HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus is a retroviral agent that causes the immune system of the body to weaken and lead to cause the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is now treatable. Research is being conducted all over the world to formulate a targeted drug therapy for combating this life-threatening disease. No vaccine is available, which renders the world population highly susceptible to contract the infection.

HIV infection spreads from an infected person through contact with certain bodily fluids like blood and semen. Spread from one human being to another is called as transmission of HIV. Mother to child transmission, i.e. perinatal transmission is also common. Healthcare and hospital staff are at a great risk of occupational transmission. Other causes of transmission include sharing intravenous drug equipment, needle prick injury, organ transplantation and artificial insemination. Since vaccination and targeted drug therapy for remission are not available, prevention strategies play an important role in curbing the spread of infection.

A three-level prevention strategy is implemented for HIV infection.

Primary prevention- Activities that focus on prevention of uninfected people being infected.
Secondary prevention- Aimed at the provision of proper health care and behavioral facilities for HIV infected people like lifestyle changes, welfare rights advice, anti-discrimination measures.
Tertiary prevention- Aimed at minimizing the symptoms of an infected person; includes the provision of prophylactic drugs and complementary therapies.
The risk avoidance approach for transmission of HIV infection includes certain measures like practicing mutual monogamy & delayed sexual activity in the young population. Safe and appropriate use of syringes and needles is advised. Unnecessary blood transfusions should be completely avoided. Routine screening of HIV antibody should be done.

Risk reduction approach propagates the mandatory use of condoms during sexual intercourse. Sexually transmitted diseases should be treated to avoid the risk of transmitting infection. Sterile syringes should be used. If blood transfusion is necessary, then blood transfused should be evaluated well to meet the quality standards.

If HIV infection is suspected, anti-retroviral drug therapy should be started.
The only universally approved method of HIV transmission during sexual activity is the use of condoms.
Pharmaceutical methods for prevention and treatment include antibiotic drug therapy for sexually transmitted diseases, anti-retroviral drugs for infected individuals, pre and post-exposure prophylaxis and use of low space dead syringes.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is advised for people who are at a higher than average risk of contracting the infection.
Drug therapy consisting of a combination of Tenofovir and Emtricitabine is prescribed, one per day.
Visit the physician at regular intervals and routine screening is done. Post-exposure prophylaxis is considered to be effective if the treatment is started within an hour of exposure, to effectively reduce the risk of seroconversion. A drug combination of Emtricitabine, Tenofovir and Raltegravir is given.
Social initiatives are undertaken to spread awareness and educate people regarding AIDS. Behavioral change and acceptance of social message is necessary to benefit from the social initiatives. Sex education, LGBT sex education and awareness, safe injection use programs, needle exchange programs, safe sex practice education are some social strategies implemented.
Prevention of transmission of HIV from mothers to children involves anti-retroviral drug therapy during pregnancy and post birth in the newborn child. Breastfeeding is avoided and bottle feeding is advised.

HIV Transmission - How Can It Be Prevented?

Chlamydia is one of the more common STDs among both the genders. It spreads through physical intimate contact; it can develop irrespective of one s age, however, is most commonly observed among young women. In women, the symptoms include yellow or green colored odorous vaginal discharge, painful urination and a burning sensation or itching around the vagina, lower abdominal ache, painful menstruation or bleeding during sexual intercourse. Now if the infection reaches up to the fallopian tubes, it causes a disease known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). In case of unprotected oral sex, the bacteria causing this disorder,  Chlamydia Trachomatis  might infect the throat as well.

Reasons Behind Chlamydia in Women:

Being a sexually transmitted disease, Chlamydia gets passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex or through the contact with the genitals of an infected person.

In some cases, infants are likely to inherit the disease from their mothers during birth, if she is already affected with it. Hence pre-natal checkups are essential for detection.

Although very rare, this infection can affect the eyes as well via oral or genital contact.

How To Treat Chlamydia?

The infection can be resolved within a couple of weeks with the use of antibiotics. Once it is diagnosed, the treatment course should start immediately. The widely used antibiotics for curing chlamydia are azithromycin and doxycycline. If you are breastfeeding or pregnant or suffering from any allergy, your doctor might prescribe erythromycin or amoxicillin. For severe complications, a longer course is administered. The treatment may induce mild side-effects in the form of vaginal thrush, sickness, diarrhea and tummy pain.

