Lecture 9: Sexual Health, Risk reduction of STI's/HIV

What are the 2 biological reasons women are at higher risk for acquiring STIs/HIV?

larger mucosal surface area, microtears during intercourse

Why are STI infections in women frequently delayed in diagnosis, leading to a "silent spread" (1 key clinical reason)?

they are often asymptomatic

List the 3 common bacterial (curable) STIs in women

chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis

Trichonmoniasis is classified as a [...] STI, whereas HIV, HPV, and HSV are [...] STIs

parasitic, viral

HIV specifically infects and destroys [...] T-cells, and untreated infections progress to [...]

CD4, AIDS

What does the clinical acronym 'U=U' stand for in HIV management?

undetectable equals untransmittable

Which specific mode of sexual intercourse carries the highest biological risk for HIV transmission?

anal intercourse

Non-ulcerative STIs increase HIV risk via [...], while ulcerative STIs facilitate entry via direct [...]

inflammation, ulcers

List the 5 classic symptoms of a symptomatic STI in a female patient

vaginal discharge, itching, dysuria, dyspareunia, genital ulcers

List the 4 long-term pelvic complications of untreated STIs in women

pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy

High-risk strains of which specific viral STI are the primary cause of cervical cancer?

HPV

List 4 potential impacts of untreated maternal STIs on pregnancy and the fetus

miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, neonatal infection

Effective control requires a combination prevention approach, which integrates [...], [...], and structural strategies

behavioural, biomedical

The only 100% effective behavioral prevention strategy is [...], while [...] reduces lifetime exposure in adolescents

abstinence, delayed sexual debut

Daily medication taken by high-risk individuals is [...], whereas emergency prevention used after exposure is [...]

pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP must be initiated within [...] hours of exposure and continued for a strict duration of [...] days

72, 28

When should the HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines be ideally administered for maximum clinical efficacy (1 specific milestone)?

before sexual debut

What is the dual clinical purpose of simultaneous partner notification and treatment (List 2 goals)?

prevents reinfection, breaks transmission cycle

List the 4 major structural/social barriers that increase vulnerability and hinder STI/HIV prevention

poverty, gender inequality, stigma, limited access to care

Why does Gender-Based Violence (GBV) clinically increase a woman's risk for STIs/HIV (List 2 distinct mechanisms)?

reduces condom negotiation power, forced trauma increases transmission

List the 5 steps in the WHO Comprehensive STI Case Management framework

diagnosis, treatment, partner notification and treatment, counselling, preventio