Sexual diseases of men: what are they and what symptoms do they present?

08/28/2021 1:01 AM

• Clarín.com

• Relations

Updated 08/28/2021 1:01 AM

The

sexual diseases

of man are

increasing alarmingly

.

According to data from international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, these types of diseases have registered a worrying increase in recent years.

There are several factors that could explain this growth.

In the first place,

formal sex education

, which is still

deficient

despite the fact that the subject is already included in the curricula of educational establishments.

Second, the

lack of communication

between those who have sexual encounters: in general, out of shame, many avoid talking about how to have safe sex or do not inform their partner if they have had any type of sexually transmitted diseases.

Third, a

low perception of risks

when having sexual encounters, which translates into little use of condoms, especially within the young population, which is the one that has the most sexual encounters and with multiple partners.

Relaxation in behaviors and care has been increasing since science managed to develop treatments for the chronification of human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV).

Added to this is the fact that, according to specialists, some films, especially pornographic ones, have installed the

erroneous idea

that sexual pleasure is greater without condoms.

With advances in HIV treatments, sexual care was relaxed.

Man's sexual diseases: what are they and what symptoms do they present?

Bacteria, viruses and parasites are transmitted through sexual activity (through muco-cutaneous, cutaneous-cutaneous or fluid contact, such as semen or vaginal discharge) and cause a variety of clinical syndromes and infections.

"The so-called

sexually transmitted diseases

are not exclusive to the male gender

: regardless of gender, men and women acquire these pathogens and, in turn, transmit them. Each sex and its partner, however, affects differently and in different places in the body, "says urologist and andrologist

Jonathan Finkelstein

, director of the Men's Health Center.

Testicles, urethra, skin and epididymis

are the areas where they usually appear.

"In men, the quality of life is affected by sexual diseases. These can, in addition to leaving scars at the anatomical level, chronic pain and alterations in the urinary tract, affect fertile potential," says Finkelstein.

In men, the

symptoms

of sexual diseases can be mild, moderate, or severe.

But it is also possible that they do not have any symptoms: the infection can be asymptomatic and still transmit the pathogens to other people.

If there are symptoms, these may include: purulent or mucopurulent mucous discharge from the penis, warts in the genital area, burning, urethral itching, and painful urination.

There is a misconception that sexual pleasure is greater without a condom.

Also, there may be fever, pain, or increased testicular or epididymal tenderness (epididymitis is a clinical syndrome consisting of pain, swelling, and inflammation of the epididymis).

Sometimes the testicle is also involved, a condition known as epididymo-orchitis.

Some of these

diseases

are the following:

Syphilis.

Caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, this disease is spread through sexual contact with someone who has it.

It infects the genital area, lips, mouth, or anus.

In its initial stage, a single, small, painless ulcer appears.

Sometimes it causes swelling in nearby lymph nodes.

Penicillin G, administered parenterally, is the drug of choice to treat it.

Within the

urethritis

, which are characterized by urethral inflammation, are

gonorrhea

(caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae),

chlamydia

(caused by Chlamydia trachomatis),

mycoplasma

and

trichomonas

.

To minimize transmission and reinfection, men should be instructed to refrain from sexual intercourse until they and their partner (s) have been treated appropriately.

Hepatitis A, B, and C

affect the liver and are transmitted by percutaneous or mucous membrane exposure to infected blood or body fluids that contain the virus.

Although several forms of transmission, hepatitis A can be passed from person to person during sexual intercourse through oral-rectal contact.

Hepatitis B is transmitted by the contact of mucous membranes or the bloodstream with blood or different body fluids that have the virus of the Hepadnaviridae family.

The C, generally, through the blood when sharing needles, syringes or sharps with infected people.

The virus that causes this liver infection cannot be cured, but medication can lessen your symptoms.

The

human papilloma virus

(HPV or HPV, in English) is included within the diseases characterized by genital ulcers.

"HPV is routinely associated with women and its incidence in uterine cancer. However, men are making more and more inquiries about genital warts. In men, HPV is closely related to cancer of the uterus. penis, "says Finkelstein (@salud_del_varon).

Chancre (small painless lesion) is the first manifestation of syphilis.

There are two types of viruses that can cause genital herpes:

HSV-1

and

HSV-2

. About 100 types of human papillomavirus infection have been identified. Of these, about forty can infect the genital area with genital warts. The lesions begin as vesicles or blisters on the skin, which can become very painful. Genital warts can develop months or years after you have it.

The types of

HPV that cause genital warts

can be passed to another person, even in the absence of visible signs of warts.

Most men with HSV-2 have not been diagnosed.

Many of them have mild or unrecognized infections, but shed the virus intermittently.

Genital herpes is a chronic viral infection;

that is, it is for life.

Antiviral treatment does not eradicate latent virus or affect the risk, frequency, or severity of recurrences after stopping the drug.

The appearance of warts can cause a lot of distress.

The goal of treatment is the removal of warts through creams, acids, cryotherapy, electrofulguration, resection, and laser treatment.

The duration of viral persistence after warts have resolved, however, is unknown.

There is a

vaccine

to prevent HPV and it is on the vaccination schedule.

"It is key that the men who are within the application group do so if they have not yet applied it," concludes Finkelstein.

Look also

Sexual frequency: the importance of debunking myths and mandates

What is coitocentrism: there is sex beyond penetration

Make sure your daughter knows the difference between her vagina and her vulva