SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Sexually transmitted diseases are uncommon among swingers. In fact, many couples confine their outside sexual recreation to club swing parties for this reason. STD's are generally easily diagnosed and cured. If you suspect that you have had an STD contact you should seek medical attention. The local health department is usually the best bet. It is nothing to be ashamed of or fear. AIDS, very much in the news the past couple of years, is difficult to contract. It is very rare in the swing community. Primary methods of transmitting the AIDS virus are sharing needles in drug use and intercourse, especially anal, with a man who shares needles or practices receptive anal intercourse with other men. If neither of these categories fits, you are not going to get AIDS through swinging.

If you think you have an STD go to your doctor and get a diagnosis as early as possible. Most common sexually transmitted diseases can be cured. This FAQ is not meant to displace sound medical advice from a licensed physician.

Directory of STD's

Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
Genital Herpes, HSV
HIV/Aids
Crabs, Pubic Lice
Nonspecific Urethritis (NSU)  or Nongonoccal Urethritis (NGU)
Syphilis
Genital Warts and Human Papilloma Virus




Chlamydia

Chlamydia (pronounced "cl-mid-ee-ah") is a bacterial infection that is sexually transmitted. It's estimated 40% to 60% of women with chlamydia and 10% to 30% of men with chlamydia have no symptoms. Chlamydia is a major cause of NGU (non gonococcal urethritis) in men. If left untreated, which happens often since most cases are asymptomatic, chlamydia can cause infertility in men and women.

TRANSMISSION
Direct contact of mucous membranes during sexual activity, causing the exchange of bodily fluids. Whether chlamydia can be transmitted orally is as yet unclear. Mothers can transmit to their baby during childbirth. Many of these babies suffer from eye infections and a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. It is possible to contract this disease repeatedly; having been infected once does not ensure immunity against future exposures. High risk groups include white males aged 15-24, people with multiple partners, and women using oral contraceptives or IUDs.

SYMPTOMS
When symptoms do appear, they do so from 1-4 weeks after exposure. 

Women
80% of women have no symptoms. Symptoms include any or all of the
following: vaginal discharge (most common), spotting between periods,
abdominal pain, sometimes with fever and nausea and burning on
urination.

Men
10% of men have no symptoms. Symptoms include: burning on urination,
watery, white penile discharge (sometimes present only in the morning,
and can disappear spontaneously. This does not mean that the infection is
gone.), testicular pain and tingling inside the penis or frequency of
urination.

DIAGNOSIS

Several chlamydia tests are available in the general community. Clinicians
may skip the test and just automatically treat a woman who has cervicitis
or an unusual discharge or a man who has unusual discharge or other
symptoms.

Women
A slide test examines endocervical cells for the presence of chlamydia. a
sample of cervical cells are taken with a paddle and brush.

Men
Tests examine cells from the urethra for the presence of chlamydia, A
sample of cells from the urethra are taken with a swab (inserted about
1/2").

TREATMENT

Notification and treatment of partners is essential to stopping the spread
of chlamydia, whether they have symptoms or not.

Oral Antibiotics

The medication should be taken exactly as instructed and completely
finished, even if symptoms disappear, or the infection can come back.
Alcohol and physical exertion should be avoided during treatment.
Sexual abstinence until a clinician confirms a cure. Follow-up exams 7
days after treatment are essential to ensure chlamydia is completely gone.
Your partner(s) should be treated.

CAUTION:

Some studies show antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of birth
control pills. Therefore, females should continue birth control pills as well
as using another form of birth control (i.e. condom, foam, diaphragm,
abstinence) until you finish the cycle of birth control pills and have a
normal cycle.

DANGERS

Since most do not know that they have chlamydia, the infection can
spread and cause painful and permanent damage to sex and pelvic
organs. The scarring it leaves can leave both men and women unable to
have children. Eye infections result from contact with infected secretions.
Babies can contract chlamydia during birth, and develop eye infections
and a potentially fatal pneumonia. 4-10% of all pregnant women have
chlamydia, and unless they receive treatment, more than half of their
babies will have eye infections, while 10%of their babies contract
pneumonia.

