Venereology is not, as one with profound half-knowledge might initially assume from the name, the medical specialty that deals with veins and other blood vessels, no: the venereologist is a doctor who specializes solely in venereal diseases. However, since these are often the very first things to show up on the skin, the venereology specialist is often closely associated with the dermatology profession, so that most practice signs end up reading: Dermatologist and Venereologist, Specialist in Skin and Venereal Diseases.
What is a venereologist?
Venereology is the study of sexually transmitted diseases. The word is derived from the Latin “venus”, which means “love lust”. Venereology is the study of sexually transmitted diseases. The word is derived from the Latin “venus”, which means “love lust” and also found its way into Roman mythology as Venus, the goddess of love. Venereology is a rather small specialty without further subdivision, but it is closely related to the medical specialties of dermatology, i.e. skin diseases, and andrology, i.e. the study of male diseases (as “men’s science” the counterpart to gynecology). Moreover, as a small specialty, the areas of responsibility of venereology are often claimed and taken over by internists or urologists.
Treatments and therapies
The treatment spectrum of the venereologist covers first of all everything that is sexually transmissible. In the classical sense, these are primarily gonorrhea and syphilis. Gonorrhea is also known as gonorrhea and is caused by gonococci, small immobile bacteria. It is one of the most common STDs, sometimes manifested by a burning sensation in the urethra and a creamy, pus-filled discharge, but in many cases it progresses without specific symptoms. The insidious thing is that the bacteria can then be transmitted by the infected person, who feels healthy, during sexual intercourse, thus spreading the infection further. However, since gonorrhea can also affect the fallopian tubes and male seminal ducts and thus lead to infertility, it should definitely be detected and treated in good time. Unlike gonorrhea, which rarely affects organs other than the reproductive tract, syphilis in the later stages is a generalized systemic disease. In the early stages, however, it is usually noticeable, also caused by bacteria (Treponema pallidum), by the so-called “hard chancre”, a painless ulcer on the sexual organs. Stupidly, however, this is unpleasant for most of those affected, and many do not even take it seriously due to the lack of pain or itching. However, since the disease starts to affect the entire body weeks later, and in the final stage also the brain, it should definitely be recognized and treated. Syphilis is medically correctly called Lues, in the vernacular formerly also the “Frenchman’s disease” – a rascal, who thinks evil of it. Other classic venereal diseases include ulcus molle (viral infection) and lymphogranuloma venereum (bacterial), which also cause swelling in the genital area. In the past, it was believed that these diseases were only transmissible during sexual intercourse and therefore coined the term “venereal diseases”; today, other transmission routes are known, for example, for lues through blood products. At the same time, there are “newer” sexually transmitted infections such as HIV or hepatitis, which again do not fall within the venereologist’s area of expertise. In contrast, however, herpes genitalis infection or papillomaviruses, which can cause cervical cancer, also fall within the specialty of venereology, although they are usually treated by gynecologists or family physicians.
Diagnostic and examination methods
The venereologist’s “weapon” is his eye and the microbiological smear: many venereal diseases, such as gonorrhea or herpes infection, are easily identified by the clinical picture or (in the case of syphilis) the course. A swab from the urethra or ulcer can then be sent to microbiology and brings diagnostic certainty. In the case of later syphilis, various blood tests also play an important role. Apparative diagnostics do not actually take place.These conditions are invariably treated with medication – local stages can be treated with ointments if necessary, later antibiotics are often required. In most cases, the partner must also be treated. Detection and treatment are also important in the event of pregnancy, as pathogens can also be transmitted to the newborn child when it passes through the birth canal. Timely sanitation before birth is therefore enormously important.
What should the patient pay attention to?
When choosing a doctor, as is actually always the case when looking for a doctor, one should be guided by personal recommendations or one’s own experience and, in the end, by one’s feeling in dealing with the doctor. Who already has a dermatologist, is there usually also in the case of venereal diseases at the right address. The family doctor or gynecologist can also recommend a suitable specialist and also treat many infections themselves.
