Female body: the danger of hidden infections
According to statistics, every thirda woman who leads an active sexual life has one or another type of latent infection, and in some cases, several. Therefore, this material will be devoted to information about what latent infections women have, their symptoms and first manifestations.
What are hidden infections?
Latent sexually transmitted infections include:sexually transmitted diseases. They are called hidden because they are difficult to diagnose. In most cases, they are transmitted sexually, less often vertically (from mother to child) and domestically. Most diseases of this nature have a short list of symptoms or are asymptomatic, and obvious manifestations become visible only at the stages of complications. The infection received this name because they cannot be detected using a routine examination: a bacterial smear or culture. To identify them, you need to undergo a special medical examination and take tests that can identify hidden infections. These types of tests include DNA hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. These infections can be aggravated by an unfavorable environmental situation, the state of the human immune system, poor nutrition, and stress. The incubation period is up to 30 days. The course is acute or chronic.
Infection and spread of infections in women
These diseases are transmitted sexually. The carriers have no complaints. The spread of latent infections in women goes through the following stages:
- Infections affect the vagina and cervix. This process can cause erosion of the cervix. In the erosion zone, multiplication occurs, since it has a favorable microflora for viruses and bacteria.
- The second stage is damage to the uterus and appendages; the infection can also penetrate into the urinary tract.
- At this stage, the infection in women goes further,affecting the appendages, the urinary tract, spreading throughout the body, begin to appear complaints of irritation of the mucous membranes: a stomach ulcer, conjunctivitis, stomatitis. In the appendages and the uterus, an inflammatory process begins, spikes can form.
List of hidden female infections
The list of STDs includes 31 pathogens:ectoparasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses. The most well-known diseases: HIV, syphilis, herpes, gonorrhea; less well-known: mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, gardnerellosis, papilloma virus, chlamydia. Latent infections in women include:
- ureplasma;
- gardnerelles;
- chlamydia;
- herpes viruses;
- mycoplasma, human and urogenital;
- cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Gardnerellosis (bacterial vaginosis) is calledhidden infection, its causative agent is the bacterium gardnerella. In this case, the vaginal microflora is disturbed. Herpes is a virus that appears on the mucous membranes and on the skin in the form of blisters. When it enters the female body, the virus remains there forever. When the immunity decreases, the virus manifests itself. This disease is the most common STI. Candidiasis is an infection that is known to most as thrush. It is caused by yeast-like Candida fungi. This fungus is present in the female body constantly, but under favorable conditions it begins to spread and multiply, causing the disease - vaginal candidiasis. This disease is not dangerous to health, but can cause discomfort.
Signs and manifestations of latent infections in women
Signs and manifestations of latent infections in women, in other words, symptoms, are the following:
- fleeting rashes on the genitals;
- vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor;
- the burning sensation in the vagina;
- the presence of itching in the vagina;
- presence of a sensation of rubbing during urination.
Chlamydia and mycoplasmosis can occurfor a long time without showing symptoms. Recently, syphilis, trichomoniasis and gonorrhea have been included in the number of latent sexually transmitted infections. Diseases such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, syphilis may similarly not show themselves at first and have no symptoms. That is why they are called latent.
What are the dangerous hidden genital infections?
Since latent infectious diseases inwomen in most cases are asymptomatic, they are detected only at 2-3 stages. They can quickly spread in the body, parasitize in the mucous membranes of not only the genitals, but also the whole body. They can harm health in the mouth, eyes, joints, throat. Most antibiotics and antibodies of the human body cannot cope with them. If you do not pay attention to the slightest manifestations of infections, symptoms, the disease will go into the chronic stage and take root in the female body for a long time. Immunity in people with latent infections decreases, which exposes the body to the possibility of infection and other diseases. If latent infections are not diagnosed in time and there is no proper treatment, latent infections can lead to serious consequences. Advanced forms can develop into vesiculitis, epididymitis. And already with these diseases, body temperature, general malaise, pain in the groin and lower abdomen, cystitis, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine can sharply increase. If you do not treat these infections, the entire genitourinary system may be affected. Hidden infectious diseases in women can also be the cause of infertility. If there is an inflammatory process in the uterus, it cannot hold the fertilized egg, inflammation of the ovaries leads to the impossibility of forming an egg, an increase in cycles without ovulation is typical. The processes can be especially dangerous when pregnancy occurs. Then the disease process accelerates, the contact of the uterine walls with the fertilized egg is disrupted, and this leads to the death of the embryo. The consequence of this process can be a miscarriage or cessation of development of the fertilized egg. Scientists have proven the fact that some STIs can cause malignant tumors in the female reproductive system, most often cervical cancer. It is necessary to remember that after any process of unprotected sex with partners in whom you are not entirely sure, it is better to undergo an examination in special clinics. Timely detection and treatment of hidden infections in women will undoubtedly help you protect and save your body from the most serious diseases. Doctors strongly recommend that women undergo an annual medical examination to detect hidden infections!
