The impact of sexually transmitted infections on the reproductive health in adolescent girls

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), remained relevant to this day, are a huge problem for the global health system. The most common bacterial causative agents of STIs are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which cause numerous urogenital symptoms and can also affect the organs of the female reproductive system, and the course of pregnancy. The group of viral STIs includes a large number of pathogens, among which the hepatitis B virus is of particular interest. The greatest problem in relation to STIs is the antibiotic resistance of pathogens, which greatly complicates the treatment of patients. The ability to solve this problem lies in the creation of fast and accurate methods for diagnosing STI pathogens. An important role in the struggle against STIs can be played by sexual education of adolescents, giving them an idea of the risks and consequences that sexual contact can lead to. The search for works for inclusion in this review was carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar databases. The keywords used in the search were “Chlamydia trachomatis”, “Neisseria gonorrhoeae”, “hepatitis B”, “reproductive outcomes” and “sex education”. The search input identified four hundred fifty three reports. During the review of abstracts and full texts of papers, 58 reports were selected, among which there were 5 systematic reviews and 18 clinical studies. Both chlamydial infection and gonorrhea are associated with the development of infertility, where the tubal factor plays a key role, and pregnancy complications. The use of rapid tests, which provide fast and accurate results in the diagnosis of STIs, shortens the period from the patient’s admission to the appointment of the correct treatment regimen, which speeds up the recovery process for patients. Data on hepatitis B are mixed, but it is associated with numerous complications of pregnancy, while no association with infertility was observed. Sex education can reduce the number of STIs and unwanted pregnancies, which has a positive effect on the physical and emotional state of adolescents.