Sexually transmitted infection
Classification and external resources
U.S. propaganda poster targeted at World War II soldiers and sailors appealed to their patriotism in urging them to protect themselves. The text at the bottom of the poster reads, "You can't beat the Axis if you get VD." Images of women were used to catch the eye on many VD posters.
ICD-10	A64
ICD-9	099.9
DiseasesDB	27130
MeSH	D012749

Sexually transmitted infections (STI), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and venereal diseases (VD), are illnesses that have a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. While in the past, these illnesses have mostly been referred to as STDs or VD, in recent years the term sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been preferred, as it has a broader range of meaning; a person may be infected, and may potentially infect others, without having a disease. Some STIs can also be transmitted via the use of IV drug needles after its use by an infected person, as well as through childbirth or breastfeeding. Sexually transmitted infections have been well known for hundreds of years.

Classification[link]

Until the 1990s, STIs were commonly known as venereal diseases: Veneris is the Latin genitive form of the name Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Social disease was another euphemism.

Sexually transmitted infection is a broader term than sexually transmitted disease.^[1] An infection is a colonization by a parasitic species, which may not cause any adverse effects. In a disease the infection leads to impaired or abnormal function. In either case the condition may not exhibit signs or symptoms. Increased understanding of infections like HPV, which infects most sexually active individuals but cause disease in only a few has led to increased use of the term STI. Public health officials originally introduced the term sexually transmitted infection, which clinicians are increasingly using alongside the term sexually transmitted disease in order to distinguish it from the former.^{[citation needed]}

STD may refer only to infections that are causing diseases, or it may be used more loosely as a synonym for STI. Because most of the time people do not know that they are infected with an STI until they are tested or start showing symptoms of disease.

Moreover, the term sexually transmissible disease is sometimes used since it is less restrictive in consideration of other factors or means of transmission. For instance, meningitis is transmissible by means of sexual contact but is not labeled as an STI because sexual contact is not the primary vector for the pathogens that cause meningitis. This discrepancy is addressed by the probability of infection by means other than sexual contact. In general, an STI is an infection that has a negligible probability of transmission by means other than sexual contact, but has a realistic means of transmission by sexual contact (more sophisticated means—blood transfusion, sharing of hypodermic needles—are not taken into account). Thus, one may presume that, if a person is infected with an STI, e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, it was transmitted to him/her by means of sexual contact.

The diseases on this list are most commonly transmitted solely by sexual activity. Many infectious diseases, including the common cold, influenza, pneumonia, and most others that are transmitted person-to-person can also be transmitted during sexual contact, if one person is infected, due to the close contact involved. However, even though these diseases may be transmitted during sex, they are not considered STIs.

Cause[link]

Bacterial[link]

• Chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi)
• Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis)
• Granuloma inguinale or (Klebsiella granulomatis)
• Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), colloquially known as "the clap"
• Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)

Fungal[link]

• Candidiasis (yeast infection)

Viral[link]

Micrograph showing the viral cytopathic effect of herpes (ground glass nuclear inclusions, multi-nucleation). Pap test. Pap stain.

• CMV (Human Cytomegalovirus)—saliva, venereal fluids, blood, organ transplant, urine, pregnancy, childbirth, breast milk
• Viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B virus)—saliva, venereal fluids.
  (Note: Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are transmitted via the fecal-oral route; Hepatitis C is rarely sexually transmittable,^[2] and the route of transmission of Hepatitis D (only if infected with B) is uncertain, but may include sexual transmission.^[3][4][5])
• Herpes simplex (Herpes simplex virus 1, 2) skin and mucosal, transmissible with or without visible blisters
• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)—venereal fluids, semen, breast milk, blood
• HPV (Human Papillomavirus)—skin and mucosal contact. 'High risk' types of HPV cause almost all cervical cancers, as well as some anal, penile, and vulvar cancer. Some other types of HPV cause genital warts.
• Molluscum contagiosum (molluscum contagiosum virus MCV)—close contact

Parasites[link]

• Crab louse, colloquially known as "crabs" or "pubic lice" (Pthirus pubis)
• Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei)

Protozoal[link]

• Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis), colloquially known as "trich"

Transmission probability[link]

The risks and transmission probabilities of sexually transmitted diseases are summarized by act in the table below.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

Pathophysiology[link]

Many STIs are (more easily) transmitted through the mucous membranes of the penis, vulva, rectum, urinary tract and (less often—depending on type of infection)^{[citation needed]} the mouth, throat, respiratory tract and eyes. The visible membrane covering the head of the penis is a mucous membrane, though it produces no mucus (similar to the lips of the mouth). Mucous membranes differ from skin in that they allow certain pathogens into the body.^[13] The amount of contact with infective sources which causes infection varies with each pathogen but in all cases a disease may result from even light contact from fluid carriers like venereal fluids onto a mucous membrane.

