Our expert - gynecologist Marina Vedeleeva.

Dangerous Thirty

The topic is very prosaic - sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Almost all of us have met them personally at least once in our lives. By the way, there are more than 30 of them: from the deadly HIV infection to the commonplace chlamydia, which, by the way, cannot be called trifling either. Moreover, in terms of prevalence in Russia, it is in second place after the flu.

Of course, most STDs are curable, but not all. For example, it will never be possible to part with genital herpes - treatment only softens the course of the disease and reduces the frequency and severity of relapses. Only those under the age of 25 have a chance to get rid of (HPV) forever. Later, it will not be possible to destroy the virus, the point of treatment is to eliminate tissue changes affected by the virus. By the way, it is believed that the human papillomavirus can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva and penis. The genital herpes virus also affects sperm, and if a woman becomes infected with it during pregnancy, it can cause severe congenital diseases of the fetus.

Treatment will be successful only if it is started without delay and completed. How to spot the very first danger signals?

An alert has been declared!

There are seven main signs, having discovered which, you should not delay a visit to the doctor.

Itching and burning in the intimate area.

Redness in the genital area and anus, sometimes - sores, vesicles, pimples.

Discharge from the genitals, smell.

Frequent, painful urination.

Enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the groin.

In women - pain in the lower abdomen, in the vagina.

Discomfort during intercourse.

However, for example, syphilis or chlamydia can appear several weeks after infection, and sometimes STDs in general for a long time can proceed latently, turning into a chronic form.

Let's get to know each other better

Chlamydia

Symptoms. 1-4 weeks after infection with it, patients develop purulent discharge, painful urination, as well as pain in the lower abdomen, in the lower back, bleeding between menstruation in women, in men - pain in the scrotum, perineum.

What is dangerous? In women, it can lead to inflammation of the fallopian tubes, cervix, pathologies of pregnancy and childbirth, diseases of the liver, spleen; in men - to inflammation of the epididymis, prostate gland, Bladder, violation of potency. Newborns may develop conjunctivitis, nasopharyngeal lesions, pneumonia.

Trichomoniasis

Symptoms. They can appear on the 4-21st day after infection, sometimes later. Women have abundant foamy discharge of white or yellowish-green color with a pungent odor, causing severe itching and irritation of the genital organs, as well as pain, burning during urination, pain during intercourse. In men, there is a burning sensation during urination, mucopurulent discharge from the urethra. However, this disease is often asymptomatic.

What is dangerous? In women, the cervix and inner layer of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and urinary tract are affected. The infection can even cause peritonitis! In men, the prostate gland, testicles and their appendages, and urinary tract are affected.

Mycoplasmosis (in men - ureaplasmosis)

Symptoms. It can detect itself 3 days after infection, or maybe a month later, manifesting itself as itching and discomfort in the genital area, scanty clear discharge, painful urination.

What is dangerous? A frequent complication of trichomoniasis in women is inflammation of the genital organs, in men - a violation of spermatogenesis.

Gonorrhea

Symptoms. 3-7 days after infection, women develop yellowish-greenish vaginal discharge, frequent, painful urination, pain in the lower abdomen, and sometimes bloody discharge. However, in most of the fairer sex, the disease goes unnoticed for a long time. Men have pain and burning sensation during urination, yellowish-greenish purulent discharge from the urethra.

What is dangerous? In women, the urethra, vagina, anus, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes are affected. In men - internal genital organs, chronic inflammation of the epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate develops, which threatens impotence, infertility.

Syphilis

Symptoms. The incubation period of the disease is 3 to 6 weeks. The first sign is a rounded sore (hard chancre). In women, it lives on the labia or vaginal mucosa (sometimes in the anus, in the mouth, on the lips), in men, on the penis or scrotum. By itself, it is painless, but a week or two after its appearance, the nearest lymph nodes increase. This is the time to start treatment! This is the first stage of the disease, when it is still reversible. 2–4 months after infection, the second stage develops - a rash “spreads” all over the body, high fever, headache appear, almost all lymph nodes increase. In some patients, hair falls out on the head, wide condylomas grow on the genitals and in the anus.

