Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria. Common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge that often smells like fish. The discharge is usually white or gray in color. Burning with urination may occur. Itching is uncommon. Occasionally,there may be no symptoms. Having BV approximately doubles the risk of infection by a number of sexually transmitted infections,including HIV/AIDS. It also increases the risk of early delivery among pregnant women.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted,small and pathogenic bacterium that lives on the mucous epithelial cells of the urinary and genital tracts in humans. Medical reports published in 2007 and 2015 state that Mgen is becoming increasingly common. Resistance to multiple antibiotics,including the macrolide azithromycin,which until recently was the most reliable treatment,is becoming prevalent. The bacteria was first isolated from the urogenital tract of humans in 1981,and was eventually identified as a new species of Mycoplasma in 1983. It can cause negative health effects in men and women. It also increases the risk factor for HIV spread with higher occurrences in those previously treated with the azithromycin antibiotics.
Human papillomavirus infection is caused by a DNA virus from the Papillomaviridae family. Many HPV infections cause no symptoms and 90% resolve spontaneously within two years. In some cases,an HPV infection persists and results in either warts or precancerous lesions. These lesions,depending on the site affected,increase the risk of cancer of the cervix,vulva,vagina,penis,anus,mouth,tonsils,or throat. Nearly all cervical cancer is due to HPV,and two strains –HPV16 and HPV18 –account for 70% of all cases. HPV16 is responsible for almost 90% of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers. Between 60% and 90% of the other cancers listed above are also linked to HPV. HPV6 and HPV11 are common causes of genital warts and laryngeal papillomatosis.
Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that,like the other members of the class Mollicutes,lack a cell wall around their cell membranes. Peptidoglycan (murein) is absent. This characteristic makes them naturally resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. They can be parasitic or saprotrophic. Several species are pathogenic in humans,including M. pneumoniae,which is an important cause of "walking" pneumonia and other respiratory disorders,and M. genitalium,which is believed to be involved in pelvic inflammatory diseases. Mycoplasma species are among the smallest organisms yet discovered,can survive without oxygen,and come in various shapes. For example,M. genitalium is flask-shaped,while M. pneumoniae is more elongated,many Mycoplasma species are coccoid. Hundreds of Mycoplasma species infect animals.
Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is inflammation of the urethra that is not caused by gonorrheal infection.
Mycoplasma hominis is a species of bacteria in the genus Mycoplasma. M. hominis has the ability to penetrate the interior of human cells. Along with ureaplasmas,mycoplasmas are the smallest free-living organisms known.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) refers to all men who engage in sexual activity with other men,regardless of their sexual orientation or sexual identity. The term was created by epidemiologists in the 1990s,to better study and communicate the spread of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS between all sexually active males,not strictly those identifying as gay,bisexual,pansexual or various other sexualities,but also for example male prostitutes. The term is often used in medical literature and social research to describe such men as a group. It does not describe any specific kind of sexual activity,and which activities are covered by the term depends on context. An alternative term,males who have sex with males is sometimes considered more accurate in cases where those described may not be legal adults.
Mycoplasmataceae is a family of bacteria in the order Mycoplasmatales. This family consists of the genera Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma.
Bareback sex is physical sexual activity,especially sexual penetration,without the use of a condom. The topic primarily concerns anal sex between men without the use of a condom,and may be distinguished from unprotected sex because bareback sex denotes the deliberate act of forgoing condom use.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Available HPV vaccines protect against either two,four,or nine types of HPV. All HPV vaccines protect against at least HPV types 16 and 18,which cause the greatest risk of cervical cancer. It is estimated that HPV vaccines may prevent 70% of cervical cancer,80% of anal cancer,60% of vaginal cancer,40% of vulvar cancer,and show more than 90% efficacy in preventing HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers. They additionally prevent some genital warts,with the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines that protect against HPV types HPV-6 and HPV-11 providing greater protection.
Women who have sex with women (WSW) are women who engage in sexual activities with women,whether they identify as straight,lesbian,bisexual,pansexual,have other sexualities,or dispense with sexual identification altogether. The term WSW is often used in medical literature to describe such women as a group for clinical study,without needing to consider sexual self-identity.
A sexually transmitted infection (STI),also referred to as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and the older term venereal disease (VD),is an infection that is spread by sexual activity,especially vaginal intercourse,anal sex,oral sex,or sometimes manual sex. STIs often do not initially cause symptoms,which results in a risk of passing the infection on to others. Symptoms and signs of STIs may include vaginal discharge,penile discharge,ulcers on or around the genitals,and pelvic pain. Some STIs can cause infertility.
HIV/AIDS in Eswatini was first reported in 1986 but has since reached epidemic proportions. As of 2016,Eswatini had the highest prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 in the world (27.2%).
An anal Pap smear is the anal counterpart of the cervical Pap smear. It is used for the early detection of anal cancer. Some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause anal cancer. Other HPV types cause anogenital warts. Cigarette smokers,men who have sex with men,individuals with a history of immunosuppression and women with a history of cervical,vaginal and vulval cancer are at increased risk of getting anal cancer. Vaccination against HPV before initial sexual exposure can reduce the risk of anal cancer.
HIV prevention refers to practices that aim to prevent the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV prevention practices may be undertaken by individuals to protect their own health and the health of those in their community,or may be instituted by governments and community-based organizations as public health policies.
Non-consensual condom removal,or "stealthing",is the practice of a person removing a condom during sexual intercourse without consent,when their sex partner has only consented to condom-protected sex. Purposefully damaging a condom before or during intercourse may also be referred to as stealthing,regardless of who damaged the condom.
Elizabeth Anne Bukusi FAAS is a research professor working within the field of obstetrics and gynaecology,and global health. Bukusi's main areas of research focus around sexually transmitted infections,women's health,reproductive health,and HIV care,prevention and treatment. Bukusi is the Chief Research Officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and led a "landmark" study on the use of PrEP in Kenya.
Jeanne Marisa Marrazzo is an American physician-scientist and infectious diseases specialist. She was the director of the University of Alabama School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases and focused on prevention of HIV infection using biomedical interventions. Marrazzo is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and Infectious Disease Society of America. On August 2,2023 Lawrence A. Tabak,acting director for the National Institutes of Health (NIH),named Jeanne M. Marrazzo as director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) is a message used in HIV campaigns. It means that if someone has an undetectable viral load,they cannot sexually transmit HIV to others. U=U is supported by numerous health groups and organisations worldwide,including the World Health Organization (WHO). The validity of U=U has been proven through many clinical trials involving thousands of couples. U=U is also used as an HIV prevention strategy:if someone is undetectable,they cannot pass it further and hence,prevent the virus from spreading. This is known as Treatment as Prevention (TasP).