This is one reason that the probability of transmitting many infections is far higher from sex than by more casual means of transmission, such as non-sexual contact—touching, hugging, shaking hands—but it is not the only reason. Although mucous membranes exist in the mouth as in the genitals, many STIs seem to be easier to transmit through oral sex than through deep kissing. According to a safe sex chart, many infections that are easily transmitted from the mouth to the genitals or from the genitals to the mouth, are much harder to transmit from one mouth to another.^[14] With HIV, genital fluids happen to contain much more of the pathogen than saliva. Some infections labeled as STIs can be transmitted by direct skin contact. Herpes simplex and HPV are both examples. KSHV, on the other hand, may be transmitted by deep-kissing but also when saliva is used as a sexual lubricant.

Depending on the STI, a person may still be able to spread the infection if no signs of disease are present. For example, a person is much more likely to spread herpes infection when blisters are present than when they are absent. However, a person can spread HIV infection at any time, even if he/she has not developed symptoms of AIDS.

All sexual behaviors that involve contact with the bodily fluids of another person should be considered to contain some risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Most attention has focused on controlling HIV, which causes AIDS, but each STI presents a different situation.

As may be noted from the name, sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted from one person to another by certain sexual activities rather than being actually caused by those sexual activities. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa or viruses are still the causative agents. It is not possible to catch any sexually transmitted disease from a sexual activity with a person who is not carrying a disease; conversely, a person who has an STI got it from contact (sexual or otherwise) with someone who had it, or his/her bodily fluids. Some STIs such as HIV can be transmitted from mother to child either during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Although the likelihood of transmitting various diseases by various sexual activities varies a great deal, in general, all sexual activities between two (or more) people should be considered as being a two-way route for the transmission of STIs, i.e., "giving" or "receiving" are both risky although receiving carries a higher risk.

Healthcare professionals suggest safer sex, such as the use of condoms, as the most reliable way of decreasing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases during sexual activity, but safer sex should by no means be considered an absolute safeguard. The transfer of and exposure to bodily fluids, such as blood transfusions and other blood products, sharing injection needles, needle-stick injuries (when medical staff are inadvertently jabbed or pricked with needles during medical procedures), sharing tattoo needles, and childbirth are other avenues of transmission. These different means put certain groups, such as medical workers, and haemophiliacs and drug users, particularly at risk.

Recent epidemiological studies have investigated the networks that are defined by sexual relationships between individuals, and discovered that the properties of sexual networks are crucial to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. In particular, assortative mixing between people with large numbers of sexual partners seems to be an important factor.

It is possible to be an asymptomatic carrier of sexually transmitted diseases. In particular, sexually transmitted diseases in women often cause the serious condition of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Prevention[link]

San Francisco City Clinic a municipal STI testing center in San Francisco.

Prevention is key in addressing incurable STIs, such as HIV & herpes. Sexual health clinics fight to promote the use of condoms and provide outreach for at-risk communities.

The most effective way to prevent sexual transmission of STIs is to avoid contact of body parts or fluids which can lead to transfer with an infected partner. Not all sexual activities involve contact: cybersex, phonesex or masturbation from a distance are methods of avoiding contact. Proper use of condoms reduces contact and risk. Although a condom is effective in limiting exposure, some disease transmission may occur even with a condom.^[15]

Ideally, both partners should get tested for STIs before initiating sexual contact, or before resuming contact if a partner engaged in contact with someone else. Many infections are not detectable immediately after exposure, so enough time must be allowed between possible exposures and testing for the tests to be accurate. Certain STIs, particularly certain persistent viruses like HPV, may be impossible to detect with current medical procedures.