What is dangerous? This disease is called slow death: if not fully cured in time, serious problems arise with the musculoskeletal system, irreversible changes occur in the internal organs, the nervous system - the third stage of the disease begins, in which about a quarter of patients die.

Forget about the Internet!

Did you notice that something is wrong? It is better to play it safe and hurry to the doctor, rather than looking on the Internet for symptoms and treatments.

How is an STD diagnosed? First - an examination by a doctor, then - tests and studies. The most modern method of DNA diagnostics: PCR (polymerase chain reaction). For research, scrapings are taken from the urethra, vagina and cervix.

Doctors also use the ELISA method (blood is taken from a vein or a scraping is done and the presence of antibodies to STDs is determined), bacterioscopy (most often it detects gonococci and Trichomonas) and many other diagnostic methods.

STDs are treated with antibacterial drugs, as well as local procedures (washing the urethra in men, sanitation of the vagina in women and other procedures). At the end of the course of treatment, it is imperative to undergo a control examination - to pass several tests to make sure that there is no infection in the body.

How to protect yourself?

The classic self-defense against STDs is the condom. Good quality and true to size.

Emergency medical prophylaxis is also used - a single dose or injection of antibacterial drugs, which can only be prescribed by a dermatovenereologist. The procedure helps to prevent gonorrhea, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, syphilis and trichomoniasis. But this method should not be used frequently.

But as for douching after intercourse with special gels or chlorine-containing antiseptics, most experts believe that this does not reduce the risk of infection.

The birth of a new life is a universal mechanism, which is perfectly regulated by the female body. Unfortunately, a woman's reproductive system is not capable of conveying the very first signs of pregnancy immediately after conception. This condition can be recognized only by the characteristic symptoms that form at different stages of bearing a child. Some women experience early signs that signal pregnancy, while others do not notice changes in their health.

The earlier a woman detects pregnancy, the more time she will have to undergo a specialized examination. It should be borne in mind that in the first days after conception, there can be no obvious signs of pregnancy.

You can recognize the first symptoms that speak of pregnancy by the following signs:

1. Absence of menstruation. Every woman knows about this symptom, it is considered the very first sign of pregnancy. When the egg is fertilized, the menstrual cycle is delayed, since the previously rejected endometrium is necessary for the fetus to develop fully. However, the first day of delay cannot be considered as a reliable sign, since the absence of menstruation is often caused by pathological changes in the organs of the reproductive system, stress, and hormonal disorders.
2. Enlargement and soreness of the mammary glands. Women's breasts very sensitive to hormonal changes in the body. When pregnancy occurs, there is a slight increase in breast volume, increased sensitivity of the nipples, as well as their soreness. Often in the halo area there is an increase in specific tubercles, which were previously barely palpable.
3. Frequent urination. One of early signs pregnancy is an increase in the frequency of the urge to urinate. This symptom is formed against the background of increased production of hCG (chorionic gonadotropin). The urge to urinate can be disturbing even with a small filling of the bladder. It is observed mainly at night.
4. Change in taste preferences. Increasing levels of hormones cause a change in taste preferences. Those food combinations that were previously unacceptable for a woman become objects of preference and vice versa. Also, a woman may feel a taste of metal in her mouth.
5. Fatigue and drowsiness. These signs most often occur during the first gestation of the fetus. Strengthening the intensity of metabolic processes in the body, provokes a feeling of fatigue, drowsiness and a desire to rest. The hormone progesterone produced has a relaxing, calming effect. The feeling of fatigue haunts women throughout the day.
6. Nausea. The appearance of this symptom is typical for 1.5 months of pregnancy. Sometimes the symptom occurs on the twentieth day from the moment of conception. Some women experience nausea for more early dates. This sign cannot be called one of the reliable ones, since the feeling of nausea is characteristic of diseases of the digestive system, cardiovascular and central nervous system. Only in combination with other signs, nausea indicates the development of pregnancy.

