Venereologist
Venereologist - a specialist in the field of infections and diseases of the reproductive system, diseases of the skin and mucous membranes, which mainly concern the genitals and urinary tract. A venereologist can work in medical centers, in hospitals. He must have a higher medical education in this specialty, know the symptoms and effective methods of treating all sexually transmitted diseases, and also have the skills to work with medical and diagnostic equipment. The doctor of this specialty must be attentive, responsible and emotionally stable.
What a venereologist treats
The uniqueness of a venereologist is that he can compare symptoms from gynecology, urology and the genitourinary sphere and promptly respond to sexually transmitted diseases of a wide range of occurrence. His task is to diagnose and prescribe treatment for identified diseases. The venereologist treats the following types of diseases: bacterial vaginosis, gonorrheal urethritis in men, adnexitis, Reiter's disease, pathogenic bacteria in semen, herpes of the genitourinary organs, simple colpitis, trichomoniasis, syphilis, cystalgia, chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, endometritis. If we talk about internal organs and clearly define what a venereologist is treating, then this is the vagina, penis, testicles, labia majora and minora, cervix.
Reasons for consulting a venereologist
A venereologist should be consulted if there was unprotected contact with a new partner (the disease is possible), as well as if there was unprotected contact with an infected contact person.
The reason for consulting a venereologist may be complaints about the genitourinary and reproductive system and the appearance of signs of a sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted disease symptoms usually appear within three to seven days after intercourse. Symptoms can be any unreasonable rash, odor from the genitals, burning, pain, itching, redness and swollen lymph nodes, premature or prolonged ejaculation. However, if the disease is chronic, then most often it does not have pronounced characteristic signs.
At the appointment with a venereologist
At the reception with a venereologist, you should not be ashamed of the doctor's questions regarding sexuality. Many patients are wary of possible publicity. But it should be remembered that the doctor's appointment is confidential, anonymous. The sooner the patient turns to a venereologist, the easier it will be to cure the disease.
A venereologist can prescribe tests if there is a suspicion of venereal diseases. Among all the known tests, the venereologist most often prescribes a blood test, a smear test for genitourinary infections, a smear test for flora in women and men, RW, AIDS (HIV), hepatitis C or B.
The smear is a small cotton ball at the end of a thin cotton-like swab. They are performed in various places to obtain samples of mucus, cells, or secretions. These samples can be taken from the penis, vagina, anus and / or larynx by a venereologist. The sample is sent to the laboratory for analysis. A smear sample can also identify diseases that are not sexually transmitted - bacterial vaginosis, thrush and other microorganisms. The standard tests for hepatitis C and B, HIV and syphilis are blood tests.
In different clinics, tests for genital infections are carried out differently. After an external examination, the venereologist inserts a dilator - a metal or plastic device for taking a smear from the cervix. It allows the doctor to examine the cervix in detail, as well as take samples for analysis for genital infections. In men, a swab is taken from the urethra after an external examination of the genitals. Your doctor may use a plastic spatula to take samples of urethral cells. Sometimes throat and anal swabs are required. For a detailed examination of the walls of the anus, the venereologist most often uses a small plastic tube (rectoscope).
To obtain the final result, the provided sample is placed in a Petri dish with a special substance that accelerates the growth of bacteria. It usually takes two to three weeks for microorganisms to grow. Test results for trichomoniasis, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis C and B are most often available on the day they are taken.
After receiving the test results, the venereologist must explain them to the patient and tell about the detected infection, prescribe a treatment regimen for both partners and inform that during the treatment period it is necessary to refrain from sexual intercourse.
Quite often, in parallel with the therapy of sexually transmitted diseases, the doctor also prescribes drugs for the treatment of skin diseases. If necessary, an additional examination can be assigned.
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