A Bed Net

With advent of Digital and Electronics Technology, the self actualization of potent luxury living, and the booming Economy, new challenges of the curios kind are being invented every day. However, one of the biggest threats to mankind’s survival today, originated from the queer virus known as Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which has been traced to a certain species of chimpanzee from Africa. SIV was transmitted to human beings, through chimpanzee meat, which was hunted for kills, and over a period of decades, the SIV mutated into Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The biological makeup of this virus is uncertain, and a cure for HIV does not exist, yet.

The HIV, under the electron microscope looks like spheres attached to white blood cells. As HIV advances, they destroy CD+T cells of the blood, which is predominantly responsible for raising the Human Immune System, against diseases, infections and bacterial threats, encountered daily. During early stages of HIV infection, the infected person appears to be quite normal and healthy and may continue that way for many years. As HIV presence begins to dominate the person, major organs such as the heart, kidney, and liver are likely to fail. The person can be affected with Cancers and Tumors of various kinds. When the HIV stabilization process is complete, the final stage is called Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which in ordinary sense means that, the person is surely dying.

In the United States alone, about 50,000 cases of HIV infections, and about 15,000 AIDS deaths are reported every year. The HIV virus is transmitted through blood contact or through genitals contact. Unsafe Sex, blood transfusion, pregnancy, broken wounds contact and infected needles are potential mediums of HIV transmission. Kissing, Saliva, insect bites and Sex using a contraceptive, will not transfer HIV. Healthcare is well informed, equipped and trained to provide medication and therapy, which suppresses HIV progress to a good extent. Though Sexual Health remains unaffected, it must be realized that Genital Contact is the primary medium of transfer of the HIV virus.

Since ancient times, excessive sexual indulgence and reckless sexual behavior have led to disorders, diseases, and even death. Some of the common sexual and sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, and the like. Many of these are treatable and curable over a period of time. Sexual health and ensuring proper sexual behavior may not have been a mainstream issue in times past. At least they didn’t have a huge health cost.

However, since the 1980s sexuality and ensuring proper sexual behavior have bagged the spotlight. The reason for this is the emergence of HIV/AIDS, which has taken epidemic proportions and consumed huge sections of humanity year over year. It’s become such a big deal that global organizations engaged in humanitarian efforts have diverted a huge part of their resources to the mitigation of HIV/AIDS among vulnerable groups, especially in African countries.

Irresponsible sexual behavior has come under the scanner, as it can now have life-threatening impact. The occurrence of HIV in a person doesn’t immediately end life. However, it marks the beginning of a condition of vulnerability. HIV/AIDS is not a reversible disease, and the medical costs are huge. In many cases, people need long-term hospitalization.

Since it is a prolonged condition, a person may even be dealing with the virus when she enters an assisted living facility. The scare of HIV/AIDS can perhaps become a major deterrent against irresponsible sexual behavior and can encourage people to practice safe sex.

Of course, the AIDS virus can transfer from person to person in other ways besides sexual contact, making it even more of a threat. In Africa, pregnant women with HIV can transfer the disease to their unborn babies. Sharing needles is another way it spreads.

Because people can have the disease without knowing it, using condoms during sex and not sharing needles may protect sexually active individuals from the condition.

A multitude of bacteria, operating out in the open, are capable of subtly attacking human body. In particular, a category of these bacteria exist, which attack and compromise Sexual Health of a person, one of which is the Trichomonas Vaginalis parasite, causing a Sexually Transmitted Disease known as Trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is a common disease, affecting both men and women, with about 7.5 million cases reported each year, in the United States alone.

The Trichomoniasis parasite is transmitted through the primary genitals, i.e. the penis and the vagina. Symptoms of this condition include irritation in and around the genitals, yellowish green discharges, bad odor, and in some cases pain in the lower abdominal area. Though Trichomoniasis will not cause serious implications to health, nevertheless the condition must be treated for its symptoms, in order maintain proper Sexual Health. Pregnant women can infect the infant, which can result in premature birth or a baby with low weight of less than 5.5 pounds. Untreated Trichomoniasis is conducive for other STD and HIV infection.

Trichomoniasis can be successfully detected at and treated by Healthcare. Examination of surface samples from the penis, vagina or cervix, reveal the presence of this parasite. This condition can be detected easily in Women than in Men. Trichomoniasis is treated with antibiotics, with different dosages specific to the patient. The person infected, along with the partner must be tested for Trichomoniasis, other STD and for HIV too. Trichomoniasis can recur, or a patient can be re-infected, therefore it is imperative that the patient and his/her sexual partners be tested for and treated at the same time to eliminate this parasite. Once Sexual Health is regained, it is essential to practice safe sex with new sexual partners, with the use of Latex condoms. However, the wise practice to be adopted would be, to stay in a long term monogamous relationship, where ill effects of different STD and HIV upon Sexual Health, are kept at bay.