Try and avoid any sort of sexual activity (intercourse or other activities) till the treatment is completely done and none of you show any other sign of the infection.

Chlamydia - Reasons Why it Affects Women

Physical intimacy between couples can be something that can never be judged based on their relation. Many factors can hamper the satisfaction of the people involved, and you would have said that at least one point of time in your life that the zest has fiddled out. Do not fret as you are not alone. You are voicing something which billions of couples would have expressed at some point in time in their life. In a long-term relationship, the partners can almost complain about the same things which they believe is needed to make their physical intimacy to work out even more.

There are enough diseases and infections related to sex that can physically veer a couple from having a healthy intimacy. Add to that; there are many psychological parts too that can hamper a robust and active sexual life. Thanks to the times we live in almost all the sexual diseases and infections can be treated and kept at bay. However, the psychological imbalances have to be adequately addressed and channeled using the right medium. It can be very beneficial to consult a sex therapist for the underlying problems and more often it can be better if the sessions are had as a couple. Let us look at a few of the symptoms that can lead to issues in bed:

Laziness: The intimacy cannot have the desired result if you find that if you or partner is lagging in the enthusiasm. Boredom can easily set in, and this can easily have an effect on how physical you are. Talk this out with a therapist and try to look for ways in which the laziness and the routine can be reduced.
Body Image: It is true that a body image can be one of the factors for a good sex life, but as we age we tend to get loose and do not make an effort to keep our body fit. This, in turn, can affect the intimacy has the partners can lose interest in each other as a couple. Have a healthy lifestyle and stay away from foods that can hamper your wellbeing. Exercise regularly and keep surprising each other.
Exhaustion and Stress: Needless to say this one factor and the modern times have been the main culprit for making you have issues in bed. Our work nature has forced to work 24/7 sometimes leaving us little time for other crucial intricacies of life. This has left us with a void and has made a dent in our space and the way we react to a sexual urge. The only way by which this can be minimized is by having a good work life balance and by giving the needed importance to the relationship. Remember that your work is not important than your physical well-being, and if your nature of the work is the cause of your ailments, then it is high time you think about changing it.
Communicate: More importantly, talk to a counselor about the problem you face and about your anxiety levels. Try having an open communication between you and your spouse and know your interest quotients. It is not wrong to appraise each other as far as physical intimacy s concerned. Remember that an open mind is always the fostering channel for dissolving the issues in bed.

Are You Having Issues In Sex Life? Know The Possible Reasons Behind It!

Infertility is a very common problem among both men and women and it refers to the inability to conceive even after regular unprotected sex. The causes of this can be varied and some of the most prominent ones are:

Causes in Women:

1. Polycystic ovarian syndrome

PCOS is a medical condition in women in which they do not ovulate. It is a major cause of infertility in most women. It can often result in irregular menstruation and an increase in the release of male hormones in the female body. This causes male symptoms like the growth of a beard, hoarse voice etc. in females. The probable causes of this condition comprise being over or under weight, thyroid imbalance etc. It is possible to treat this condition with medical aid and weight management can also prove to be helpful.

2. Lack of sufficient healthy eggs

As you grow in age, the number and health of your eggs decline significantly. This could be a possible reason for your infertility. In this condition, optimizing egg health by maintaining a healthy weight and quitting alcohol and cigarettes can help you get rid of your infertility.

3. Blockage of the fallopian tubes

Blockage of or damage to the fallopian tubes causes the tubal factor that is responsible for infertility in women. The tubal factor can also be a result of endometriosis or any sexually transmitted disease like Chlamydia etc.

Causes in Men:

1. Ejaculatory disorders

Retrograde ejaculation, premature ejaculation, and other issues associated with ejaculation may cause infertility in men. In retrograde ejaculation, the semen enters the bladder instead of emerging out of the penis during orgasm. In premature ejaculation, the ejaculation occurs before the vagina is prepared to receive the semen.

2. Chromosome defects

Disorders like Klinefelter's syndrome can cause abnormal growth of the male reproductive organs resulting in infertility. Other such syndromes include Kallmann's syndrome, Karatagener's syndrome, cystic fibrosis etc. These conditions are mostly genetic.

