Microbicide & Safe Sex (11)

Pubic Lice

Pubic Lice also called crab lice or "crabs," pubic lice are parasitic insects found primarily in the pubic or genital area of humans. Pubic lice infestation is found worldwide and occurs in all races, ethnic groups, and levels of society.

Pubic lice usually are found in the genital area on pubic hair; but they may occasionally be found on other coarse body hair, such as hair on the legs, armpits, mustache, beard, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Pubic lice on the eyebrows or eyelashes of children may be a sign of sexual exposure or abuse.

Pubic lice have forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the adult.

Nit: Nits are lice eggs. They can be hard to see and are found firmly attached to the hair shaft. They are oval and usually yellow to white. Pubic lice nits take about 6-10 days to hatch.

Nymph: The nymph is an immature louse that hatches from the nit (egg). A nymph looks like an adult pubic louse but it is smaller. Pubic lice nymphs take about 2-3 weeks after hatching to mature into adults capable of reproducing. To live, a nymph must feed on blood.

Adult: The adult pubic louse resembles a miniature crab when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. Pubic lice have six legs; their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab. This is how they got the nickname "crabs." Pubic lice are tan to grayish-white in color. Females lay nits and are usually larger than males. To live, lice must feed on blood. If the louse falls off a person, it dies within 1-2 days.

Microbicide &Safe Sex (10)

PID

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It usually occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from your vagina to your uterus and upper genital tract. Many women who develop pelvic inflammatory disease either experience no signs or symptoms or don't seek treatment. Pelvic inflammatory disease may be detected only later when you have trouble getting pregnant or if you develop chronic pelvic pain.

Symptoms in PID range from subclinical (asymptomatic) to severe. If there are symptoms, then fever, cervical motion tenderness, lower abdominal pain, new or different discharge, painful intercourse, or irregular menstrual bleeding may be noted. It is important to note that even asymptomatic PID can and does cause serious harm. Laparoscopic identification is helpful in diagnosing tubal disease, 65–90% positive predictive value in patients with presumed PID. Regular Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing is important for prevention. Treatment is usually started empirically because of the serious complications that may result from delayed treatment. Definitive criteria include: histopathologic evidence of endometritis, thickened filled fallopian tubes, or laparoscopic findings. Gram-stain/smear becomes important in identification of rare and possibly more serious organisms.

A woman can get PID if bacteria (germs) move up from her vagina and infect her pelvic organs. Many different types of bacteria can cause PID. But, most cases of PID are caused by bacteria that cause 2 common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — gonorrhea and chlamydia. It can take from a few days to a few months for an infection to travel up from the vagina to the pelvic organs.

You can get PID without having an STI. Normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can sometimes cause PID. No one is sure why this happens. You can get pelvic inflammatory disease without having an STI. Normal bacteria found in the vagina and on the cervix can sometimes cause pelvic inflammatory disease. No one is sure why this happens.

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HIV/Aids
Persons initially infected with HIV may develop an "acute retroviral syndrome" characterized by fever, lymph node enlargement, and flu-like symptoms. If symptoms are present, they clear spontaneously, but all infected persons, both with and without symptoms, remain infected and infectious to others indefinitely. The incubation period is highly variable, averaging about a decade, but ranging from a few months or years to possibly longer than two decades. When sufficient damage to the immune system has been sustained, measured either by laboratory cell counts of the Thelper cells or by onset of opportunistic infections, the patient is said to have AIDS. Common manifestations of HIV infection include tiredness, lymph node enlargement, fever, weight loss, and yeast infections of the mouth and vagina.

HIV infection is diagnosed by laboratory detection of evidence of infection, usually identification of HIV-specific antibodies in a blood, oral fluid, or urine specimen. AIDS can be diagnosed in HIV-infected persons in several ways, based on either laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency (lowered levels of CD4+ cells), or clinically by onset of any one or more of a specific list of opportunistic diseases. Opportunistic diseases are those that occur only, or most severely, in patients whose immune systems are impaired. The most common opportunistic diseases in AIDS patients are Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, Kaposi's sarcoma, toxoplasmosis of the brain, tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections, and severe herpes, cytomegalo virus, and yeast infections.