Many diseases that establish permanent infections can so occupy the immune system that other diseases become more easily transmitted. The innate immune system led by defensins against HIV can prevent transmission of HIV when viral counts are very low, but if busy with other viruses or overwhelmed, HIV can establish itself. Certain viral STI's also greatly increase the risk of death for HIV infected patients.

Vaccines[link]

Vaccines are available that protect against some viral STIs, such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and some types of HPV. Vaccination before initiation of sexual contact is advised to assure maximal protection.

Condoms[link]

Condoms and female condoms only provide protection when used properly as a barrier, and only to and from the area that it covers. Uncovered areas are still susceptible to many STDs. In the case of HIV, sexual transmission routes almost always involve the penis, as HIV cannot spread through unbroken skin, thus properly shielding the insertive penis with a properly worn condom from the vagina or anus effectively stops HIV transmission. An infected fluid to broken skin borne direct transmission of HIV would not be considered "sexually transmitted", but can still theoretically occur during sexual contact, this can be avoided simply by not engaging in sexual contact when having open bleeding wounds. Other STIs, even viral infections, can be prevented with the use of latex, polyurethane or polyisoprene condoms as a barrier. Some microorganisms and viruses are small enough to pass through the pores in natural skin condoms, but are still too large to pass through latex or synthetic condoms.

Proper usage entails:

• Not putting the condom on too tight at the end, and leaving 1.5 cm (3/4 inch) room at the tip for ejaculation. Putting the condom on snug can and often does lead to failure.
• Wearing a condom too loose can defeat the barrier.
• Avoiding inverting, spilling a condom once worn, whether it has ejaculate in it or not.
• Avoiding condoms made of substances other than latex, polyisoprene or polyurethane that do not protect against HIV.
• Avoiding the use of oil based lubricants (or anything with oil in it) with latex condoms, as oil can eat holes into them.
• Using flavored condoms for oral sex only, as the sugar in the flavoring can lead to yeast infections if used to penetrate.

Not following the first five guidelines above perpetuates the common misconception that condoms are not tested or designed properly.^{[citation needed]}

In order to best protect oneself and the partner from STIs, the old condom and its contents should be assumed to be infectious. Therefore the old condom must be properly disposed of. A new condom should be used for each act of intercourse, as multiple usage increases the chance of breakage, defeating the effectiveness as a barrier.

Nonoxynol-9[link]

Researchers had hoped that nonoxynol-9, a vaginal microbicide would help decrease STI rates. Trials, however, have found it ineffective.^[16] In fact, the use of nonoxynol-9 can put women at a higher risk of HIV infection.^[17]

Diagnosis[link]

STI tests may test for a single infection, or consist of a number of individual tests for any of a wide range of STIs, including tests for syphilis, trichomonas, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, hepatitis and HIV tests. No procedure tests for all infectious agents.

STI tests may be used for a number of reasons:

• as a diagnostic test to determine the cause of symptoms or illness
• as a screening test to detect asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections
• as a check that prospective sexual partners are free of disease before they engage in sex without safer sex precautions (for example, when starting a long term mutually monogamous sexual relationship, in fluid bonding, or for procreation).
• as a check prior to or during pregnancy, to prevent harm to the baby
• as a check after birth, to check that the baby has not caught an STI from the mother
• to prevent the use of infected donated blood or organs
• as part of the process of contact tracing from a known infected individual
• as part of mass epidemiological surveillance

Not all STIs are symptomatic, and symptoms may not appear immediately after infection. In some instances a disease can be carried with no symptoms, which leaves a greater risk of passing the disease on to others. Depending on the disease, some untreated STIs can lead to infertility, chronic pain or even death.^[18] Early identification and treatment results in less chance to spread disease, and for some conditions may improve the outcomes of treatment.

There is often a window period after initial infection during which an STI test will be negative. During this period the infection may be transmissible. The duration of this period varies depending on the infection and the test.

Diagnosis may also be delayed by reluctance of the infected person to seek a medical professional. One report indicated that afflicted people turn to the Internet rather than to a medical professional for information on STIs to a higher degree than for other sexual problems.^[19]

STD Wizard[link]

The STD Wizard is a publicly available expert system for determining which screening tests, vaccinations, and evaluations are recommended, related to sexually transmitted diseases. The information included within the STD Wizard is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines - 2006". The system has English and Spanish language interfaces.

