Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a national problem of Ukrainian healthcare. According to the MOH, about 400 thousand new cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydiosis, herpes, urogenital mycoplasmosis, genital moniliasis, and trichomoniasis are registered every year. Official statistics reflects, according to different estimates, from 30% to 40% of real STI cases. It is caused by the increase in latent diseases and by the fact that some groups of the population do not receive the necessary dermatovenerologic assistance.
The problem of STIs cannot be separated from HIV/AIDS epidemics in Ukraine, for one of the main ways of HIV transmission is the sexual one. According to the latest information provided by the Ukrainian Center for AIDS Prevention and Control, as of 1 December 2008 the number of HIV contagion because of drugs injection (37.3%) is for the first time over the last 12 years lower than the number of HIV contagion transmitted sexually, which increased to 41.7%. It causes the necessity to intensify the detection and treatment measures of STIs in the HIV-vulnerable groups in order to prevent further spread of HIV in Ukraine.
According to the results of numerous researches, it has been determined that STIs significantly increase the risk of sexual HIV contagion. In particular, syphilis, genital herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydiosis, trichomoniasis, candidiasis, mycoplasmosis, and other venereal diseases facilitate HIV transmission. Erosions and ulcers, inflammations, and tissue damage caused by STIs weaken the organism's protection against HIV contagion.
Guidelines on diagnostics and treatment of STIs: