Sexual Health and STDs Quiz

Chapter 8: Healthy Sexuality

Preventing Unintended Pregnancy and STDs is the subject of this chapter.
The text identifies key learning objectives related to contraception, STDs, and the menstrual cycle, including how to minimize risk, common symptoms, and treatment options.
Healthy Sexuality is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality, including the absence of disease and dysfunction, and the ability to experience pleasurable sexual experiences free of coercion.
Methods for preventing unintended pregnancy include weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each method, ensuring mutual comfort, and practicing consistently.
Failure rates are important factors to consider when choosing a method of birth control.
Ineffective methods for preventing pregnancy, like vaginal douching, and those with low effectiveness, are not recommended.

Learning Objectives

Fertility control methods: Five reasons for using fertility control must be listed, and the typical and lowest observed failure rates of various methods must be defined.
Combination hormonal contraception: Four methods must be listed and described.
Progestin-only contraception: Two types of progestin-only contraception must be described.
Intrauterine device (IUD): An explanation of how an IUD is used to prevent pregnancy must be included.
Barrier methods: Five barrier methods of contraception must be listed and described.
Fertility-awareness methods: Four fertility-awareness methods of contraception must be described.
Reasons for not using fertility control: The reasons why many people do not use fertility control must be explained.
Common STIs: The five most common STIs in North America must be listed.
STD risk factors: The nine risk factors for acquiring a sexually transmitted disease must be listed.
Safer sex practices: How to practice safer sex and the common barriers to practicing it must be described.
Causes, symptoms, and treatments of STIs: The etiology, symptoms, and treatments for trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, and anogenital warts are to be identified.

How Pregnancy Occurs

Pregnancy begins with fertilization.
Sperm production occurs continuously in the testes, taking approximately 73 days for immature sperm to mature.
These sperm mix with seminal fluids before ejaculation.
The female produces fertilizable ova in her ovaries and provides the fallopian tube structure for fertilization.
An ovum matures roughly every 28 days (and can survive for 24 hours after release) and the fertilized ovum develops into a fetus in the uterus.
The cervix is an opening in the lower part of the uterus, acting as a pathway for sperm and the fetus.

Fertilization and Early Embryo Development

The fertilized ovum (zygote) travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
Implantation occurs when the embryo attaches and grows within the uterine lining.
The process lasts for roughly 9 months.

The Menstrual Cycle

Menstruation: The process where the uterine lining and blood vessels shed if fertilization does not occur.
Menstrual cycle: Near-monthly periods of ovum production; cycle lengths between 24 and 35 days are common. Irregular cycles can happen during menarche and perimenopause.
Symptoms: The menstrual cycle may be accompanied by symptoms like cramps, headaches, backaches, fatigue, bloating, breast tenderness, depression, irritability, and unusual aggressive feelings, or social withdrawal.

Highly Effective Methods (7-10% TFR)

Hormonal contraceptives: Convenient, low-cost, reversible, tolerable side effects, and effective.
Combination estrogen-progesterone methods: Birth control pill, skin patch, and vaginal ring.
Progestin-only methods: Minipill, injectables, and implants.
Unpleasant side effects: Nausea, breast tenderness and swelling, fluid retention, headaches, weight gain, depression, decreased sex drive, acne or oily skin.
Beneficial side effects: Disappearance of menstrual cramps, reduced bleeding days, lower risk of PID, benign breast disease, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, and anemia.

Extremely Effective Methods (Less than 1% Failure Rate)

Intrauterine device (IUD): A small T-shaped plastic object placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy by killing/weakening sperm, altering ovum/embryo timing, and inhibiting implantation.
Injectable hormonal implant (Depo-Provera): A 3-month supply of synthetic progestin hormone released into the body at a steady rate.

Emergency Contraception

Used for situations involving unprotected intercourse, contraceptive misuse, or assault,
Not intended as a primary contraception method.
Hormonal methods include estrogen and progestin types taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse (two doses 12 hours apart). Progestin-only types, like Plan B (levonorgestrel) and EllaOne (ulipristal), are taken up to 5 days after intercourse.

Abortion

Intentional, premature termination of pregnancy.
Safe, medically administered methods include medication abortion, vacuum or aspiration abortion, and dilation and evacuation (D&E).
In specific cases, like those mandated by Thailand laws, late-term abortions might be legal.

Aftereffects of Abortion

The time between pregnancy confirmation and abortion can be emotionally challenging. Anxiety and depression are common emotional responses.
Subsequently, symptoms of anxiety or depression may subside; anger or disappointment might also be present.
Relief is the prevalent feeling for most women after abortion.
Several months later, some women may still be troubled by the experience or find it difficult to discuss.

Preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Eleven common STDs: HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, genital herpes, pubic lice, scabies, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
Causes: Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, worms, or insects.
Transmission pathways: Breaks in skin, wet surface layers (mucous membranes) of body orifices, and blood (via injections or sexual activity).

Risk Factors for STDs

Multiple sexual partners, false sense of safety, absence of symptoms, untreated conditions, impaired judgments, lack of immunity, body piercings, and value judgements.

Specific STD Notes

Trichomoniasis: Caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, symptoms tend to be prevalent among women, survives in the urethra and under foreskin, and requires treatment with medication. Diagnostic testing is performed by gathering vaginal fluids and checking for Trichomonas microorganisms.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): Caused by overgrowth of certain bacteria (like Gardnerella vaginalis); characterized by a vaginal discharge with a "fishy" odor, especially after intercourse.
Chlamydia: Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, it infects the mucous membranes of the genitals, mouth, anus, rectum, or conjunctiva of the eyes. Symptoms may take 7-21 days to manifest, including pain during urination and whitish discharge from the penis or vagina. Treatment involves antibiotics.
Gonorrhea: Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, affects the mucous membranes of genital and sexual organs. Symptoms mirror those of chlamydia. Treated by antibiotics.
Syphilis: Caused by Treponema pallidum; transmitted through breaks in skin, and also to the fetus during pregnancy. Early symptoms include a chancre (painless sore), which might heal naturally. Untreated syphilis can progress to secondary and tertiary stages, including a skin rash, hair loss, and growths. Treated by antibiotics.
Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (HSV-2): Caused by a virus; involves sores and blisters concentrated mostly in the genital and anal regions. The virus remains dormant in nerve cells, causing intermittent flare-ups (or periodic reappearances). Both strains can cause genital or oral infections. Treatment reduces symptom duration but not the virus itself.
Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) & Anogenital Warts: 100+ types of HPV present, typically transmitted through sexual contact. Most infections resolve on their own, though persistent infections can lead to cervical cancer. Several types can cause anogenital warts; cauliflower-shaped, soft, moist, pink, or flesh-colored formations located on the vulva, vagina, anus, cervix, penis, scrotum, groin, or thighs. Treatment removes warts but does not eradicate the virus.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): Transmitted via blood or sexual contact, commonly associated with symptoms like jaundice, fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite. HBV infections can cause liver disease. Vaccination is recommended for prevention.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS): A sickness caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV destroys immune cells; untreated HIV leads to weakened immunity, increased susceptibility to infections, and potential death. Can be transmitted via blood, semen, or vaginal fluids during pregnancy, childbirth, and breast milk. Individuals should be tested for HIV if they encounter potential exposure factors.
Pubic Lice: (Phthirus pubis, often called “crabs”.) Tiny, barely visible insects that feed on blood and reside on the hair in the genital area. Easily transferred from body to body via contact, or by contact with infected objects like towels, bed linens, or clothing. Treated by washing with chemicals.
Scabies: Caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows into skin; characterized by intense itching and tiny burrows across the skin. The infestation may involve the fingers, wrists, elbows, breasts, abdomen, penis, buttocks. Treated with topical creams.