Sexually transmitted infections:

Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Chlamydia

The third mission activities of the DMM:  Sexually transmitted infections: Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Chlamydia

These information materials were prepared for CA(S)PITA, a Health Humanities project linked to the topic of STIs, sex transmitted infections

The journey involved around fifteen people, actors and actresses even without experience, who participated in a series of theatrical meetings held by the Officine Arte Teatro association. Some professors from the Department of Molecular Medicine supervised the entire project and provided their advice, necessary to convey scientifically and medically correct messages. Enjoy the reading!

In this article: Gonorrhea – Syphilis – Chlamydia

GONORRHEA

How do you take me?

They are a venereal disease caused by a bug. I am passed through uncovered sexual intercourse, whether oral, vaginal or anal.

How do I manifest myself?

Immediately, in the days immediately following the uncovered sex.

I can take on different forms, also depending on the type of sex. Oral sex can cause a sore throat, often with mild and non specific symptoms. Following anal sex, I develop anal gonorrhea which, although usually hidden, can lead to purulent secretions, often accompanied by bleeding and wider lack of comfort.

The symptoms are more nuanced in women than in men. In men I sometimes manifest as a continuous and generally visible loss of purulent material from the urethral orifice. If not recognized quickly and treated, it can develop into epididymitis, that is, an inflammation that manifests itself with pain in the scrotum. If left untreated, it can even cause infertility.

In women I am seen by yellowish purulent discharge, pain when peeing and pelvic pain. If not recognized and treated, it can develop into a pelvic inflammatory disease with the risk of ectopic (extrauterine) pregnancies and infertility.

Although rarely (1-3% of cases), in both women and men I can present with arthritis that appears 2-4 weeks after unprotected intercourse. Arthritis presents with pain often present in the ankle, knee, wrist, elbow… in short, it can also manifest itself in places far from the genital system.

How do you cure me?

You can cure me very easily with drugs. The timing of treatment is key to avoid systemic damage. During therapy you must abstain from having sex until the end of treatment.

How do you prevent me?

Condoms, or dental dams in the case of oral sex, can lower my chance of passing it on. Laboratory PCR tests are available to reveal the presence of the infection.

SYPHILIS

How do you take me?

I am transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, whether oral, vaginal or anal, and through blood.

How do I manifest myself?

You see me in 3 different stages:

1. primary syphilis: I am characterized by generally painless ulceration defined as syphiloma. It is a lesion similar to a superficial laceration (for example like when you fall from your bike and scratch yourself on the asphalt, but very superficial and red). The lesion is hard to the touch. I appear early after sex, between ten and ninety days. They then disappear without warning, even if the disease progresses.

2. secondary syphilis: I appear weeks after primary syphilis and it is showing by pustules similar to chickenpox. Unlike chickenpox, the lesions called “syphilitic roseola” are also present on the palms of the hands and feet. It is possible to confuse these lesions for monkeypox.

3. tertiary syphilis: I can appear even many years later (from five to thirty years!) after secondary syphilis. Lesions affecting multiple organs, including the brain, are visible in me. My mental state is altered, and I also have memory problems and psychotic symptoms. If left untreated I can even be fatal.

They also exist in a latent form, in which there are no symptoms, but the person is still ill.

How do you cure me?

You can cure me effectively with antibiotics. The timing of treatment is essential to avoid systemic damage. Be careful because I have this peculiarity: a previous infection does not confer immunity, so I can infect you again in the event of a new exposure.

How do you prevent me?

Condoms, or dental dams in the case of oral sex, can lower my chance of passing it on. Laboratory PCR tests are available to reveal the presence of the infection.

For further information on our website

CHLAMYDIA

How do you take me?

They are an asexual illness brought on by a bug. Unprotected sexual contact, whether oral, vaginal, or anal, is how it is spread.

How do I manifest myself?

Good question! The symptoms are very subtle!

Here are my different personal manifestations…

Oral sex can cause a sore throat, often with mild and non specific symptoms.

Following anal sex I can cause itching, also purulent secretions may come with bleeding and wider lack of comfort.

In men I appear myself with urethritis and burning upon when peeing. If I am not treated it can lead to inflammation in some parts of the genital system (epididymis and prostate).

In women I often appear with varied and other different symptoms seen by discharge, pain when peeing, pelvic pain, pain during sexual contact and spotting (yellow/ brown/ pink discharge away from the period). If I am not recognized and treated, I can develop into pelvic inflammatory disease, with the risk of ectopic pregnancies and infertility.

Some of my sub types, mainly present in Africa and Asia, cause venereal lymphogranuloma, shown by a painful pelvic lesion which, if left untreated, can lead to the block of fluids in the tissues (due to the block of lymphatic drainage) up to weird swelling of the penis and of the scrotum in humans (elephantiasis).

How do you cure me?

You can cure me effectively with antibiotics. The timing of treatment is key to avoid systemic damage. You must abstain from sexual acts for up to one week after the end of treatment. Take caution, since you should also treat any sexual relations you had up to three months prior to the commencement of symptoms.

How do you prevent me?

Condoms, or dental dams in the case of oral sex, can lower my chance of catching it. Laboratory testing is used in detecting CT with high limit of detecting.