How the AIDS Virus Works?
The AIDS virus weakens the immune system (“immune deficiency”), allowing other infections to ravage the body. These infections are called “opportunistic” because they take advantage of the opportunity to live where the body’s immune system would normally destroy them. It’s when these opportunistic infections strike that the person is said to have AIDS.

Microbocode & Safe Sex (7)

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. HSV-1 can cause genital herpes. But it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, called “fever blisters.”

Most people have no or few symptoms from herpes infection. When symptoms do occur, they usually appear as 1 or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender sores that may take up to 4 weeks to heal. Another outbreak can appear weeks or months later. But it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first outbreak.
Although the infection can stay in the body forever, the outbreaks tend to become less severe and occur less often over time. You can pass genital herpes to someone else even when you have no symptoms.

You can get genital herpes through genital-genital contact or genital-oral contact with someone who has herpes infection. The virus is most easily spread through contact with open sores. But you also can get the virus from skin that does not appear to have a sore. You can become infected with the herpes virus without having intercourse.

Symptoms of herpes outbreaks typically begin with pain, tenderness, or itching in the genital area and may also include fever and headache. Bumps and blisters may appear on the vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, thigh, or buttocks. Blisters soon open to form painful sores that can last up to 3 weeks.

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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Most adults who get hepatitis B have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis B.
You can have hepatitis B and not know it. You may not have symptoms. If you do, they can make you feel like you have the flu. But as long as you have the virus, you can spread it to others.
Sometimes the virus causes a long-term infection, called chronic hepatitis B. Over time, it can damage your liver. Babies and young children infected with the virus are more likely to get chronic hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is spread through contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person.
You may get hepatitis B if you:
==> Have sex with an infected person without using a condom.
==> Share needles (used for injecting drugs) with an infected person.
==> Get a tattoo or piercing with tools that were not cleaned well.
==> Share personal items like razors or toothbrushes with an infected person.
==> A mother who has the virus can pass it to her baby during delivery. If you are pregnant and think you may have been exposed to hepatitis B, get tested. If you have the virus, your baby can get shots to help prevent infection with the virus.
You cannot get hepatitis B from casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or drinks.

Many people with hepatitis B do not know they have it, because they do not have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may just feel like you have the flu. Symptoms include:
# Feeling very tired.
# Mild fever.
# Headache.
# Not wanting to eat.
# Feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting.
# Belly pain.
# Diarrhea or constipation.
# Muscle aches and joint pain.
# Skin rash.
# Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice). Jaundice usually appears only after other symptoms have started to go away.
Most people with chronic hepatitis B have no symptoms.

A simple blood test can tell your  if you have the hepatitis B virus now.
The Home Bio Hepatitis B test is an easy to use, accurate and reliable assay that will detect antibodies to the hepatitis B virus present in whole blood, serum or plasma.
The test is easy to use and the result is available within minutes – in the privacy of your own home.
Our test kits are the same as those used by doctors and other healthcare professionals to screen for infection with hepatitis. The test is specific for hepatitis B and has an accuracy greater than 99.8%.
You simply prick your finger, using the lancet provided, and transfer a few drops of your blood to the test cassette with the dropper provided. The easy to read result will develop after ten minutes and you will learn your hepatitis B status.

Microbicide & Safe Sex (4)

Genital Warts

Genital warts (or Condylomata acuminata, venereal warts, anal warts and anogenital warts) is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease caused by some sub-types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
Genital warts are flesh-colored or gray growths found in the genital area and anal region in both men and women.

It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner.
Genital warts affect both men and women and can occur at any age.
Most patients with genital warts are between the ages of 17-33 years. Genital warts are highly contagious. There is around a 60% risk of getting the infection from a single sexual contact with someone who has genital warts.

