Homework

09/28/2007
Sexually Transmitted Infections:
1. Chlamydia
-It is an infection caused by bacteria.
-You can get it by having sexual contact with another person who has the infection.
-Some symptoms for females may be pelvic pain, painful/frequent urination, vaginal discharge, bleeding after intercourse or there may not be any symptoms at all.
-Some symptoms for males may be painful urination, discharge from penis or there may not be any at all.
-The only way to know you have the infection for sure is to get a urine or discharge sample sent to a lab.
-It is treated with an antibiotic.
-If you don't take care of it then it may cause severe infections of the reproductive organs, infertility and you can spread it to other sex partners. You can also pass this infection from mother to infant during child birth.

2. Gonorrhea
-It is an infection caused by bacteria.
-How can get it by having sexual contact with someone who has the infection.
-Some symptoms for females may be pelvic pain, painful urination, vaginal discharge, fever, blood/pus from anus, sore throat or they may be none.
-Some symptoms for males may be painful urination, discharge from penis, blood/pus from anus, sore throat or there may be none.
-The only way to know for sure that you have this infection is to get a urine or discharge sample sent to a lab.
-This infection is treated with antibiotics.
-If you neglect to take care of this the it may cause PID mand/or infertility, heart trouble, skin issues and/or arthritis, you can spread it to partners and a mother can pass it to her child during birth.

3. Syphilis
-It's a bacterial infection
-The only way to get it is to have sexual contact with someone who has it.
-Some symptoms during the early stages are painful sores on mouth, penis, vagina, anus, or elsewhere on the body.
-You can find out if you have it by getting a medical examination of the sores or a blood test.
-It may be treated with antibiotics but may need hospitalization.
-If you neglect to treat this is may get as far as the second or even third stage. Syptims of the second stae are rash, fever, hair loss, body aches, sore throat, swollen glands and/or new sores. If it gets as far as the thrid stage it may get as severe as heart damage, brain damage, can cause PID, severe damage to fetus and it may even go as far as death.

4. HIV/AIDS
-It is a virus that damages the immune system which decreases the bodies ability to fight infections.
-You are able to get this infection by having sexual contact with someone who has it, blood to blood contact with someone who has it, sharing contaminated needles or breast milk.
-Some symptoms are fever, chillsm drenching night sweats, weaight loss, constant diarrhea, drycough with shortness of breath, constant fatigue, swollen glands, pink/purple raised blotches on/under the skin, white spots in mouth or there may be no symptoms at all.
-You can know for sure by getting a blood test or an orasure test done.
-Even though there is still no cure for this infection there's a mixture medications that can be taken to boost the immune system and fight the spread of infection and accompanying illnesses.
-If you neglect this you may develop a/some life threatening illness/illnesses, can be passed from mother to child during birth, sex partners and needle sharing partners.

5. Genital Herpes
-This is an infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus.
-How can get this infection by having sexual contact or skin to skin contact with someone who has it. This virus may be passed weather there are sores present or not.
-You may get painful blisters that will break into open sores and swollen glands. The sores will dry up and dissapear within 5-21 days.
-You should get a medical examination, fluid form sores sent to a lab and/or a blood test to know for sure.
-The infection will never leave your body however there are medications or cream that you can use to speed up the healing process and prevent future outbreaks.
-The sores come and go with stress and/or illnesses, you can spread this to your sex partners, and can be passed from mother to child during birth which may cause sickness and maybe even death.

6. Genital Warts
-This infection is cause by HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).
-Can be passed by having sexual or skin to skin contact with someone who has HPV and it can be passes even if warts arent visible.
-Small painless bumps which grows in/around genitals, may have slight itching or irritation or there may not be any symptoms.
-To know for sure you should get either a medical exam or a pap test.
-Once you are infected with this it stays in yoru body however you can get the warts burned, froze or cut off. May require surgery.
-Can be passed from mother to child during birth, can be passed to sex partners and the warts can grow, spread, and become harder to remove.

7. Pubic Lice/Crabs
-It's a parasite that lives in the hair around genitals.
-This is mostly passed by sexual or skin to skin contact but can be passed through infested towels, clothing and/or bedding.
-Some symptoms may be severe itching, lice or eggs in pubic hair and small dots of blood ion panties.
-The only way to know for sure it to get a visual examination.
-This can be treated by using a special shampoo/lotion, wash all bedding/clothing, have others who may also have it checked and treated.
-If you don't take care of this the symptoms can get worse, may lead to bacterial infection and can spread to others.


October 2, 2007
Contraceptives:
1. The Birth Control Pill:
-This pill is 92-99% effective if taken correctly. You should take one pill everyday. Taking this can make periods more regular, less painful, improve acne, it cna lower the riskk of ovarian cancer and the ablility to get prgnant returns quicky after stopping. Some side effacts could be weight gain, spotting, headaches, and possibly nausea. These side effects vary between the different pills and the person.

2. The Progestin-Only Pill:
-This pill is also 92-99% effective and one pill must be taken at the same time everyday. Your ability to get pregnant returns quickly after stopping and can be used while breastfeeding. Some side effects may be spotting.