The STD Wizard runs in a web browser. The program asks a series of questions, related to demographics, behaviors, and symptoms. There are potentially over 100 questions, but most users get asked about 20. The exact questions asked depend on the user's responses. Typical questions include:

• Demographics - How old are you, in years?
• Behaviors - Have you had more than one sex partner within the past six months?
• Symptoms - Are you having a discharge from your penis or burning during urination?

Typical recommendations include:

• Screening tests - e.g., HIV screening test
• Vaccinations - e.g., Hepatitis B vaccination
• Evaluations - e.g., Seek medical attention in the next week for rash

Management[link]

High risk exposure such as that which occurs in rape cases may be treated prophylacticly using antibiotic combinations such as azithromycin, cefixime, and metronidazole.

An option for treating partners of patients (index cases) diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea is patient-delivered partner therapy, which is the clinical practice of treating the sex partners of index cases by providing prescriptions or medications to the patient to take to his/her partner without the health care provider first examining the partner.^[20]

Epidemiology[link]

Age-standardized, disability-adjusted life years for STDs (excluding HIV) per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004.^[21]

no data   < 60   60–120   120–180   180–240   240–300   300–360

360–420   420–480   480–540   540–600   600–1000   > 1000

STD incidence rates remain high in most of the world, despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances that can rapidly render patients with many STDs noninfectious and cure most. In many cultures, changing sexual morals and oral contraceptive use have eliminated traditional sexual restraints, especially for women, and both physicians and patients have difficulty dealing openly and candidly with sexual issues. Additionally, development and spread of drug-resistant bacteria (e.g., penicillin-resistant gonococci) makes some STDs harder to cure. The effect of travel is most dramatically illustrated by the rapid spread of the AIDS virus (HIV-1) from Africa to Europe and the Americas in the late 1970s.^[22]

In 1996, the World Health Organization estimated that more than 1 million people were being infected daily. About 60% of these infections occur in young people <25 years of age, and of these 30% are <20 years. Between the ages of 14 and 19, STIs occur more frequently in girls than boys by a ratio of nearly 2:1; this equalizes by age 20. An estimated 340 million new cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis occurred throughout the world in 1999.^[23]

Commonly reported prevalences of STIs among sexually active adolescent girls both with and without lower genital tract symptoms include chlamydia (10–25%), gonorrhea (3–18%), syphilis (0–3%), Trichomonas vaginalis (8–16%), and herpes simplex virus (2–12%).^{[citation needed]} Among adolescent boys with no symptoms of urethritis, isolation rates include chlamydia (9–11%) and gonorrhea (2–3%).^{[citation needed]} At least one in four U.S. teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease,^[24] a CDC study found.^[25] Among girls who admitted ever having sex, the rate was 40%.^[26]

AIDS is the single largest cause of mortality in present-day Sub-Saharan Africa.^[27] The majority of HIV infections are acquired through unprotected sexual relations between partners, one of whom has HIV. Approximately 1.1 million persons are living with HIV/AIDS in the United States,^[28] and AIDS remains the leading cause of death among African American women between ages 25 and 34.^[29] Hepatitis B is also classed as a sexually transmitted disease because it can be passed on sexually.^[30] The disease is found globally, with the highest rates in Asia and Africa and lower rates in the Americas and Europe.^[31] Worldwide, an estimated two billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus.^[32]

History[link]

1930s Works Progress Administration poster

The first well-recorded European outbreak of what is now known as syphilis occurred in 1494 when it broke out among French troops besieging Naples.^[33] From this centre, the disease swept across Europe, killing more than five million people.^[34] As Jared Diamond describes it, "[W]hen syphilis was first definitely recorded in Europe in 1495, its pustules often covered the body from the head to the knees, caused flesh to fall from people's faces, and led to death within a few months," rendering it far more fatal than it is today. Diamond concludes,"[B]y 1546, the disease had evolved into the disease with the symptoms so well known to us today."^[35]

Prior to the invention of modern medicines, sexually transmitted diseases were generally incurable, and treatment was limited to treating the symptoms of the disease. The first voluntary hospital for venereal diseases was founded in 1746 at London Lock Hospital.^[36] Treatment was not always voluntary: in the second half of the 19th century, the Contagious Diseases Act was used to arrest suspected prostitutes.