Whilst of those infected with genital HPV it is estimated that only a "small percentage" (between 1% and 5%) develop genital warts, those infected can still transmit the virus. Other types of HPV also cause cervical cancer and probably most anal cancers, however it is important to underline that the types of HPV that cause the overwhelming majority of genital warts are not the same as those that can potentially increase the risk of genital or anal cancer.

Although genital warts are painless, they may be bothersome because of their location, size, or due to itching.

You can’t get genital warts from hugging, sharing baths or towels, from swimming pools, toilet seats, cups or cutlery.

Symptoms
Genital warts are usually painless and do not pose a serious threat to a person’s health. However, they can appear unsightly and cause psychological distress.

Microbicide & Safe Sex (3)

Chlamydia
Click here to learn about Chlamydia and click here to learn about Chlamydia Home Test.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus.
CMV is part of the herpes family of viruses. As with most other herpes-type viruses, once you are infected with CMV, it will remain inactive in your body for the rest of your life. CMV causes few symptoms in most people.

CMV is spread through bodily fluids, such as saliva and urine. It can be passed on through close bodily contact. For example, the infection can be found in small droplets of saliva which are spread from one person to another when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Unlike many viral infections, CMV usually causes few if any symptoms. Most people do not know they have (acquired) an infection.

The symptoms of cytomegalovirus (CMV) differ depending on whether you have:
- primary CMV - where someone develops a CMV infection for the first time
- re-infection with CMV - an infection with a different strain of virus
- reoccurring CMV - a previously inactive CMV infection is reactivated, often because the immune system (the body’s natural defence against infection and illness) is weakened
- congenital CMV - a CMV infection develops when a woman is pregnant and infects the unborn baby

Primary CMV
Most cases of primary CMV cause no noticeable symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they will be similar to flu symptoms and can include:
- a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
- extreme tiredness
- sore throat
- swollen glands
- muscle and joint pain
- loss of appetite

These symptoms should only last for a couple of weeks.

Microbicide & Safe Sex (2)

STD Risk of unsafe sex
Vaginal or anal intercourse without a condom and/or microbicide — high risk for passing:
- chancroid
- chlamydia
- cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- genital warts
- gonorrhea
- hepatitis B
- herpes
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- human papilloma virus (HPV)
- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- pubic lice
- scabies
- syphilis
- trichomoniasis

Oral sex without a condom — High risk for passing:
- CMV
- gonorrhea
- hepatitis B
- herpes
- syphilis

Gardnerella & Candidiasis (2)

What You Should Know About Candidiasis

Candidiasis, (commonly known by other names thrush, yeast infection, fungal infection) like diabetes, has been dubbed a 20th-century disease, proclaimed widespread and charged with causing complaints such as allergies, migraines, mental disorientation, bloating, skin complaints, and at their worse, organ failure and cancer.

Candidiasis, or yeast infection, is a stealthy attacker, in that it mimics symptoms of other illnesses and thus go unidentified as candida. That is the reason candida population can bloom in our bodies unchecked until it has proliferated well into every part of our system (systemic candida).

The problem with mainstream medical professionals is that a large number of them do not believe in the dangers posed by candida. Instead they treat the symptoms that manifest clearly – allergies, coughs, chronic bronchitis, and such, without knowing that the medications prescribed may actually make the yeast infection worse.

Take allergies for example. Allergies have mystified health practitioners for decades. And yet, although the candida-allergy connection had been discovered and confirmed by biological technologists and natural health therapists since the 1970s, it is yet to be a recognised branch in the study of conventional medicine. Research studies show that to control yeast infections would ultimately cure most allergies, because an uncontrolled growth of candida in our blood system is a major cause of allergic reactions to chemicals in our food, air and water.

Candida yeast are a normal component of healthy flora existing in our bodies. They are tiny, microscopic plants that love warm, dark and moist environment, and so seek places like the intestines, the walls of the vagina, and when systemic (all over our body) the blood vessel linings and mucous membranes of our organs. Because they are plants, candida yeast have roots, stem and foliage. They sink their roots into the mucous membranes of the body, which, to candida, are fertile soil.