3. The patch (Ortho Evra):
-Like the others so far it is 92-99% effective. You put on a new patch once a week for 3 weeks and then on the 4th week you dont wear one. This can make periods more regular and less painful, there is no pill to take daily and your ablility to get pregnant returns quickly after stopping. Wearing a patch for 3 weeks out of the month can irritate the skin underneath and/or around it.

4. The Ring (Nuvaring):
-92-99% effective. A small ring is inserted into the vagina and a you insert a new one each month. This does not require any fitting done by a doctor or any spermicide. This method liek many others can make your period more regular and less painful. There is no pill to take daily and the your ablility to get pregnant returns quickly after stopping. however, this can cause vaginal discharge.

5. IUD Intrauterine Device (ParaFard, Mirena):
-This method is 98-99% effective. This must be placed in the uterus by a doctor or health care provider must be removed also by a doctor or health care provider. Some good things about this method is that there is nothing to put in place before having sexual intercourse, the ParaGard may be in place for up to 12 years, Mirena may be left in place for up to 5 years. There is no pill to take daily and your ablility to get pregnant returns quickly after removal. May reduce period cramps, bleeding and cn be used while breastfeeding. Some negative things about this method may be that ParaGard may cause an increase in cramps and heavier and longer periods but it may also cause lighter or fewer periods. Spotting may occur and very rarely the uterus can be injured during placement.

6. Male Latex Condom:
-It can be 85-98% effective (depending on if it was used correctly or not). You need to use a new condom everytime you have sex. Condoms are easy to buy, there is no prescription needed. It can beput on as part of sex play. It can help relieve early ejaculation and it protects against many infections including HIV.

7. Female Condom:
-79-75% effective and you need to use a new one everytime you have sex. It is easy to buy, no prescription needed. Canbe put in as part of sex play. This method is good for people with latex allergy and protects you form many infections including HIV. Some side effects may be that it can slip out of place during sex and sometimes it may be hard to insert. It may also be noisy and it can irritate teh vagina and/or penis.

8. Spermicide (cream, gel, foam, inserts)
-This is 71-82% effective. It must be ised everytime you have sex. It's easy to buy, no prescription needed. Cna be put in as a part of sex play and it comes in many different forms: cream, gel, foam, inserts. Using spermicide nonoxynol-9 may increase your risk of getting the HIV infection. You may have an allergy to latex or spemicide. This method should not be used during vaginal bleeding or infection and it also increases your risk of getting a bladder infection.

9. Diaphragm:
-This can be from 80-94% effective. This must be used everytime you have sex and must be used with spermicide each time. It must must also be fitted be a health care provider. It can last several years adn costs very little to use. It can pritect you from some infections (NOT HIV). Using spermicide may increase your risk of getting the HIV infection. Allergy to latex or spermicide. This method should not be used during vaginal bleeding or infection and by using this method you increase your risk of getting a bladder infection.

10. The implant (Implanon):
-This method is over 99% effective. A doctor must place this under the skin of the upper arm and it must also be removed by a doctor. This may be left in place for up to 3 years. Your ability to get pregnant returns quickly after removal. There is no daily medicine and can be used while breastfeeding. This may cause changes in your period. (spotting, heavier periods or no period at all) After 1 year many women dont have a period at all.

11. The Shot (Depo-Provera):
-This shot is 97% effective. Every 3 months you go to your doctor and get another shot. Each shot works for 12 years and helps prevent cancer of the uterus (womb). There is no pill to take every day and can be used while breastfeeding. This may cause changes in your period. (spotting, heavier periods or no period at all). May cause weight gain, depression, hair loss, skin rash and change sex drive. This method may cause a delay in getting pregnant after shots are stopped and some women may have side effects for upto 6 months after stopping.

12. Emergency Contraception (Plan B):
-This is 75-89% effective depending on how long you wait after having unprotected sex to take the pill. You take 2 pills together as soon as you can after having unprotected sex. Women and men 18 and older do not need a prescription. This can lower the risk of getting oregnant if taken within 5 days of unprotected sex and can be used while breatfeeding. Side effects other than nausea are not frequent, (vomiting, fatigue, headache, dizziness and breast pain). The next period sometimes comes a few days early or a few days late.


Tobacco
October 9, 2007
Cost of use:
-Using tobacco can become very expensive. To figure out how much you spend on smoking is pretty easy. All you have to do is add up how much you spend on it per day and then multiply that by 365 and thats how much you spend per year. To find out how much you have spent so far on tobacco then multiply how much you spend per year by the number of years you've been using it. Then if you multiply the cost per year by 10 then thats how much money you'll spend in the next 10 years of your life if you continue using tobacco. However, this only includes the cost of the actual product, which means that it doesnt cover you higher health and life insurance or the health care costs due to tobacco related conditions. In Vermont the cost of a pack of cigarettes is about $6. If you were to smoke one pack each day then that would cost you about $42 a week. So smoking a pack a day for 30 days you would spend about $180. That would be $2184 coming out of your pocket each year just for the product so thats not counting the higher insurace or doctor bills or anything.