The first effective treatment for a sexually transmitted disease was salvarsan, a treatment for syphilis. With the discovery of antibiotics, a large number of sexually transmitted diseases became easily curable, and this, combined with effective public health campaigns against STDs, led to a public perception during the 1960s and 1970s that they have ceased to be a serious medical threat.

During this period, the importance of contact tracing in treating STIs was recognized. By tracing the sexual partners of infected individuals, testing them for infection, treating the infected and tracing their contacts in turn, STI clinics could be very effective at suppressing infections in the general population.

In the 1980s, first genital herpes and then AIDS emerged into the public consciousness as sexually transmitted diseases that could not be cured by modern medicine. AIDS in particular has a long asymptomatic period—during which time HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS) can replicate and the disease can be transmitted to others—followed by a symptomatic period, which leads rapidly to death unless treated. HIV/AIDS entered the United States in about 1969 likely through a single infected immigrant from Haiti.^[37] Recognition that AIDS threatened a global pandemic led to public information campaigns and the development of treatments that allow AIDS to be managed by suppressing the replication of HIV for as long as possible. Contact tracing continues to be an important measure, even when diseases are incurable, as it helps to contain infection.

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

• CDC Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2010
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines - 2006
• STD photo library at Dermnet
• UNFPA: Breaking the Cycle of Sexually Transmitted Infections at UNFPA
• Sexually Transmitted Infections from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• STDs In Color: Sexually Transmitted Disease Facts and Photos
• [1]: Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the U.S.

Maria Dimitriadi (Greek: Μαρία Δημητριάδη) (1950 – January 6, 2009), was a Greek singer. She was considered a "total voice" and one of the most renowned performers of the songs of Mikis Theodorakis and Thanos Mikroutsikos.^[1][2] Dimitiradi primarily connected with political left-wing songs during the Junta and Metapolitefsi era in Greece, but she also experimented with other styles and genres, of a more lyrical tone.^[3]

Biography[link]

Maria Dimitriadi was born in 1950 in the Athenian municipality of Tavros, where later she became a member of the municipal council.^[4] She was the older sister of the acclaimed Greek singer Aphrodite Manou.^[1][2]

Her career was connected with some of the greatest Greek composers, such as Stavros Xarhakos, with whom she recorded her debut single, "Ένα πρωινό", Mikis Theodorakis, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Kostas Grigoréas, Madra Mandicencio, and later on, Giannis Markopoulos and Manos Hadjidakis.^[1][2][4]

In the early 1970s, during the military dictatorship in Greece, she was in Europe and toured with Theodorakis for four years. She continued to work with him until the early 1990s.^[2][4] In 1974, Dimitriadi returned to Greece and, in the following years, she started working almost exclusively with Mikroutsikos.^[2] In these years he became a member of the Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece (EKKE) and she was elected counsellor to serve on the Municipal Council of Tavros, a suburb in the south-western part of Athens in Greece.^[2][4]

In 1980, she signed for CBS Records and started her solo career.^[2] From 1991 to 1993 Dimitiradi lived and worked in former Yugoslavia and strongly opposed the embargo on Yugoslavia.^[2]

She had a son, Stergios, with Greek television presenter Andreas Mikroutsikos. In later years, she had withdrawn from active singing and recording and became a sympathizer of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).^[1][2]

On 6 January 2009, Maria Dimitriadi died at the age of 58 in the Evangelismos General Hospital in Athens from a rare lung disease.^[1][2][3]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Maria Dimitriadi discography.

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Despina Vandi Δέσποινα Βανδή
Despina Vandi in 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Despina Malea
Born	(1969-07-22) 22 July 1969 (age 42) Stuttgart–Tübingen, West Germany  West Germany
Origin	Kavala, Greece  Greece
Genres	Laïko, pop, dance
Occupations	Singer, actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Minos EMI, Heaven Music, Escondida Music, The Spicy Effect
Website	www.DespinaVandi.gr

