SOME sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are still prevalent among Dabawenyos, according to the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) of Davao City on Tuesday, March 7.
The most common is syphilis which is mainly prevalent among men having sex with men, said RHWC head Dr. Jordana Ramiterre during an interview with SunStar Davao.
Other common STIs include gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital warts, and Nongonococcal Urethritis but the latest exact figure for these cases is yet to be finalized by the Davao City Health Office (CHO).
“These are public health issues so I would consider most of them (worrying). Because when you have STI, there is that risky sexual behavior (among people) na unprotected,” Ramiterre said.
These STIs can be treated and manageable, whether it be a bacterial infection, like syphilis and gonorrhea, or a viral infection, like genital herpes and warts. However, STIs can still reoccur depending on the sexual behavior of an individual, especially for viral infections.
“Treatment would depend on what kind of viral infection they are. Like HIV, it’s a viral infection so it just stays there. We can suppress it but most of the time, it’s not an absolute cure,” Ramiterre said.
People who are at risk or have symptoms of STIs should immediately seek medical consultation as late diagnosis and treatment can complicate or worsen the infection. Ramiterre said prevention and early screening should be done to avoid STIs.
At RHWC, Ramiterre said the process for treatment begins with screening followed by testing and diagnosis before treatment and support are provided to individuals. She added that prevention and early screening are still the best options to manage STIs.