Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: thedoc on 01/11/2016 03:23:01

Title: Does sexually transmitted disease permenantly damage the body?
Post by: thedoc on 01/11/2016 03:23:01

Chihsien Liang asked the Naked Scientists:
   Dear The Naked Scientists,

Is a body once damaged by sexually transmitted diseases no longer the same ever again?
What do you think?

Title: Re: Does sexually transmitted disease permenantly damage the body?
Post by: chris on 01/11/2016 08:13:56

It depends upon the disease. Some infections are transient or can be resolved with a course of drugs leaving no obvious residual changes. Other infections are more significant or long-lasting in their effects: chlamydia, for example, can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can be a cause of infertility. Herpes simplex infection, once acquired, never leaves the body and periodically reactivates at the infection site producing painful blisters (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/chrissmithcolumn4.htm/). Meanwhile, HIV devastates the immune system and HPV causes cervical cancer.