Despina Vandi (Greek: Βανδή, pronounced [ˈðespina vanˈði]), born as Despina Malea (Greek: Δέσποινα Μάλεα; born 22 July 1969), is a Greek singer. Born in Tübingen near Stuttgart, West Germany, Vandi's family returned to Kavala, Greece when she was six years old. She enrolled at the University of Thessaloniki, but eventually dropped out to begin a career in music. After moving to Athens in the early 1990s, Vandi signed with Minos EMI and released two albums Gela Mou (1994) and Esena Perimeno (1996). She then began an exclusive collaboration with songwriter/producer Phoebus and struck commercial success with her third album, Deka Endoles (1997), followed by the multi-platinum Profities (1999), where she incorporated pop elements into her music, in addition to laïko, as well as a more pop stage performance style and image, becoming one of the most prominent portrayers of the laiko/pop genre that was thriving into the mid-2000s.^[1]

Her single "Ipofero" (2000) became the best selling single of all-time in Greece. Following Phoebus' departure from Minos EMI, Vandi followed him to the newly formed independent label Heaven Music and released Gia (2001), which became and remains her biggest commercial success, as well as one of the best-selling albums of all time in Greece and Cyprus. Vandi also released the album abroad and the selftitled single "Gia" witnessed some success, topping the US Billboard Hot Dance Airplay and making her the first Greek artist to top a Billboard chart. She released her first live album in 2003 and later that year she gave birth to her first child, from her marriage with football player Demis Nikolaidis. She returned with Stin Avli Tou Paradeisou (2004), which was certified multi-platinum and became her fourth album to achieve six-figure sales.^[2] In 2007 Vandi gave birth to her second child, after a hiatus that ended with 10 Hronia Mazi (2007), a ten year celebration of her collaboration with Pheobus. Vandi once again followed Phoebus' departure in favour of his new label The Spicy Effect. Her eighth studio album C'est La Vie was the label's first release.

Vandi has won three Arion Music Awards, ten MAD Video Music Awards, seven Pop Corn Music Awards, and a World Music Award, becoming the first Greek artist recording in Greece to ever win the award. On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV ranked Vandi the fourth top-certified Greek female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960), with 11 records having been certified platinum or multi-platinum and three gold by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry of Greece.^[2] According to Heaven Music, as of 2007, Vandi has sold one million records in Greece.^[3]

Life and career[link]

Personal life[link]

Although born in Germany, Vandi's family was from Kavala, Greece, where she and her family moved when she was six years old. As a result, she did not learn German, unlike the rest of her family. She has one older brother and an older sister. Living in a lower middle-class family, her dream was to become either an actress or a singer but she always knew that she should have something more solid as a background so she went on to study psychology, philosophy, and education at the University of Thessaloniki.^[4] When she first began singing, she used the stage name of "Elli Mara"^[2] before adopting the "Vandi" moniker, to hide that she was singing from her parents.

Despina Vandi is married to Demis Nikolaidis, ex-international soccer player and former president of AEK soccer club. She has a daughter named Melina and a son named Giorgos, born in August 2007.

A Discovery Channel documentary entitled Europe's Richest People estimated Vandi and Demis Nikolaidis's combined fortune to be in excess of 30 million euros in 2009.

On 18 August 2008,^[5] Vandi was in a car accident on Kifissias Avenue in Kifissia, Greece. The car she was in, driven by her chauffeur, slipped on an oil slick that leaked from a tanker truck causing the car to crash into the truck ahead of her. After drivers helped pull her out of the vehicle, she was transported by ambulance to the general hospital in Athens.^[6] Vandi only suffered a cut to her head and got stitches.^[7][8]

Early years (1994–96)[link]

Vandi's first album was released in 1994 under the Minos EMI label, titled Gela Mou (Smile at Me).^[9] This album was distinguished by the self-titled song "Gela Mou", as long as by Vandi's duet To Adieksodo (No Way Out) with the popular and acclaimed singer Giannis Parios. Both songs were written by Vassilis Karras.^[10]

In 1996, Vandi released her next album, Esena Perimeno (You're The One I'm Waiting For). Singles on this album include Esena Perimeno, Den Pethainei I Agapi, and Efiges. Most of the songs were written by her friend and now musical director Tony Kontaxakis.^[9] Although a few of her first songs received some airplay, the first two albums themselves had low sales and did not manage to establish her career.^[2] Together the albums have sold under 30 thousand copies. A statement made by Vandi implied the combined album sales to be in the range of 10–27 thousand copies.^[2]

Beginning of Phoebus era and breakthrough (1997–99)[link]

1997 would be the year Vandi would make her breakthrough in mainstream Greek music as she teamed up with popular songwriter Phoebus. Phoebus wrote the songs of Vandi's next album, Deka Entoles (Ten Commandments), which was certified double platinum and sold 100,000 thousand copies in Greece.^[2][11] Vandi's partnership with Phoebus would turn out to be one of the most notable in the Greek recording industry and they would continue to have commercial success for a decade and more (they celebrated their 10-year partnership with the release of 10 Hronia Mazi (10 Years Together)). With the success of Deka Entoles Vandi quickly became popular in the Greek music industry with a string of hits and popular appearances.