When can we expect the first manifestations

In this matter, it is necessary to take into account the individuality of the body of each woman. Early symptoms pregnancy can be observed as early as 8-10 days from the moment of fertilization of the egg. This period may vary, depending on the body's sensitivity to hormonal changes.

In medical practice, there were cases when women recognized fertilization already on the 5th day.

In this context, we are talking about women who carefully listen to their body and feel the slightest fluctuations in their condition. On the 20th day of the cycle, the signs of pregnancy acquire a characteristic appearance.

Minor signs of pregnancy

Less likely signs of pregnancy include many symptoms that can be observed in the early days:

• An increase in basal temperature. When a woman regularly monitors her menstrual cycle, she may experience an increase in basal temperature readings up to 37 ° C. A change in this indicator contributes to a high level of progesterone.
• Feeling of heaviness in the pelvic region. In the event of conception, changes occur in the blood supply to the pelvic organs. Against this background, a woman may feel a feeling of heaviness and squeezing.
• Insomnia. The feeling of fatigue is often replaced by increased nervous excitability and insomnia.
• Lower abdominal pain. This symptom may occur during the formation of an ectopic implantation or miscarriage. If the onset of pregnancy is spontaneously interrupted, then in combination with bloody discharge from the vagina appears.
• Back pain. With the onset of conception, a pulling sensation may be felt. In addition, this symptom may indicate kidney disease.
• Headache. Change hormonal background accompanied by neurological symptoms. A woman in position may have a spontaneous headache.
• Increased appetite. The acceleration of metabolic processes during pregnancy causes an increase in appetite.
• Enhanced sense of smell and taste. If before a woman did not pay attention to some smells, then from the moment of pregnancy she may feel disgust for them. The same applies to the taste parameters of some products.
• Irritability, mood changes. Many pregnant women complain of emotional lability and mood swings.
• Implantation bleeding. One of the signs of pregnancy at 1 week, which indicates the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterine wall.
• Digestive disorders. Vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, belching may appear as secondary signs of pregnancy.
• Weight change. When the pregnant body strives to provide the developing fetus with the necessary nutrients, a woman may notice an increase in body weight.
• Restless sleep. Hormonal changes affect emotional background women. Expectant mothers may have difficulty falling asleep.
• Tingling in uterus. This symptom occurs quite rarely, since not every woman can recognize it. Local changes in the uterine cavity can provoke a tingling sensation.
• Feeling hot and chilly. This symptom has nothing to do with a violation of the body's thermoregulation. Such reactions occur against the background of hormonal imbalance.
• Discomfort while sitting. This symptom is due to increased blood supply in the pelvis.
• Swelling of the face, hands and feet. Pregnancy is characterized by fluid retention in the body.
• Acne. If previously a woman did not experience skin problems, then during pregnancy acne may appear in the face. This happens due to changes in the hormonal background.
• Bloating. An increase in hormone levels helps to relax the intestinal muscles. The result is flatulence.
• Strengthening of the venous pattern on the chest. From the moment of fertilization of the egg, the female body begins to prepare for feeding the child. A characteristic venous pattern indicates the preparation of the mammary glands for lactation.
• Darkening of the skin around the nipples. Another symptom of preparation for lactation.
• Redness of the skin of the face. A change in the hormonal background affects the tone of the capillaries, which become prone to expansion.
• Change in pigmentation of the white line of the abdomen. Pregnant women develop a characteristic pigmented "path" that runs from the navel to the upper edge of the pubic bone.
• Exacerbation of hemorrhoids. If a woman suffered before pregnancy, then with her onset, an exacerbation of the disease may occur.
• Cramps of the calf muscles. Another minor sign indicating a change in metabolism.
• Low or high blood pressure. Most often, expectant mothers tend to increase blood pressure however, a decrease in this parameter may also indicate pregnancy.
• Reduced immunity. In order for the pregnancy to proceed without peculiarities, immunity is suppressed in the female body. Frequent cases of colds and SARS can also serve as symptoms of pregnancy.
• Thrush. Such a fungal disease occurs with a decrease in local immunity.

