Sexual Health

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted disease, with three typical stages of infection – acute infection, chronic infection, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Symptoms differ depending on the stage of infection. Acute HIV InfectionThe initial phase of acute HIV infection is when HIV is most infectious (1), even though many individuals are unaware […]

Chimpanzees as the source of HIV-1Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) shares many similarities with Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), which is a virus that attacks the immune systems of monkeys and apes. Researchers discovered a strain of SIV, called SIVcpz, in a chimpanzee that is almost identical to HIV-1 in humans (1). It is believed that this

The most common way that hepatitis C is transmitted is through sharing needles. Other potential sources of infection include at birth (~6% of infants of infected mothers), sexual intercourse (rare but more common in men who have sex with men), healthcare exposures, blood transfusions and organ transplants (now very uncommon), unregulated tattoos or body piercings,

Syphilis a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. It has been called “The Great Pretender”, as symptoms can resemble other diseases. If syphilis is untreated it can cause serious health complications. There are distinct stages of a syphilis infection, known as primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Primary stageA skin lesion, called a chancre, is

What is chlamydia?Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is spread through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected individual. Chlamydia can also be transmitted from a mother with an untreated cervical infection to her newborn during childbirth (1). What causes chlamydia?Chlamydia is caused by infection with the

Syphilis a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. It is primarily transmitted during sexual contact or during pregnancy from an infected mother to her infant. It has been called “The Great Pretender”, as symptoms can resemble other diseases. If syphilis is untreated it can cause serious health complications. Penicillin G is the preferred drug

Syphilis a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. It has been called “The Great Pretender”, as symptoms can resemble other diseases. Syphilis during pregnancy is associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death shortly after delivery in up to 40% of cases (1). Congenital syphilis occurs when an infected pregnant woman passes syphilis to her

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by infection with the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is transmitted through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected individual. It can also be transmitted from a mother with an untreated chlamydial cervical infection to her newborn during childbirth (1).  Chlamydial infections

What does a positive hepatitis C antibody test mean? A positive result on a hepatitis C antibody test indicates that hepatitis C antibodies were detected in the specimen tested. This result is consistent with a current infection, or a past infection that has resolved, or a biologic false positivity for hepatitis C antibody (1). What are the