CThe holidays, the new meetings and the most relaxed climate, the summer It is often the moment in which it is easier to let go and live sexuality in a freer way.
However, the risk can be to ‘lower the guard’, neglecting what are the fundamental precautions to live the Sex safely and for protect health.
Unprotected sex and sexually transmitted infections (IST)
Recent data of theHigher Institute of Health In fact, they indicate a rather worrying increase in the so -called sexually transmitted infections. “Gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia they had fallen at the time of Covid but then recorded a significant increase in recent years – confirms the Doctor Claudio Paganotti, Specialist in Gynecology at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Operational Unit of the City of Brescia Clinical Institute. – These infections, of bacterial origin, are transmitted through unprotected sexual relations And they can affect anyone, regardless of sexual age or orientation “.
Among the viruses that cause sexual transmission diseases there are instead that of HIV, head of the AIDS and the human papillomavirus (HPV), of which about a hundred of several strains are known. “Even thehepatitis B and C they are diseases that can be favored by unprotected sex because they contract through contact with infected blood – explains the specialist – The risk concerns in this case the unprotected relationships where a passage of blood occurs, perhaps due to lacerations on the skin ».
The signals to pay attention to
IST are often very subtle, since asymptomatic or characterized by many slight symptoms.
«Alarm bells to which it is good to pay attention can be the presence of small injuries, Like warts or bubbles, on a genital level – explains Dr. Paganotti – but also Pain during relationships, frequent urination, abnormal secretions and itching. However, symptoms that must not be confused with those caused by conditions such as Candida’s vaginitis or cystitis, widespread in summer but which are not sexual transmission diseases ».
The consequences
Identify these infections promptly It is essential to avoid long -term complications even serious.
“Sexual transmission diseases can have serious consequences over time – confirms the specialist – causing in some cases sterility, problems during pregnancy and damage to the unborn child but also Development of tumors, as in the case of HPV, Disease that is initially presents with the appearance of Condilomi but which may over time expose to the risk of tumors, in particular against the uterine cervix ».
The importance of screening
If sexually transmitted diseases are diagnosed in time, damage can instead be contained, and that is why the screening They are fundamental.
«For the diagnosis sometimes A medical examination and observation by a specialist is enough of any injuries on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital areas – explains Dr. Paganotti. – in other cases Instead, it is necessary to carry out tests: Depending on the suspicion, we proceed with Various screening as vaginal swabs or with analysis on blood samples».
After a relationship at risk when taking the test?
If you have had a relationship at risk, So when it is good to undergo the test?
«We must take into account that there is a different incubation period for each disease” – explains Dr. Paganotti. In the case of gonorrheathe incubation period, or the time between the contagion and the appearance of the first symptoms, when present, generally varies from 2 to 10 days. For the clamidia It is between one and 3 weeks. While they can go from 10 to 90 days for the appearance of symptoms of syphilis. Even if HIVbetween the moment of contagion and the positiveness of the test, a period, said “Window period”, Which can last a few weeks and during which, even if the person is still negative to the test, it is still able to transmit the infection.
How to protect yourself
«If the vaccines exist against hepatitis B and HPV, for all other sexual transmission diseases the prevention passes primarily from the correct use of the condom – underlines the specialist – In any type of relationship, vaginal, anal and oral “.
Oral sex also needs protection. «In this case the advice is that of Always use the Dental-Dam Or oral condom, a sort of latex tissue that creates a barrier between the mouth and the vagina – continues Dr. Paganotti. – these are devices designed precisely to reduce the risk of spreading infections during oral sex, covering the genital or anal area ».
Unprotected sex: attention also to sex toys
Do not forget, then, that Sex toys can also be a vehicle for infections.
“If not correctly or if shared without precautions, they can also encourage the transmission of sexual infections – explains the expert. – The advice is that of Always wash them carefully. If you share and do not have the opportunity to sanitize them Better to use them with condom».
Unprotected sex: the impact (also) on the microbiota
«We often tend to underestimate it but unprotected sex can also have significant consequences on microbiotaaltering the balance of the bacterial flora – continues the specialist. – lo sperm can in fact alter the vaginal pHcreating a less acidic environment in favor of the proliferation of unwanted bacteria which therefore increase the risk of infections. And the impact on the pH can be more evident if partner change ». Orovaginal relationships can also be at risk in this sense.
«There is a bacterium, Shuttlewortia, who He usually lives in the oral cavity Without causing symptoms but which, once passed into the vagina, alters the presence of good bacteria, thus favoring infections such as HIV and HPV. Also for this reason it is important to use the dental-dam “-suggests the expert.
Unprotected sex and unwanted pregnancies
Finally, it may seem obvious but it is right to remember that among the risks of unprotected relationships there is also to meet unwanted pregnancies.
«At the end of the summer There is an increase in requests for the so -called pill of the next day – concludes Dr. Paganotti. – We must try to sensitize especially the youngest on this theme: the pill of the next day should not be taken lightly. Is a emergency contraceptive. To avoid unwanted pregnancies is the use of condoms that proves to be fundamental ».