Sexually transmitted infections come in different categories, which makes them act differently, so we treat them differently. STIs can have a profound effect on the health of individuals and communities. Some are curable, others are treatable, and I’ll be breaking all that down here.
First let’s talk bacteria.
Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms, single-cell organisms that lack nuclei. Bacteria have no nuclear membrane, no mitochondria, and reproduce asexually. In contrast with viruses, they do not have to take over a cell to infect you.
When bacteria conjugate, they simply transfer DNA between two cells. No flowers, fancy dinner or dancing going on here. Bacteria can survive on the most inhospitable of surfaces. They can form groups and communities where they encase themselves in a slimy polymer matrix, called a biofilm.
Bacteria are found everywhere, thriving even in the harshest environments, from hydrothermal undersea vents to frozen Antarctic tundra. They can certainly survive inside the wet, warm, mucous-laden, 98-degree petri dish you call your body.
As our primary bacterial antagonists we have chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the US, infecting over 1.5 million of us annually. It’s curable, with a but. Researchers at the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute discovered that antibiotics can cure it genitally, but it can survive inside the GI tract, waiting to reinfect. So if you find you chlamydia has come back, wait before accusing your partner of stepping out again.
While antbiotics have been the standard cure for bacterial infections, we’re now seeing a strain f medication-resistant gonorrhea. We’re hoping this won’t be the next superbug. Gonorrhea forever does not sound fun.
Viruses
Viruses cannot do anything alone — talk about codependent! They can’t reproduce on their own. They have to get into our body and take over a cell. The virus comes armed with its own genetic material in the form of viral DNA or RNA.
Viruses enter our bodies through our eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, penis or rectum. There are many types of viruses, and these infect every type of life form on earth. A virus that infects your dog is not likely to make you sick. Viruses can adapt, change or mutate to be able to infect another host. Usually it’s one virus and one host. A virus is usually made of genetic material (DNA or RNA), a protective protein shell and a fatty envelope (like a cell barrier).
Once a virus gets into a cell, it uploads its DNA or RNA and tells the cell to follow its directions and make the parts necessary for the virus to survive. Then the new viruses escape the cell, killing it, and they seek out new cells to infect. It’s a hostile takeover of your body’s cells.
Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. They can travel in bodily fluids, breast milk, sputum, blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, preseminal fluids, spit and even snot. Yes, that greenish-yellowish paste that we sometimes find in our noses can carry certain viruses, though not the STIs we’re discussing. Think Covid, the other ‘C’ word.
Our bodies react to viruses protectively. Once the body discovers a viral infection it raises its temperature to destroy the virus, and makes your eyes and nose run to flush out trapped viral particles.
Viral STIs are different, first in that antibiotics can’t touch them. Some have been known to go away on their own, like human papilloma virus (HPV), but that’s not the rule.
HSV, HPV, Hep B and C
There are vaccines for HPV and Hepatitis B, meaning they can be prevented — well, Hep B anyway. The HPV vaccine protects a person from developing cancer later in life if they have been exposed.
There is now a solid cure for Hepatitis C, an eight- to twelve-week course of medication that works well, without the side-effects of the former “cure,” interferon.
We have treatment options for herpes simplex virus (HSV) I and II, antiretroviral medications that can help suppress the viruses in the body.
In Part 2 next month: Parasites,Fungi and Prevention
Hedda Fay, the Community Outreach and Program Manager of Northland Cares, answers your questions about sex and sexual health.
