PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF STIs/STDs

Over the past few weeks, we have been having a discourse on sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs/STDs). We will continue our conversation today by focusing on the psychological implications of having STIs/STDs. The big question here is can STIs/STDs cause mental illness or affect our mental health? Before we get into that conversation, let us consider what mental health is.  According to the World Health Organization, mental health is “is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. That is to say, our mental health is the basis for our thinking, learning and communication. A healthy mental or psychological state is especially important to our relationships, emotional and personal well-being, as well as our contribution to our society. 

STIs/STDs affects the mental health of infected individuals in complex ways. When individuals find out they have STDs, they usually feel bad about themselves often due to guilt, shame and stigma. These feelings can result in depression, stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems.  Indeed, researchers and clinicians have reported that having a diagnosis like HIV and any other STD can be a stressor and a precipitating factor for depression and anxiety, which may require counselling for patients to come to terms with it. Infected individuals may develop feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and anhedonia, which is diminished interest or loss of pleasure in almost all activities, a change in appetite and sleep pattern as well as significant weight changes. They may have diminished ability to think or concentrate or they may become indecisive. 

Beyond our emotional state, researchers have observed that some STDs like syphilis and herpes viruses can severely damage the brain, when left untreated. Neurological problems such as dementia and syphilitic meningitis, which could result in stroke, heart disease, seizures, aneurysms and death are a few examples of complications an individual may suffer from untreated syphilis. Another well-known infection of the brain called encephalitis has been linked to herpes virus, HIV and Cytomegalovirus. Encephalitis often results in an inflammation of the brain leading to memory and personality changes, as well as fever. The disease has also been tagged as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive damage to the brain that causes adverse changes in memory, cognition, and behavior of the infected person. 

Due to these lasting effects of untreated STDs/STIs, it is recommended that every sexually active person should do a routine STI/STD test to know his/her status and get early treatment. To lower your chances of being infected with STDs and having the resultant physical and psychological effects, you should seriously consider abstinence especially if you are young and/or unmarried as it is the only effective way to avoid contracting STDs.  If you cannot abstain, then for your safety as well as that of your sexual partner, you need to embark on the following measures:

1. Reduce your number of sexual partners to one who has been tested for STDs and does not have any.
2. Use a new condom each time you have sex and be sure to wear it correctly.
3. Seek medical care during pregnancy.
4. Get tested and treated for other STDs and encourage your partner(s) to do the same.
5. More importantly, be faithful to your sexual partner whether you are dating or married.

Thank you for being a huge part of this blog series on STIs/STDs. Do you have questions or concerns? Kindly reach out to the DGG team for professional assistance. Share this post, like our pages and subscribe to receive educative contents about your reproductive health.