3. Hormonal imbalance

Male infertility can also be a result of hormonal imbalances like hypogonadism (low testosterone levels), disorders of the testicles, abnormal functioning of the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and the other glands as well.

6 Common Causes of Infertility That are also Curable

While catching a cold is not something you can easily prevent, you can protect yourself against STDs or sexually transmitted diseases. STDs can be defined as diseases that are transmitted through any form of sexual activity that involves the mouth, vagina, penis or anus. While some STDs can be cured with antibiotics, others like HIV cannot be treated. In order to protect yourself from STDs it is essential to know how you can get them and how they can be treated.

Unprotected intercourse which involves the exchange of body fluids is the easiest way to catch an STD. Thus, a person can get infected with an STD virus like herpes even through oral sex. While pills can pregnancy, only a condom can prevent the transmission of STDs from one person to another. Ensure that if you use a lubricant with the condom, it is water based and not oil based. If you have a sexual relationship with more than one person it is a good idea for both you and your partner to get checked for STDs at regular intervals. Diseases like syphilis can also spread from one person to another through prolonged kissing if an individual has sores around the lips or inside their mouth.

Some STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy. Hence, checking for STDs is an essential test before trying to conceive a child. Some STDs like HIV and Hepatitis can also be spread through infected needles or tattoo equipment that has not been sterilized.

The earlier a STD is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. Some of the symptoms to watch out for are:

Rash and yellowing of the skin
Pain while urinating
Bumps, sores, warts, swelling or redness along with itching around the mouth, vagina, penis or anus
Weight loss
Pain during intercourse
Discharge from the vagina or penis
Most STDs can be treated with antibiotics. However, HIV and Hepatitis cannot be cured but can only be managed through medication. It is important that these antibiotics be taken regularly even if the visible symptoms disappear. It is also important not to share this medication with anyone. In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe medication for your partner to prevent further transmission of the disease. While on medication, it is important to abstain from any sort of sexual activity until your doctor says it is alright to do so.

What You Need to Know About STDs - How You Get Them and Treat Them?

Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and doesn't have any defined symptoms and hence, most people who suffer from it are not even aware of their status. Of all the sexually transmitted diseases, Chlamydia is the most common.

And, since it doesn't have any defined symptoms, it is transmitted unknowingly from one person to another. Chlamydia can also be passed on from mother to child, if the mother suffers from Chlamydia while she is pregnant. Here are a few things you should know about this sexually transmitted disease. 
Symptoms
Symptoms of Chlamydia are noticeable within 1-3 weeks of unprotected intercourse. The symptoms of Chlamydia are different in men and women. 

Symptoms in men
-    Clear or cloudy discharge from the penis
-    Painful urination
-    Burning and itching around the penis head
-    Painful swelling of the testicles

Symptoms in women
-    Abnormal vaginal discharge
-    Painful menstruation
-    Bleeding between menstrual cycles
-    Abdominal pain and fever
-    Painful urination
-    Itching and burning around vagina
-    Pain during intercourse

A simple urine test or lab test can be used to diagnose Chlamydia. For the lab test, the doctor will take a sample swab from a man's urethra or a woman's cervix. 
Once diagnosed, Chlamydia can be easily treated. In most cases, oral antibiotics will cure the patient in a week or two. It is important to complete the antibiotic course even if the symptoms disappear early. In some cases, women with severe Chlamydia may need to be hospitalized for intravenous treatment. 
With Chlamydia, it is important not only for you to get yourself treated, but to also get your partner treated. This will eliminate the chances of the disease recurring. You must also test yourself after three months to ensure that the disease has been completely cured. 
Chlamydia can affect your health badly, if left untreated. It can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which may make the woman infertile by affecting her fallopian tubes. It could also increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy and premature birth. Further, remember that Chlamydia can also be passed on from mother to child if left untreated. This can cause the newborn to have an eye infection or pneumonia at the time of birth. If left untreated in men, Chlamydia can cause nongonococcal urethritis, epididymitis and proctitis. The first is an infection of the urethra; the second, an infection of the tube that carries the sperm from the testis and the third is an inflammation of the rectum. 
Like all STDs, Chlamydia can be prevented by the use of a condom and fidelity between sexual partners.

A Guide To Chlamydia

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