STDs are not only spread through sexual contact

Which diseases are venereal diseases? The director of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Peking University First Hospital said that STDs are sexually transmitted diseases, and there are eight recognized in the country, namely AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, chlamydial urethritis, genital warts, and genital herpes. Since the 1990s, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in our country has increased significantly, with syphilis being the fastest-growing and currently at the forefront of infectious diseases. Experts say that currently the public has four main misunderstandings about STDs.

Myth 1: All sexually transmitted diseases are STDs. The director of the STD Prevention and Treatment Center at Beijing You'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University said that there are hundreds of sexually transmitted diseases, but only 8 are classified as STDs in my country. The source of the contradiction disclosed in the above-mentioned "Bai Jing tragedy" was that Bai Jing found herself positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) during a physical examination. HPV can be sexually transmitted, but it is not an STD.

Myth 2: STDs are only transmitted sexually. STDs are mainly spread through sexual contact, but they are also spread in other ways. Taking genital warts as an example, 60% to 80% of patients are infected through sexual contact, and 20% to 30% are infected through other ways, of which indirect contact transmission is very common. Experts from the Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said that STDs can be transmitted within the family. In addition to sexual transmission between couples, in a few cases, family members may also be infected through contact with the secretions of STD patients. However, the possibility that the above-mentioned 6 people in the family will be sick at the same time is extremely low.

Myth 3: Only sexually promiscuous people can get STDs. Many people think that as long as they "keep themselves clean" they will not get sick. In fact, among the sexually transmitted disease patients Sun Lijun treats, there are virgins, preschool children, and old ladies in their 70s. Among all STD patients, 70%-80% have no experience of promiscuity, and everyone has the possibility of contracting STDs.

Myth 4: Paying attention to personal hygiene will prevent you from getting sexually transmitted diseases. Experts from the Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, emphasized that vaginal lavage, urination, extracorporeal ejaculation, use of antibiotics, and topical application of drugs after sexual intercourse cannot effectively prevent STDs.

Main transmission routes of sexually transmitted diseases

1. Sexual behavior transmission: The so-called sexual behavior mainly includes kissing, touching, hugging, sexual intercourse, etc. Sexual intercourse is the main route of transmission of transmitted diseases.

2. Indirect contact transmission: Some sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted through indirect contact. For example, if bath towels and bathtubs contaminated with genital secretions of gonorrhea patients have not been disinfected, other people can be infected if they use them. When healthy people's skin is damaged and comes into contact with the erosion and ulcers of STD patients, pathogens will directly invade from the damaged skin and cause infection. Clothes, bedding and other utensils that come into contact with STD patients may also become infected. This is due to these items being contaminated with bacterial secretions. Girls are mostly infected with gonorrhea indirectly, mainly by sleeping in the same bed with family members who have gonorrhea, sharing bathtubs and bath towels, and wiping their genitals with infected hands.

3. Blood-borne transmission: Infection through receiving contaminated blood, blood products, shared syringes, needles, placenta, birth canal, etc. Pregnant women suffering from syphilis can infect the fetus through the placenta; pregnant women suffering from gonorrhea can cause fetal infection due to intra-amniotic infection. Gonococcal or chlamydial ophthalmia and chlamydial pneumonia may occur in newborns passing through the birth canal during delivery. If the mother suffers from genital herpes and genital warts during labor, the newborn may be infected through the birth canal.

4. Mother-to-child transmission: Transmission to the fetus through the placenta. There is a risk of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and AIDS. There are three ways of mother-to-child transmission of sexually transmitted diseases: 1. Primary infection 2. Retrograde infection 3. Acquired infection.