The United States has the dubious distinction of leading the industrialized world in overall rates of STIs, with 12 million new cases annually. About 3 million teenagers contract an STI each year, and many will have long-term health problems as a result. Women and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to these infections and their health consequences. This is why in this assignment we will discuss and explain the effects of STIs on reproductive organs and the community. STIs stands for sexually transmitted infections these are infections transmitted by either sexual contact, bacteria like Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis ,viruses like HIV/AIDS ,HSP ,cytomegalovirus and zika ,parasites like trichomonas or parasites like crab lice or scabies mites. “Transmitted” meaning that STI is passed from an infected person to another person.”Sex” means any sexual activity between two people in which the genital areas touch. In most cases STIs have an impact on reproductive organs of a human or an animal and these are described as parts found in reproductive or genital system and are responsible for producing the egg and sperm cells gametes (,and hormones) and also to ensure survival of the species. STIs have severe medical consequences including death. They can have impact on a person only and also on the community as well, the following are the effects of how STIs affect reproductive organs and the community: In reproductive organs of both sexes STIs can cause an abdominal genital discharge (which is an unusual discharge from the vagina in women or penis in men), burning with urination and rectal discharge and also bleeding. As for bleeding in women, it causes them to bleed between their periods. In reproductive organs of both sexes, they cause sores on the vagina or penis, (syphilis) which is a painless open sore. If it is not treated quickly it can cause more advanced stages that include short-term rash. As shown in the picture below:
In female reproductive organs, they can cause an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes and many other reproductive organs which cause lower belly pain. According to Janet. D .W (1995)”less than 1% cases of PID result from extension of inflammation from another pelvic organ, usually the appendix”. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), this is an infection of the fallopian tubes and many other reproductive organs. In female reproductive organs, micro-organisms can travel upward from her cervix or vagina to other reproductive organs causing them to be infected as well. They can also cause scar tissue on the fallopian tubes that blocks the pathway of the egg released from the ovary, preventing natural pregnancy and causing infertility. The following is an example of an infected tube: In male reproductive organs, they cause swelling in one or both testis. As shown in the picture below:
In reproductive organs of both sexes they can cause genital warts which are warts in the genital area ad around the anus of infected men and women. They may itch, in women they may lead to bleeding and usual liquid or thick discharge from the vagina.
In the community, STIs cause poverty and marginalization. STIs disproportionately affect disadvantaged people and people in social networks where high- risks sexual behavior in common and either access to care or health-seeking behavior is compromised.
In the community, STIs can also have severe social and economic consequences. Women especially in developing countries may be blamed for an STI or resulting infertility. This may lead to violence, abandonment or divorce. STIs can also result in lost work time due to illness. In the community, STIs like HIV cause parents and family members to fall ill, so children have to take on more responsibility to earn an income, produce food and care for family members. In parts of Africa, often both parents are HIV positive, which means that more children have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa than anywhere else in the world which reduces social progress of the community.