Prevalence Of STDs In Women

WHO estimates that every day, almost 1 million people worldwide contract STDs.¹ And each year, about 30 million people in India alone contract STDs.² Although we cannot change the statistics, there are steps that can be taken to prevent contracting these STDs. In this blog, we'll talk about the prevalence of STDs in women, why they are so common in India, some of the symptoms of common STDs and how they can be prevented.

First, let’s start with knowing the basics.

What Are Sexually Transmitted Diseases?

STIs are infections that have not yet progressed to disease and can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Furthermore, initially, STDs attack the body as an infection or STI (sexually transmitted infection). However, as the pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.) go untreated, they tend to reproduce, multiply, and begin to disrupt the body's normal functioning and structure, eventually transforming into STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).³

An STD may not exclusively spread through sexual contact; it can also be passed down from a pregnant mother to her child during labor.⁴ 

Some of the most common STDs are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Genital and Oral Herpes, HPV, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, and Mycoplasma genitalium. ^5,6 Let’s take a look at the STD data showing the prevalence of these STDs across the globe:^1,7,8

Now that we know how common STDs are in the world, let's take a look at what the contributing factors are to these startling figures. We'll talk about the causes of STD prevalence in women since this blog focuses on that demographic.

Factors Contributing To STD Prevalence In Women 

The following list includes a variety of explanations for the rising STD prevalence among women-  

1. Socioeconomic factors

In terms of socioeconomic status, women in rural India lag behind men. This is why, in contrast to urban populations, many women in rural areas do not have access to STD education and awareness. However, this ignorance results in "unprotected sex" usage and the prevalence of STDs.⁹

2. Vaginal anatomy

Women, especially younger females, are more susceptible to acquiring STIs. It is caused by the fact that the cervix's epithelial lining is easily infected and can develop neoplasia (an abnormal mass or growth of cells) if exposed to an STI.^10,11 

3. Asymptomatic nature of STDs

The majority of STDs are asymptomatic, which means that the patient may or may not experience their "typical symptoms" after contracting the infection.^12,13 This is one of the main causes of various STD cases not being screened, which promotes their spread. Fact that STDs are asymptomatic in nature makes it more difficult for at-risk or even suffering women to access proper medical care. Especially for those females who aren't even aware of STDs in the first place.

4. Blood transfusions

Many people might not be aware of this, but some STDs can spread through blood. Two such STDs are syphilis and gonorrhoea.^14,15 Women may require blood transfusions during childbirth might need, which also increases their risk of contracting an STD from an unscreened potential patient.¹⁶

STDs And Their Symptoms In Women

Chlamydia

It’s caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Unusual vaginal discharge, pain during sex, and a burning feeling when urinating are all signs of Chlamydia in women.¹⁷

However, if the Chlamydia infection persists, it can cause nausea, fever, rectal pain, or even bleeding.¹⁷

Gonorrhea 

The bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes Gonorrhoea infection. Although the signs of Gonorrhea are not apparent, when symptoms do develop they are mild and commonly mistaken for vaginal or bladder infections.¹⁸ 

In women, the Gonorrhea infection gives rise to vaginal bleeding (in-between periods), high vaginal discharge, and dysuria (painful urination).¹⁸ 

Genital & Oral Herpes

Genital herpes is caused by 2 different genotypes of viruses, Herpes simplex virus 1 and Herpes simplex virus 2. Most people might be unaware that they have herpes because its symptoms are either too mild or not visible, though they may take 4 days to 2 weeks to develop.^19,20

Cold sores and blisters are the signs of oral herpes; whereas itchy groin, tiny bumps or blisters around the mouth, anus; dysuria, vaginal discharge; painful ulcers, and discharge from the urethra are among the common symptoms of genital herpes. 

However, many people also experience flu-like symptoms in advance infection stage such as fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes (a small bean-like structure that is part of the human immune system) near the groin, and headaches.^19,21

Human Papillomavirus

It’s one of the most common STDs in the world.²² HPV is caused by a group of 200 viruses; which are responsible for developing warts and cancers.²³ 

Visible symptoms of HPV in women consist of warts around the vagina, anus or legs.²⁴ HPV supposedly causes more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, and approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers.²⁵ 

Syphilis

If a person engages in vaginal, oral, or anal sex, syphilis can be contracted through an open sore. Syphilis can also be contracted through intimate contact with objects shared in public areas, including swimming pools, doorknobs, public bathrooms, and shared utensils.²⁶ 

The initial symptoms of Syphilis consist of sores, skin rashes, fever, body ache, sore throat, headache, and swollen lymph nodes. If a person doesn’t treat these symptoms on time, they can later develop into serious conditions that can impact the eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, brain, bone, joints, and nerves.²⁷ 

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is an STD caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Women who have Trichomoniasis could have symptoms like weird-smelling vaginal discharge, dysuria, and vaginal itching.²⁸ 

Mycoplasma genitalium 

Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterial infection, also known as M. gen. or MG.²⁹ An M.gen infection rarely causes symptoms, but when it does, they are consistent with abnormal vaginal discharge, dysuria, bleeding between periods, lower abdomen aches, bleeding even during or after sex, and anus discharge.³⁰

How Can Prevalence Of STDs In Women Be Avoided? 

The spread of STDs can easily be avoided if one follows the below-mentioned tips:^31,4

• Use condoms: While using condoms won't completely shield you from STDs, it can significantly lower your risk.
• Get vaccinated: There are secure and reliable vaccines for STDs such as hepatitis B and HPV.³²  
• Have limited sexual partners: Having fewer sexual partners decreases the risk of contracting STD.
• Practice monogamy: It helps reduce the risk of STDs by only having sex with one trustworthy partner.
• Take charge & get proactively tested: Regular testing can assist in preventing the spread of STDs and can also help in ensuring that the proper treatment is received in a timely manner in the event that one gets infected.  

Wondering how to get yourself tested for STDs without the hassle of visiting a clinic? LifeCell’s at-home self-collection “STD Test- Female” are your answer. We use advanced RT-PCR technology to diagnose the most common STDs. Our STD kit range gives you the liberty to take your own test in just a few simple steps.

Furthermore, this test not only checks for the possibility of a few but for total 8 in women. All you need to do is order the kit online, collect your sample, schedule a sample pickup, and relax! The rest will be taken care of by our group of experts.  

Final Note!

We hope this has helped you understand why the prevalence of STDs amongst women is so high, giving you an even stronger reason to routinely get tested for STDs. We believe that, having read this blog, you are also aware of how STDs can "sneak attack" on you and adversely affect your reproductive health. So dear women, quit ignoring your sexual health and make proactive testing for STDs a priority!