DANGEROUS SIGNS: HOW TO RECOGNIZE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN TIME

Together with an expert from the National Medical Research Radiological Centre, Doctor of Medical Sciences Olga Trushina — Head of the Reproductive Technologies Group at the N. Lopatkin Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology — we continue our discussion about the risks and consequences of sexually transmitted infections for men’s and women’s health.

What should you pay attention to first? In women, alarm bells should be triggered by lower abdominal pain combined with a fever, unusual discharge with an unpleasant odor, and any bleeding unrelated to the menstrual cycle. Itching and burning in the genital area, pain during urination, any ulcers, rashes, blisters, or unusual growths in the intimate zone should also raise concern. You shouldn’t wait for things to ‘go away on their own’, because a painless ulcer may be a sign of a serious condition that requires treatment. Enlarged, painful lymph nodes in the groin or pain in the right hypochondrium combined with gynecological complaints are also warning signs — you should not delay seeing a doctor.

Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. According to experts, more than 80 % of women and men will encounter it at some point in their lives. Over the past decades, the number of people infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) worldwide has increased more than tenfold. HPV is a proven factor in the development of cervical cancer. In recent years, there has been a clear rise in the number of affected women under 40, especially among those under 29, indicating a trend towards the disease affecting younger women.

It is important to understand that a man can be a carrier of the virus, while HPV‑related cancers can develop in both men and women. Therefore, preventive measures, early diagnosis, and effective treatment are of paramount importance in HPV prevention. If necessary, these should include examination and treatment of both partners to prevent reinfection.

Timely diagnosis, a calm and responsible attitude towards your own health, and mandatory treatment of both partners can prevent the serious consequences that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may cause.