We know, for example, that gonorrhea passed from cattle to humans. Syphilis also came to humans from cattle or sheep many centuries ago, possibly sexually. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are usually acquired through sexual contact. The bacteria, viruses, or parasites that cause STDs can be transmitted from one person to another through blood, semen, or vaginal fluids and other body fluids. In medieval times, syphilis and gonorrhea were two of the most prevalent STDs in Europe.
One theory suggests that syphilis was transmitted by crew members who contracted the disease on trips taken by Christopher Columbus. It is believed that they contracted syphilis while in the Americas and then transmitted it upon their return when they docked at ports in Europe. Sailors are also believed to be responsible for the spread of gonorrhea from Tahiti to New Zealand during Cook's voyages. But it does tell us much more about human history and can give us an idea of how exposure to diseases has shaped human evolution. STDs have existed since the dawn of humanity.
Herpes may have first infected our ancestors more than a million years ago. Syphilis has existed since at least the Middle Ages. STDs may be what encouraged humans to maintain monogamous couples. People with HIV are more likely to transmit HIV when they have urethritis or a genital ulcer.4, 5 When a person with HIV contracts another STD, such as gonorrhea or syphilis, this suggests that they were having sex without using condoms. If so, they may have infected their partners with HIV.
Antiretroviral treatment for HIV can prevent HIV transmission even from people who have other STDs.6STDs are infections that are transmitted from one person to another, usually during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. They're very common and many people who have them don't have any symptoms. Without treatment, STDs can cause serious health problems. But the good news is that getting tested isn't a big deal and most STDs are easy to treat. There's nothing like enjoying sex without worrying about STDs or pregnancy.
Using condoms, talking openly with your partner, and getting tested regularly is the way to make it happen. When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases, there's no single test you can take to check them all. But that doesn't mean getting tested is difficult. Learn more about STD testing so you know what to expect. In the 20th century, the advent of penicillin and other antibiotics led to an effective cure for bacterial STDs.
Some STDs can be diagnosed during a physical exam or by microscopic examination of a sore or fluid removed from the vagina, penis, or anus. If a person is HIV-positive and is diagnosed with an STD, they should receive advice on reducing the risk and on how to protect their sexual partner from becoming infected with the same STD or contracting HIV. Finally, a sore or inflammation caused by a sexually transmitted disease can cause an HIV infection that intact skin could have stopped. Given the close relationship between STDs and HIV in many studies, it seems obvious that treating STDs should reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Because many people who are in the early stages of an STD or STI don't have symptoms, it's important to be screened for STIs to prevent complications. In addition, since STDs and HIV tend to be related, when a person contracts an STD, it suggests that they contracted it from someone who might be at risk of contracting other STDs and HIV. It was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the importance of tracking the sexual partners of a person infected with an STD was recognized.
If a person living with HIV contracts and maintains an undetectable viral load when receiving antiretroviral treatment, an STD does not increase the risk of transmitting HIV. There is no cure for STDs caused by viruses, but medications can often help with symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Some STDs can have serious, life-changing consequences; syphilis, for example, can eventually cause progressive destruction of the brain and spinal cord, leading to mental dysfunction and hallucinations, speech problems, and general paresis. Treatment for STDs is important to prevent complications from these infections and to prevent transmission to the partner, but it should not be expected to prevent the spread of HIV. Before the advent of modern medicine, people's lack of knowledge and understanding of STDs contributed to the widespread transmission of infections, while there were few or no treatments available to treat diseases.