Diagnosis of pregnancy at an early stage

Specialized diagnostic methods will allow you to reliably determine the signs of pregnancy on the 5th day of gestation.

Pregnancy test

Rapid tests do not always determine pregnancy immediately after conception. This is due to the fact that the level of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increases gradually and remains normal in the early stages. A reliable pregnancy test result can only be obtained from the 14th day after conception.

Gynecological examination

As a result of a gynecological examination, probable signs of pregnancy can be determined. These include:

• an increase in the size of the uterus and a change in its consistency;
• discoloration of the external genitalia;
• softening of the isthmus of the uterus;
• increase in uterine mobility;
• displacement of the uterus.

These five landmarks indicate the implantation of the egg.

Increasing hCG levels

In order to determine this indicator, a laboratory blood test is carried out. The maximum information content of the analysis is observed from the 13-14th day of gestation. An increase in the hormone also occurs in diseases of the organs of the reproductive system and ectopic implantation of the egg.

ultrasound

An informative way to detect pregnancy in the early stages is ultrasonography. Fertilization can be confirmed in the first weeks after conception. The study is carried out using an abdominal or transvaginal probe.

Carrying a child is a big responsibility that takes on future mother. In order for the baby to develop healthy, a woman needs to give up any bad habits, pay attention to her diet and lifestyle.

Useful video about the first symptoms of pregnancy

ALS develops individually, so it is impossible to list the general symptoms of the disease that are characteristic of all patients at the beginning of their struggle with ALS. Despite this, we will try to describe some of the signs that may appear in the early stages of the disease:

• movement disorders; we increasingly drop objects, stumble or fall due to weakening and partial atrophy of the muscles, or their numbness,
• speech disorders,
• sometimes there are muscle cramps, for example, calves,
• noticeable partial atrophy of the muscles of the palms, arms and legs, especially in the area of ​​​​the shoulder girdle: shoulders, shoulder blades, collarbones,
• fasciculations - slight muscle twitching, sometimes described as "goosebumps", which first appear on the palms.

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As mentioned earlier, ALS is a disease that develops individually and is very difficult to diagnose at an early stage. Therefore, people who have not been diagnosed but who have some or all of the symptoms described do not necessarily have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

How else can ALS manifest itself?

ALS is characterized by progressive development. This means that the weakening and atrophy of the muscles, which were mentioned earlier, are intensified. A patient who could not make flexible movements with his hands, for example, fasten buttons, over time will generally lose the ability to perform such actions.

Due to slower movement due to more frequent falls, it will be necessary to use walking walkers, until the moment when the need for wheelchair will become inevitable. The weakening of the muscles will also lead to problems in keeping the head in the correct position (it will fall on the chest). When the disease covers the muscles of the body, it will be more difficult to get out of bed, roll over in it, or sit for a long time.

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Speech will become less distinct (the patient speaks “in the nose”) until this ability is completely lost (although in some patients it remains until the end of life).

Together with the weakening of the muscles, the so-called spasticity begins to appear - in practice, this means an increase in muscle tone; the patient feels difficulty in bending the leg at the knee due to increased muscle resistance: over time, spasticity can develop into muscle spasms.

During the illness, other symptoms appear, directly or indirectly caused by ALS. Often, along with the inconvenience associated with eating, there is excessive salivation, unpleasant for obvious reasons, but, in addition, dangerous, because due to an excess of saliva that enters the esophagus, which, due to illness, does not work properly, the patient often begins to choke on it. . In this case, enteral nutrition is necessary.

Over time, patients develop problems associated with respiratory failure, which is caused by improper functioning of the respiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm. Because of this, the patient quickly gets tired (not to be confused with fatigue due to muscle weakness!), suffocation, headache, nightmares (not to be confused with those that are the result of depression and fear!), difficulty with expectoration normal discharge from the respiratory tract, and in case of extreme oxygen starvation, hallucinations or a feeling of disorientation may occur.

Often, patients already at the very beginning of the disease are subject to involuntary emotional reactions (laughing or crying), which in no case can be considered a symptom of mental illness, because they are the effect of physical damage to the ALS brain - pseudobulbar syndrome.

