhea goes untreated.

 

3. A woman who is infected with an STI can present numerous risks to her baby. Diseases can be passed to the baby through the placenta (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B), during birth (e.g., HIV, genital herpes, Chlamydia, gonorrhea), through breast milk (e.g., HIV).

 

4. a) A person who is infected with an STI but does not present any symptoms will not visit a doctor for treatment. While they wait, the infection may become more serious, progressing to PID, infections, cancer of the cervix (women), tumors on the vulva, vagina, anus or penis, or infertility.

 

b) The public health risk of the asymptomatic individual infected with an STI is that they may unknowingly infect other people if they engage in unsafe sex practices or, in the case of pregnant women, pass the STI to their babies.

 

5. Look for the following key points: Both viral and bacterial STIs have health consequences, the severity of which increases as the infection progresses untreated and depending on the type of infection. It is true that the viral infections cannot be cured, only managed, and there is a high likelihood that death will result with some viral infections (HIV and hepatitis) or that cancer may develop (HPV). Bacterial infections, while curable, are more likely to go undetected, increasing the possibility that they will be spread unknowingly, as well as the possibility that they won't be detected until they have progressed to the more damaging PID, which can cause scarring and infertility, or infect a baby during birth. In addition, many bacterial diseases are becoming resistant to current antibiotics. The consequences of either form of STI make it preferable to avoid both.

 

6. a) Points supporting the teaching of abstinence: abstinence (from oral, anal, and vaginal sex, and the sharing of needles) is the only way to guarantee the prevention of transmission of STIs. Points supporting the teaching of safe sex practices: students may argue that individuals will engage in sexual practices so it is better to be educated about safe sex practices to avoid transmission of STIs (as well as unwanted pregnancies). Students can evaluate the arguments from an individual point of view, a societal point of view, or even a government viewpoint. It is in the best interest of society and government to teach people about the effects and transmission of STIs so that healthcare does not have to deal with large volumes of transmissions.

 

b) Health practitioners can design education campaigns that respect the views of those advocating abstinence and safe sex practices by presenting the facts of each and allowing the recipients of the information to make their own decision. This can be done by avoiding nuanced language or judgmental, subjective conclusions.