Lecture Notes

There are also biological factors that contribute to STI transmission. They are naturally asymptomatic in nature. Thus most STIs either do not produce any symptoms or cause symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed or disregarded. As a result, there is a time lag of unknowingly infecting others. Long-time lags, sometimes years, exist between contracting an STI and an onset of significant health problems. During the asymptomatic period individuals can unknowingly infect others, and individuals may not seek treatment, allowing the STI to do damage to their reproductive system. STIs can also become resistant to treatment or lack a cure. Resistant strands of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens are continuing developing. Antibiotics that have worked may no longer effective. Infected people may continue to transmit STIs because they believe they are cured or currently show no symptoms.

As previously discussed, women are also more susceptible, and those biological factors increase their risk for STI acquisition. Adolescent women are highly susceptible to acquiring chlamydia and gonorrhea because of an immature cervix. Women who practice vaginal douching are also at great risk for pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, and other STIs. Douching disturbs the vaginal protective systems including the chemical and microbial balance, decreasing the good bacteria in the vagina. It also distorts the pH balance and permits the overgrowth of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. Men with an uncircumcised penis have also been linked to an increase risk for STIs including HPV, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis. So as we see, various biological, behavioral, and social factors contribute to STI transmission.