Patients, due to progressive paralysis, are forced to comply with bed rest. Such inactivity is fraught with constipation, which occurs due to the fact that the digestive tract is not adapted to digest food in a supine position, without the help of the abdominal muscles in mixing food, which occurs when we walk, rise, etc.

All of the symptoms described above can be successfully eliminated or mitigated. Although ALS is currently an incurable disease, this does not mean that we cannot do anything to cope with its symptoms. Just the opposite! Patients can avoid many of them. Doctors, physiotherapists and representatives of other medical professions can provide qualified assistance to patients. We advise you to take advantage of their knowledge and experience.

For infection with venereal infections, it is enough just one unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner.

Unlike men, STD symptoms in women may be mild and in the absence of timely treatment they often pass into a latent latent phase, which is fraught with the development of severe complications. In addition, a woman during this period is not only a carrier, but also a distributor of a dangerous disease.

Another 20 years ago STD list were only "classic" venereal diseases - syphilis, gonorrhea, soft chancre, chlamydial and inguinal granuloma. Since 1993, this list has been replenished with all kinds of infections that can be transmitted through sexual contact, and today STIs include:

• Syphilis;
• Gonorrheal infection in men: anterior and posterior urethritis, epididymitis, prostatitis, vesiculitis; in women: urethritis, vulvitis, bartholinitis;
• Shankroid;
• Chlamydial lymphogranulomatosis;
• Venereal granuloma;
• Trichomoniasis;
• Urogenital chlamydia;
• Urogenital mycoplasmosis;
• Urogenital candidiasis;
• Ureaplasma infection;
• Genital herpes;
• HIV AIDS;
• human papillomavirus (HPV);
• Hepatitis B and C;
• Phthiriasis is an infection with pubic lice.

STDs are common in all countries of the world and cause enormous social and economic damage. The remaining high rates of STIs are affected by: low living standards, prostitution, drug addiction, incomplete registration of cases, unprotected sex. The only way disease prevention - barrier contraception.

Most infections have pronounced symptoms, mainly in the genital area. Some of them may be asymptomatic for years Key words: hepatitis, HIV, HPV, genital herpes, CMVI. Consider the symptoms of each disease.

As you can see, many STIs have similar symptoms, therefore, it is possible to diagnose and differentiate an infection from other similar ones only by laboratory diagnostic methods: serological studies: ELISA, RPHA, RCA; bacteriological method, enzyme immunoassay, DNA diagnostics - PCR method.

Symptoms

The first symptom that indicates a possible STI infection is change in color and character vaginal discharge : gray-white, yellow, grayish-yellow, greenish, frothy, with a sour, fishy smell. In addition, in the acute course of genital infections are often observed: pain and burning during urination, itching and swelling in the vulva.

Diagnosis of STIs in women, as well as in men, is carried out through blood tests, ELISA, PCR, RIF, etc., and vaginal secretion by bacteriological method.

Often, an infection that is not cured in time in women passes into a latent asymptomatic phase, which is characterized by the development of inflammation in the genital area, and is fraught with impaired reproductive function.

Prevention of STDs consists in barrier contraception using a condom, and also includes an annual examination of women by gynecologists.

Bleeding

Bleeding with STDs- a sign of a complicated course of venereological diseases. Scanty intermenstrual bleeding can be observed:

• With endometritis (damage to the uterine mucosa), due to the long course of gonococcal and chlamydial infections.
• Cervicitis caused by mycoplasmas.

Bleeding in the above diseases is often accompanied by other symptoms: swelling and itching in the genitals, strong discharge with pus. Less common: fever, abdominal pain.

Purulent secretions with blood are observed with venereal granuloma and chlamydial lymphogranulomatosis in the secondary period, during the breakthrough of the ulcer.

Preparations

Main STD treatment is aimed at eliminating the pathogenic causative agent of infection with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal drugs (depending on the specifics of the pathogen).

At genital herpes and HPV treatment with antiviral drugs is indicated: "Acyclovir", "Valacyclovir", "Famciclovir", the course of treatment is 5-10 days.

