Sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) have been known to mankind for centuries.
Before the advent of modern medicine, people's lack of awareness and
understanding of STDs contributed to the widespread transmission of the
infections while few or no treatments were available to treat the conditions.
In medieval times, syphilis
and gonorrhoea were two of the most prevalent STDs in Europe. One theory
suggest that syphilis was spread by crew members who picked up the disease on
the voyages led by Christopher Columbus. They are thought to have contracted
syphilis while in the Americas and to have then spread it on their return when
docking at ports in Europe. Sailors are also thought to be responsible for the
spread of gonorrhoea
from Tahiti to New Zealand during the Cook voyages.
Some STDs
can have severe, life-changing consequences; syphilis, for example, can
eventually cause progressive destruction of the brain and spinal cord, leading
to mental dysfunction and hallucinations, speech problems and general paresis.
Treatment
over the centuries
In the 18th and 19th centuries, mercury, arsenic
and sulphur were commonly used to treat venereal disease, which often resulted
in serious side effects and many people died of mercury poisoning. The first
known effective treatment for syphilis
called salvarsan or arsphenamine was introduced in 1910.
In the 20th Century, the advent of penicillin
and other antibiotics
led to an effective cure of bacterial STDs. This led to the public perceiving
the illnesses as less of a threat and promiscuous conduct continued. In the
late 20th century, the transmission of viral STDs such as HIV and herpes arose,
infections that are not curable and, in some cases, may be fatal.
Hospital
treatment of venereal diseases
Due to the stigma attached to STDs, people
would often hesitate to seek help when the disease was in its initial stages,
while continuing to transmit the infection to unsuspecting sexual partners. In
1746, at the London Lock Hospital, the first treatment for venereal disease was
made available for those who sought help.
In the second half of the 19th century, the Contagious
Diseases Act was passed to arrest and treat suspected prostitutes.
Tracing
sexual partners with STDs
It was in the late 19th and early 20th century that the
importance of tracing the sexual partners of a person infected with an STD was
recognized. Soon, sexual health clinics were set up to identify and treat
individuals with STDs and their partners, to prevent spread in the general
population.
Another major problem that arose was an increase in
adolescent sexual activity in the mid-20th Century. This led to widespread
infection among younger age groups and changed the way healthcare policy makers
tried to raise awareness
through campaigns.
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