In 1998 Vandi released the platinum cd-single "Spania", while later that year, she experimented with acting. She was asked to play a guest star role in the hit television show "Dio Xeni" (Two Strangers). Vandi accepted the role and made her first appearance on television. She played a singer of a local small city, who was able to change the sexuality of the main gay character. She managed to gain good reviews for her acting talent.^[4]

Vandi's next album Profities (Prophecies) was released in 1999 and was certified gold the day of its release and platinum in 2 days.^[12] It eventually became triple platinum, selling 150 thousand copies.^[13] Big hits from the album were the songs: "Apapa", "To Giatriko", "To Koritsaki sou" and "Sta Dosa Ola". Later that year Vandi gave her first sold-out solo concert at the concert hall of Lycabettus with 7,000 people in attendance.^[14]

Move to Heaven and commercial peak (2000–01)[link]

In 2000, Despina Vandi released the single Ipofero (I Suffer). The single was certified six times platinum and was awarded as being the most successful single of all time in Greece, based on sales at the Virgin Megastores, which reached 150 thousand copies.^{[15][16][17][18]} An honourary award was given to her by Richard Branson of Virgin in London, England.^[19][20]

In 2001 Despina Vandi and Phoebus signed in with Heaven Music, a new break-out record label, owned by the Athena Group. Despina's following album Gia (2001), meaning "Hi" was a double album including 21 new songs. The album was certified 4x platinum in only 11 days and became one of the best-selling albums of all time in Greece. .^[21][22] Many of the songs on the album became hits not only Greece, but also in neighboring countries such as Cyprus, Turkey and Lebanon. Shortly after, Vandi gave an open free concert in Thessaloniki singing in front of a crowd of more than 60,000 people.

At the 2002 World Music Awards, Vandi was awarded as the World's "Best Selling Greek Artist".^[23] It was the first time that this award was given to a Greek artist who actually lived and worked in Greece. For her acceptance speech, Vandi said "Above all though, I would like to thank my Greek fans around the world. I dedicate this award to all the Greeks who have supported me with their love all these years and it is because of them that I find myself here at this moment."^[24]

Following the success of Gia, Despina released a CD single titled "Ante Gia" (Goodbye) in 2002, with the title track being a remix of "Gia". The single achieved double platinum status. Gia and "Ante Gia" were then compiled and re-released as "Gia & Ante Gia: Collector's Edition", along with four previously unreleased remixes.^[25]

Live, International exposure and motherhood (2003–04)[link]

In 2003 the double album "Despina Vandi Live" was released, containing performances from the singers' concerts around Greece. The album included the greatest personal hits of her 9-year career in the Greek music industry (1994–2003), as long as many songs by other artists, covering a wide variety of genres (from rock-entehno to laiko and traditional Greek music). The album featured also two new songs: "Fevgoume Kardia mou" and "O,ti Oneirevomoun". It was certified platinum, selling more than 60,000 copies.

On the meantime, with Gia having been certified multi-platinum in Greece and Cyprus, some of the songs broke out into the international market in neighboring countries. Seeing potential in an international career, she embarked on one in 2003.^[26]

Her first three international singles, "Gia" (2003), "Opa Opa" (2004) and "Come Along Now" (2005) entered the charts around the world. Her first internationally distributed albums are named after the songs "Gia" and "Come Along Now". "Gia" and "Opa Opa" have both charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts, with Gia reaching number 1 for 2 weeks on the latter and "Opa Opa" reaching number 3 on the Hot Dance Radio Airplay of Billboard.^[12][27] Except for the Billboard Charts, Gia reaching number 1 at the biggest radio stations of USA, as WKTU, KKDL and WPYM.^[28] Also, Gia reached number 1 at the Club Charts of Music Week in Great Britain and became the number 1 dance song of the year in USA, Germany, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus and Sweden.^[28][29] All three singles reached No. 1 on the Australian charts. The song Gia gave to her the award for the best dance artist for the year 2004 in Portugal and she makes a big concert for her European public.^[28] Except from "Gia", and the song "Opa Opa" reaching number 1 in Russia, Turkey and Australia.^[28] In the first days of October 2004 Despina Vandi makes four big concerts in New York, Atlantic City, Chicago and Toronto. All these concerts was sold out^[28]