Women
Chlamydia is thought to be behind up to 50% of the cases of PID in
women, a potenentially sterilizing, sometimes fatal, illness. PID is the
most common complication of chlamydia in women. 10-15% of infected
women get it. Can be fatal. Can scar fallopian tubes, causing sterility or
ectopic pregnancy. Women who have PID once have a 10% chance of
tubal scarring; twice increases it to a 30% chance; three times increases
to a 60% chance. PID often develops in women who have had repeated
chlamydia or gonorrhea infections. PID is generally a "mixed" infection,
caused by more than one bacterial agent. Symptoms include: fever,
fatigue, severe lower abdominal pain, lower abdominal tenderness,
enlargement of the fallopian tubes, and vaginal discharge. Treated with
multiple antibiotics. In severe cases, hospitalization and IV antibiotics are
needed. Women with IUDs are at higher risk for PID if they contract
chlamydia or gonorrhea. The IUD should be removed before treatment.

Men
Can develop Procitis, as well as epididymitis and prostritis, which can
lead to sterility. In men, chlamydia may lead to epididymitis, an
inflammation of the testicle that may cause sterility if not treated.

PREVENTION

Using condoms provides some but not complete prevention. Knowing
your partner's sexual history and thoroughly examining his or her genitals
for sores or discharge prior to intimate contact provide the best
protection. Spermicides tend to kill the bacteria that cause chlamydia.
Wash genitals after sexual contact. Urinating after sexual contact. People
with more than one partner should have an STI check every six months,
even if there are no symptoms.




GONORRHEA

Male Symptoms

Yellowish discharge from the penis. Painful, frequent urination.
Symptoms develop from two to thirty days after infection. Roughly 20%
of infected men have no symptoms. Later stages of the infection may
move into the prostate, seminal vesicles, and epididymis, causing severe
pain and fever. Rare cases can lead to septic arthritis. Untreated,
gonorrhea can lead to sterility.

Female Symptoms

Under half of women with gonorrhea show no symptoms, or symptoms
so mild they are commonly ignored. Early symptoms include increased
vaginal discharge, irritation of the external genitals, pain or burning on
urination and abnormal menstrual bleeding. Women who are untreated
may develop severe complications. The infection will usually spread to
the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries, causing Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease (PID). PID, though not only caused by gonorrhea, is the most
common cause of female infertility. Early symptoms of PID are lower
abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain during intercourse.

Treatment

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, and is therefore treated with standard
antibiotics, usually a member of the penicillin family. Tetracycline drugs
frequently do not cure gonorrhea, especially in cases of anal infection.
One variety of gonorrhea, penicilliase- producing N. gonorrhea, is
immune to penicillin, and drugs of the cyclosporin family may be
necessary.

Transmission

The bacteria that causes gonorrhea can be passed through sexual
contact, such as intercourse, fellatio, anal sex, cunnilingus and even
kissing, although the last is rare.




Hepatitis B

Symptoms

About half of those who get hepatitis B will suffer from an inflammation
of the liver, called acute hepatitis. Many people with hepatitis B mistake
the symptoms for other illnesses, such as the flu, while others are more
seriously affected and may miss school or work for months. Other
common symptoms include skin rashes and arthritis, nausea, vomiting,
loss of appetite, malaise, abdominal pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the
eyes and skin).

Treatment

There is no cure for hepatitis B. There is a vaccine, however, that is very
effective. It is also expensive. Consult your physician. A small percentage
of people who acquire hepatitis B will carry the virus in their
bloodstreams for the rest of their lives as carriers.

Transmission

Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of an
infected person, and that includes sexual contact. It is a considered a
highly infectious disease and should be taken seriously.




GENITAL HERPES, HSV


Full Name

Herpes Simplex Virus I and Herpes Simplex Virus II. HSV-I is most
often associated with cold sores or fever blisters about the mouth and
lips, while HSV-II is associated with sores around the gential area. There
is some crossover, however, and each virus will survive quite
comfortably in both regions.

