SEXUALLY transmitted diseases (STDs) may not pose a serious phenomenon in our community, thanks to the customs, traditions, and social lifestyle pattern; in addition to the adherence to the Islamic law, which forbids sexual relations outside of marriage. However, these venereal diseases are present in varying proportions and deserve to be taken into account in all health plans at the community level and must be considered by doctors when being consulted by male or female patients. According to the World Health Organization's Facts Report (2014), more than one million people every day in the world are infected with one of the sexually transmitted infections (STI), and it is believed that more than 357 million new infections occur each year by the infection with the sexually transmitted diseases all over the world. Most sexually transmitted diseases can be cured if diagnosed early and treated properly and fully, but if the diagnosis was not conducted early and negligence occurred during treatment, some of these diseases may lead to chronic complications in men and women leading to infertility in both, cervical cancer, heart or mental lesion, or death. Treatment and prevention are essential to prevent complications in the long run; as the sexually transmitted diseases can lead to chronic diseases if left untreated. Infections of sexually transmitted diseases are many, including the infections of gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, hepatitis, genital warts, and the virus causing HIV. The pathogens of these diseases are a group of parasites, viruses and bacteria. The Medical Director of Al-Borg Medical Laboratories, Dr. Hisham Shams Maher, said: The most important elements of preventive control for these diseases is the early checkup to obtain the proper medical diagnosis and learn the nature of the pathogen through laboratory testing, and so the attending physician will be able to diagnose the medical cases accurately. He added consulting a doctor and conducting periodic laboratory tests are considered better, especially if there are no symptoms, and necessary with the presence of the aforementioned warning signs; as most sexually transmitted infections can appear in tests immediately after their transmission, However, in the case of infection with the virus causing HIV, it does not often appear in tests until after three months from the transmission. Al-Borg Laboratories, proceeding from its excellence in the provision of laboratory tests and its leading role in community service, provides special offers until the Aug. 31, 2016 on laboratory testing programs to detect the infection with STDs.