As an antibiotic therapy with syphilis prescribe penicillins (benzylpenicillin): "Bicillin", "Benzylpenicillin novocaine salt". At gonococcal, chlamydial and mycoplasmal infections, treatment with macrolides is indicated: Vilprafen, Josamycin, Erythromycin, Azithromycin, Sumamed, etc. chancroid, granuloma venereum the most effective are tetracyclines: Doxycycline, Unidox Solutab, as well as macrolides: Vilprafen.

During treatment urogenital candidiasis use antifungal drugs: Fluconazole, Diflucan, Mikosist.

For elimination of trichomoniasis take ornidazole preparations: "Ornidazole", "Tiberal", "Lornizol" and metronidazole: "Metronidazole", "Trichopolum".

general principles HIV therapy is to prevent the progression of the disease. To maintain chronic lethargy of the virus, therapy with antiretroviral drugs is indicated: Azidothymidine, Lamivudine, Zalcitabine.

For many expectant mothers, the news of pregnancy is a happy moment, however, how to find out about it and what are the first symptoms of pregnancy? Of course, the body begins to signal quite early, but the first signs are not at all so obvious, or even can be confused with the syndrome of some disease. Let's take a closer look at which symptoms during pregnancy are most common and analyze them in detail so that we don’t confuse them in the future and be able to correctly recognize them.

When to expect symptoms

Fertilization occurs during the first hours after ovulation, but not longer than the first day. However, the symptoms will not appear immediately, but only after implantation. The latter occurs only after 7-10 days from the moment of fertilization. Symptoms will begin to appear from the moment the embryo attaches to the uterine wall, as it will begin to produce hCG. From that moment on, a pregnancy test will be able to show a more or less accurate result, although ideally it should be done only from the moment of menstruation, which should have come.

First symptoms

Let's take a closer look at what are the first symptoms during pregnancy. However, it is worth noting that the body may react in a completely different way, as in most cases, and certain symptoms may not appear, or there may not be a single one at all. This phenomenon does not mean that there is no pregnancy.

• Menstruation. Perhaps the primary symptoms of pregnancy are headed by the absence of menstruation. However, it is worth noting that there may be nuances in this matter. Although this sign is most often attributed to pregnancy, however, the absence or significant delay can be caused by severe stress, hormonal failure, severe illness, and so on. There are also cases when a woman's menstruation continues even during pregnancy during the first months, and sometimes even for all 9 months.
• basal temperature. If you monitor your cycle and measure your basal temperature, you will notice that during ovulation, progesterone keeps it at a relatively high level. In the case of pregnancy, the temperature will not drop, but if conception has not occurred, then the temperature will drop and the process will go on in the usual way.
• Nausea. Mandatory symptoms of pregnancy include morning sickness, namely nausea, due to a drop in sugar levels. For this reason, you need to watch your diet. It is worth noting that it can be sick not only in the morning. Usually this problem lasts the first trimester, but there are also cases when nausea accompanies a woman throughout pregnancy.

• Breast change. In this case, the body is preparing for breastfeeding. The nipples become more sensitive, tender and darker. The areola may also darken and enlarge, and the small bumps on it may also increase in size and number. Veins often appear on the chest, it becomes tuberculate. The process of change is accompanied painful sensations. Of course, the manifestation of pregnancy symptoms in this case can also give a small bonus, namely an increase in breast size, but this is more likely to be appreciated by the male half of the population.

We have analyzed what symptoms during the first pregnancy are sometimes, as well as in all cases. Of course, the absence of one or most of the symptoms is not an indicator, since each organism is individual and may react differently. In any case, to be completely sure, you need to take a pregnancy test, but the result will be accurate only two weeks after conception. You can also do an ultrasound or donate blood for hCG. In any case, if in doubt, you should contact a gynecologist and consult, since self-diagnosis can only harm your own health and the health of the unborn child.

If the pregnancy is confirmed - it's time to start monitoring your health more carefully. All about health future mother in this article, but about the lifestyle of pregnant women.