Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases)

Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a

So your teen is sexually active?...The hidden dangers of being unprotected...

What I would like to write about today is a sexually transmitted disease called Trichomoniasis...

This is one of the most common STD...This infection is also called trich which is what I will call it from now on... It is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis... this STD affects both men and women but ladies you are more likely to get symptoms...

Unprotected sexual activity is the main way this STD is transferred...Either through either through male to female sexual activity or female to female sexual activity as long as one of the partners are infected this will be tranferred...With this STD the trich protozoa can live for up to 45 minutes outside of the body so bedding towels and other material things can easily transfer this STD...This is not the most common way to get this but...

If men do contract this there is usually no signs for them but if there is it can be a burning feeling when going to the toilet and some irratation of the penis..Even a thin whitish discharge...Whereas women usually do show signs and symptoms of this STD...These will be a smelly yellow green discharge, itchiness around the thighs and genital area, swelling in the genital area...There can be pain during intimate relations and when going to the toilet...This STD is offen mistaken by alot of women as a common yeast infection and therefore it is treated with the wrong treatment..Some women even get whats called strawberry cervix with this STD and that is when there is lesions that give the appearance of redness...

A course of antibiotics is used to treat Trichomoniasis and this has up to a 95% success rate...This treatment will treat the STD but will not reverse any damage already done...

If this STD is left untreated it can cause other problems...People can live with this for years but when they do it leaves damage to the bladder and also the prostate...For women also there can be damage to the tubes and also the cervix...

If the person has a low immune system or even a weaker one then they are more likely to get this STD...trich is also associated with chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV infections...

Pretty much again the only way to avoid this is to not have intimate relations or to use a condom...Condoms to reduce the risk of getting this STD alot...I really think that testing your prospective partner to get a clear bill of health before intimate realtions start is the best way for anyone to protect themselves from STD's...ASnother thought on this one is the avoidance of using other peoples towels and going for a shower after swimming..Also avoiding tightly woven underwear that is nylon too as this can make a nice warm place for the bacteria to thrive nicely...

This is just one of the STD's that we need to teach our children about when they do make the decision they are ready to take the next step...We need to open the lines of communication with our kids so we have the relationship we need to have for being able to discuss topics such as this...Thanks for taking the time to read this...

This is just my thoughts on this subject I wanted to share with you all....
Have a great day
Cheers
Angie