Symptoms

Herpes is marked by clusters of small, painful blisters on the genitals.
After a few days, the blisters burst, leaving small ulcers. In men, the
blisters usually appear on the penis, but can appear in the urethra or
rectum. In women, they usually appear on the labia, but can appear on
the cervix and anal area. First outbreaks are accompanied by fever,
headache, and muscle soreness for two or more consecutive days in
39% of men and 68% of women.

Other relatively common symptoms include painful urination discharge
from the urethra or vagina, and tender, swollen lymph nodes in the groin.
These symptoms tend to disappear within two weeks. Aseptic meningitis
occurs in 8 percent of cases, eye infections in 1% of cases, and infection
of the cervix in 88% of infected women. Skin lesions last on average
16.5 days in men, 19.7 in women. Secondary symptoms are most
prominent in the first four days and then gradually diminish.

Recurrence

None in 10% of cases. Frequency for the remaining population is from
once a month to once every few years. The majority of sufferers do not
have repeat attacks after a few years. Most repeat attacks are less
severe than the initial attack.

Treatment

There is no medical cure for herpes. Treatment with acyclovir reduces
pain and viral reproduction during outbreaks of sores, although it will not
delay or prevent recurrences.

Transmission

Generally by sexual contact. Direct contact with infected genitals can
cause transmission via intercourse, rubbing genitals together, oral genital
contact, anal sex, or oral/anal contact. In addition, normally protected
areas of skin can become infected if there is a cut, rash, sore. Herpes
viruses can be spread in some instances by kissing, if one participant has
the infection sited in or near the mouth.




HIV / AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired ImmunoDeficiency
Syndrome. It is important to distinguish between the two. HIV is the
virus that ultimately causes AIDS. AIDS is a syndrome, a collection of
symptoms associated with HIV infection.

Symptoms

People infected with HIV may have no symptoms for up to fifteen years.
During this time, they are capable of infecting anyone they have sex with
or donate blood to. Initial symptoms of HIV infection include inexplicable
weight loss, persistent fever, swollen lymph nodes, and reddish spots on
the skin (Karposi's Sarcoma). HIV causes the destruction of the immune
system. It's most pronounced symptoms, therefore, are opportunistic
infections of pneumocystis carinii, fungal infections, tuberculosis, and
various herpes forms.

Treatment

There is no cure for HIV / AIDS. Right now most scientists agree that if
you are infected with HIV, you will eventually die of AIDS. Treatment
may fend off infections, however the typical course is for one
overwhelming infection to follow another until the victim succumbs.
Various drugs may slow the virus, but right now there is no cure.

Transmission

In a person infected with HIV, the virus can be present in the body's
semen and pre-ejaculate, blood, cervical mucous, and breast milk. It can
also be present, in much smaller quantities, in vaginal secretion, saliva,
and tears.

The AIDS virus can be transmitted via any of these fluids, but only the
first two -- semen and blood -- are likely to be involved. Anal sex is the
most commonly perceived method of transfer, but vaginal sex has been
repeatedly shown to transmit HIV. Men are less likely than women to be
infected through vaginal sex, but there are recorded cases of men having
been infected this way. Cunnilingus and fellatio have also been
established as capable of transmitting the virus. Sexual activities, not
sexual orientation, transmit the virus.

HIV cannot be passed on through casual contact, hugging,
hand-shaking, touching the sweat of an infected person, or mosquito
bites.

Testing

The HIV test shows the presence of antibodies to HIV. It does not show
the presence of the virus: the body first has to develop antibodies, which
normally takes about six weeks. Hence, a positive result means that
someone has antibodies and could possibly develop AIDS in the future.
A negative result means that someone does not have antibodies at the
moment. If there is a reason to think that exposure was more recent than
six weeks, then a test taken immediately can only serve as a baseline to
compare against a test taken later. Within six months of HIV infection,
99% of the population will test positive. No one should be tested for
HIV without first obtaining counselling and ensuring beforehand support
from his or her family or friends.

