Unit 6: Health

Lesson 7: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

OBJECTIVES

1. Identify at least three symptoms of a possible sexually transmitted disease (STD).

2. Identify the best ways to prevent the spread of a STD.

INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT

This lesson will provide students with information about sexually transmitted diseases. The rationale for having a lesson on STDs is to remind students that getting one can interfere with work. Information about STDs is enormous, especially with the concerns about AIDS. Due to the extreme amount of information, this lesson will focus on the most common STDs. Stress to students that they should always seek medical care if they think they have a STD. Keep in mind that the purpose of this lesson is not to teach morality or ethics. However, abstinence should be discussed as the best way to avoid STDs. The source from which this information was gathered is the thriveonline.com Health Library "Index of Illnesses and Conditions."

1. Discuss common STDs.
   
   

   • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) – AIDS is the result of the HIV destroying the cells that help people fight off disease and cancer. Without these cells, people with HIV (early stages) and AIDS (late stages) are more likely to get sick with illnesses that are potentially fatal. HIV is spread through unprotected sex with an infected partner, using a contaminated needle, transfusion of contaminated blood (extremely rare), and children born to an infected mother. At this time, AIDS has no cure and is fatal.
     
     

   • Genital Herpes – A virus that causes painful blisters on the genitals, painful urination, and sometimes an ill feeling. The blisters are the result of a virus that is spread by contact with a person who has an active herpes lesion. So, if a man has an active lesion on his penis and has sexual intercourse with a woman, that woman is at risk of getting the herpes virus.
     
     

   • Gonorrhea – Gonorrhea is a bacterial disease that can cause pain during urination and a discharge from the penis or vagina. Women can also experience swelling and pain in the vagina. Long-term effects can include sterility, arthritis, and heart problems. It is important to know that 80 percent of women and 10 percent of men who have gonorrhea show no symptoms. Thus, even if you believe your partner is free from disease, there may be risk in having unprotected sex with that person.
     
     

   • Syphilis – This is a bacteria that can remain in person's body for life and cause disfigurement, mental disorder, or death. Symptoms occur in stages. During the early stages, painless sores appear on the genitalia or mouth. Some people may get swollen glands. During the next stage, the sores may come and go, a rash may develop on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, and an infected person may experience fever, fatigue, hair loss, headaches, and muscle pains. During the late stages, if a person has not received treatment, there may be significant damage to the heart, brain, and other organs. Syphilis can remain latent in which a person shows no symptoms. It is spread through kissing as well as sexual intercourse.
     
     

   • Chlamydia – This bacteria can cause pain while urinating, discharge from the penis or vagina, vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, nausea, and swelling and pain in the genital regions. Chlamydia can lead to sterility in both men and women. This is most common and concealed STD in America. Seventy-five percent of women and 25 percent of men have no symptoms.
     
     

2. Summarize this information by making the following points.
   
   

   • If you are sick, go see the doctor.
     
     

   • If it hurts when you go to the bathroom, if there is a funny colored liquid coming out of your penis or vagina, if your private parts have sores on them or they are painful, go see a doctor immediately. STDs do not go away on their own. Based on the information above, untreated STDs have serious consequences.
     
     

   • Abstinence is the best protection from STDs.
     
     

   • Using condoms is the next best preventive measure.
     
     

   • Due to the fact that people can spread an STD without actually having any symptoms, it suggested that people with a history of sexual activity get tested prior to starting a sexual relationship. Although this difficult, it is the only way to really know if you are carrying an STD.
     
     

   • It is difficult to work when you develop any of the symptoms discussed above.

Index of Illnesses and Conditions. Health Library. www.thriveonline.com/health/lookitup.ills.html.

SIGNS OF GENERALIZATION
Because of the privacy involved with sexual activity, it is not recommended that trainers do much follow-up with this topic. Assertiveness training is probably the best lesson to truly prevent the spread of STDs, as the best prevention strategy is to be able to say "no." A student may be motivated to avoid getting a STD following this lesson, but unless he or she has the skills to avoid a sexual encounter that is unwanted, this lesson will be of little value. Assertiveness training information is available in the unit titled Social Skills.

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