Social Acceptance:
-Smoking now is less acceptable then it was in the past. A lot of work places have some kind of smoking restrictions, some employers would even choose a nonsmoker over someone who does smoke because of insurance reasons and smokers tend to be out sick more frequently costing the business more money to keep them employed. Smokers also tend to cause insurance prices to increase for both other employees and for the employer who usually pays some of the workers' premiums. As a nonsmoker it's easier to get a house or apartment because smokers increase the maintenance costs of keeping the odors at an acceptable level because cigarette residue sticks to walls, carpets, drapes and any other fabrics. Finding a place to smoke is becoming a lot more difficult because communities are making it so that there's no smoking in public places like resturaunts and bars. Also most public buildings, concerts and sporting events are usually smoke free because it affects everyone around as well as the person using it. So it really isnt fair to others, especially kids.

Health of Others:
-Thousands of people die each year due to heart disease and lung cancer in healthy nonsmokers. This is caused by second hand smoke. Pregnant mothers who smoke increase their childs risk of getting asthma. This is also related to SIDS (Suden infant Death Syndrome) and infants with a really low birth weight. When children are raised around people who smoke they have a higher risk of getting colds, ear infections, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. Headaches, dizziness, eye irritation and nausea can also be casue by second hand smoke.

Setting an Example:
-The best way to set a good example if you dont want you child to smoke it to not do it yourself. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves.

October 19, 2007
Cervical Cancer:
-HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. It can effect both women and men and it's very common. You can get this virus by having any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact with an infected person. There is a vaccine that can be given by a doctor or health care provider that can prevent only 2 of the types of HPV but these 2 types alone cause 70% of Cervical Cancer. A lot of people who get HPV never show any signs or symptoms of having it which means that they can pass it on to other partners without even knowing it. It is easily transmitted and it was estimated that about 20 million people in the US had HPV in 2005. Gardasil can help prevent you from getting types 6, 11, 16 and 18 if you're vaccinated before coming into contact with someone who has it. Gardasil does not protect everyone and doesn't not protect you from every type of cervical cancer. Gardasil is 3 injections over a period of 6 months. It can cause swelling, itching, pain, redness at the injection site. Also fever, nausea and dizziness. The only way to find out if Gardasil is right fro you is to talk to your doctor or health care provider. There are 40 types of HPV that are transmitted sexually and a few types can cause Cervical Cancer. Weather you are already vaccinated or not pap tests are still very important because they can detect dangerous cell changes before cancer develops. There are more than 100 types of HPV, some can cause warts, planters warts on the feet and common hand warts too. It can also effect the genital sex organs by causing genital warts. HPV doesn't only cause Cervical Cancer but it can also cause other genital and throat cancers too. However most types seem to have no harmful effect at all. Genital HPV infections are most common among people who are sexually active, at any time in the US there are at least 20 million people who have it. Between 10 and 15 million have the high risk types are the high risk kind that are asociated with Cancer. About 3 out of 4 people have HPV at some point in there life...usually not knowing it. It usually goes away by without treatment and don't cause cancer. Most women recover with no health problems and many develop immunity(which is a natural protection against different types of HPV they've been exposed to. Smoking may increase your risk of getting Cervical Cancer. If Condoms are used every time then they can reduce your risk of getting an HPV infection. They aren't as effective in preventing HPV as they are other infections like HIV, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia though; this is because HPV may be present in the skin that is not protected by a condom.

Testicular Cancer:
-Testicular Cancer occurs in the testicles. Testicular Cancer is rare compared to other types of Cancer but is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34 and no one knows why. However, it is highly treatable even when it has spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the stage the cancer is at you may recieve any of the folowing treatments:

• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
• A dull ache in the abdomen or groin.
• A lump or enlargment in either testicle.
• A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
• Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum.
• Enlargment or tenderness of the breasts.
• Unexplained fatigue or a general feeling of not being well.
  

Testicular Cancer usually only affects one testicle. It's more common in white men than in black. Testicular Cancer can occur at any age but it mostly affects teens and younger men between ages 15-34. If anyone in your family have had it than you may have a higher risk then someone who's family doesnt have a history of it. You may also have a higher risk than others if you've ever had a condition that causes the testicles to develop abnormally, like Klinefelter's Syndrome. During fetal development the testes form in the abdominal area and descend into the scrotum before birth. Men whose testicle never descended have a greater risk then other men. Even if the testicle has been surgically relocated, the risk will still remain. However, most of the men who get Testicular Cancer do not have a history of undescended testicles. You should talk to your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

• Pain in testicles or groin area.
  
• Swelling in tsticles or groin area.
  
• Lump(s) in testicle or groin area.

There is only a small percentage of Testicular Cancers are painful so even f you detect a bump and it doesnt hurt then you should still talk to your physician. There are 3 stages. Stage 1 is limited to the testes, in stage 2 it has spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen and by stage 3 it has spread to other parts of the body. It most commonly spreads to the liver, brain, lungs and bones. Treatment can cause infertility depending on the extent of your cancer and what type of treatment you get. Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy can all cause infertility. There's no way to prevent testicular cancer but by doing self examinations you can detect it at an early stage.