The following numbers may be of use:
AIDS Hotline (800) 342-2437
AIDS Information Clearing House (800) 458-5231 9-7 EST
CDC AIDS Ethnicity, Age recording (404) 330-3020
CDC AIDS Transmission mode recording (404) 330-3021
CDC AIDS Top 10, Projections recording (404) 330-3022




CRABS, PUBIC LICE

Symptoms

Pubic lice are just that, lice that has infested your public hair. The most
common symptom is intense itching, usually felt mostly at night. Some
victims have no symptoms, others may develop an allergic rash.

Treatment

Various shampoos and lotions exist to kill lice, but the best solution is
simply to shave off the pubic and hair and shower vigorously afterwards.

Transmission

Nominally through sexual contact, however they may be picked up
through use of sheets, towels or clothing used by an infected person.




Nonspecific Urethritis (NSU) or
Nongonoccal Urethritis (NGU)

Caused by

Chlamydia trachomatous, T. mycoplasma, ureaplasma urealyticum,
mycolasma hominis. An estimated quarter of cases are allergic reactions
to latex or spermicide.

Symptoms

Similar to gonorrhea but usually milder. Urethral discharge is generally
thin and clear. Planned Parenthood estimates that half of the women with
one of these diseases doesn't know it. NSU/NGU in women can lead to
pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility.

Transmission

In cases involving a pathogen, sexual intercourse, as well as hands with
semen or vaginal secretions on them infecting the eye.

Treatment

Penicillin is generally not effective against NGU/NSU-causing organisms.
Tetracycilne is generally prescribed; sulfa drugs are effective against
chlamydia but not the others.




SYPHILIS

Symptoms

Primary Stage

A chancre sore develops at the site of infection from two to four weeks
after infection has occurred. The chancre is painless 75% of the time.
The chancre starts as a dull red spot, turns into a pimple, which ulcerates,
forming a round or oval sore with a red rim. The sore heals in 4-6 weeks
- however, the infection is still present. The chancre is usually found on
the genitals or anus, but can appear on any part of the skin.

Secondary Stage

One week to six months after the chancre heals. Pale red or pinkish rash
appears (often on palms or soles), fever, sore throat, headaches, joint
pains, poor appetite, weight loss, hair loss. Moist sores may appear
around the genitals or anus and are highly infectious. Symptoms usually
last three to six months, but can come and go.

Latent Stage

No apparent symptoms, and the carrier is no longer contagious.
However, the organism is insinuating itself into the host's tissues. 50 to 70
percent of carriers pass the rest of their lives without the disease leaving
this stage. The reminder pass into Last Stage syphilis.

Last Stage

Serious heart problems, eye problems, brain and spinal cord damage,
with a high probability of paralysis, insanity, blindness or death.

Treatment

Penicillin by injection, or a two-week regimen of tetracycline, is the
standard treatment for syphilis. Two follow-up blood tests two weeks
apart after ending treatment are necessary to ensure the treatment is
complete. The first three stages of syphilis are completely curable, and
even in the last stage syphilis can be stopped. With the present medical
technology to diagnose and treat syphilis, no one should ever suffer the
effects of last-stage syphilis.

Transmission

Nominally sexual contact, but can be transmitted by blood transfusion or
from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus.




GENITAL WARTS AND HUMAN
PAPILLOMA VIRUS

Symptoms

Half of the people infected with HPV do not show any symptoms. When
symptoms are present, they are small, visible warts appearing at the tip of
the penis or at the opening of vagina. In women, HPV also causes
cervical lesions. Warts can occur anywhere on the shaft of penis or the
scrotum in men, and anywhere around the labial area or inside the vagina
in women. In women, an abnormal Pap smear may indicate cervical
lesions, but a coloscopy is necessary to confirm this.

Treatment

Warts are pinpoint infections, and can be treated as such. Podophyllin
solution, trichlorocetic acid, and fluorouracil cream are three chemical
solutions used to burn warts from the skin. Liquid nitrogen or lasers are
sometimes used, as well as electrodessication. A six-month check-up is
necessary to confirm that all the warts were destroyed, and even then a
small percentage of people may experience a recurrence of warts within
18 months.

Transmission

The virus is transmitted through sexual contact. Warts are considered
very contagious even in people who show no visible symptoms.