The song "Come Along Now" became the second best selling single in Russia and the biggest to audience radio station of Russia, Hit FM, awarded to her an honorary award in a special concert for her.^[28] Vandi also made an appearance on the hit international show Top of the Pops where she performed her song "Gia" as she was included in some of that week's best-selling popular music artists.

Vandi's work has been remixed by celebrated global DJs and producers, such as Armand Van Helden, Milk & Sugar, Nick Skitz, Roger Sanchez, Junior Vasquez, Pete Tong, Bass Bumpers, DJ Gregory, Level K, XTM, Minimal Chic and Highpass amongst others. The albums Gia and Opa Opa have also been Records of The Week on BBC Radio 1's dance shows. At the end of August (2004) Despina performed live at the Beatstock Festival in New York.

Return to Greece (2004–06)[link]

Despina's next studio album was released at the end of 2004, titled Stin Avli Tou Paradisou (In The Garden of Paradise). Although it sold significantly less than Gia, it reached double platinum status in 2005, becoming her fourth album to reach six figure sales^[2] The album was repackaged as a special edition and included 5 new songs, including the song "Amane", a duet with Giorgos Mazonakis.^[30] The actress Katiana Balanika guest stars in the song's music video along with Vandi and Mazonakis. The special edition of the album was released in Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. In Turkey the album reached number 2 of the Turkish charts and the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News named Despina Vandi as the Queen of Greek Pop.^[31] For the winter season 2005–06 Vandi performed at Rex with Giorgos Mazonakis.^[25]

In July 2006, Despina gave a concert in the theater of Lycabettus in Athens singing many of her popular songs.

Despina Vandi released the CD single "Kalanta" (Carols) in Greece on 22 November 2006, which reached double platinum status after two weeks from the release of the CD single.^[32] The videoclip of "Kalanta" was released on 19 December, soon followed by the video of her next hit single, "Mehri Mai Mina" (Till The Month Of May).

Vandi and Mazonakis once again collaborated for the winter season 2006–07. She performed her last show at the Rex Music Theater on 18 February 2007 and it marked an end to her performances there for seven consecutive years. Due to her pregnancy, Vandi did not plan any summer concerts for 2007, and on 21 August 2007, she gave birth to her son, Giorgos.

[edit] 10 Hronia Mazi and Iparhi Zoi (2007–09)

Vandi performing at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut as part of her 2009 five venue North American tour.

On 10 October 2007 (10/10) Vandi released her new single "Thelo" (I Want) simultaneously on all radio and TV stations across Greece at 10 am.^[33][34] It marked her 10-year anniversary of collaborating with Phoebus. The song reached the top of the Nielsen's Radio Airplay chart for Greece for six consecutive weeks.^[35] The second radio single from the album and the title track "10 Hronia Mazi" (10 Years Together) was released on 16 November 2007.^[36] The song is a rock ballad about the 10-year collaboration with Phoebus and charted on the airplay charts.

The album 10 Hronia Mazi was released 6 December 2007 on three discs featuring fifteen new songs.^[37] The first disc features eight new pop and rock songs and two remixes, while the second disc features seven new laika songs and three remixes. The third disc was a "bonus" featuring some of the greatest hits of Vandi and Phoebus with new mixes. The album achieved platinum certification on the first week. It sold 30 thousand copies, becoming Vandi's lowest selling album since the beginning of her collaboration with Phoebus.^[25] For the winter season 2007–08 she performed with Vasilis Karras at Diogenis Studio.^[38]

On 6 March 2008, Vandi released the third single from 10 Hronia Mazi, titled "Agapi" (Love), along with a video to promote it.^[39] The single was on the MAD TV Charts for six weeks with one week at number one. On 24 April 2008, Vandi released the fourth single from 10 Hronia Mazi titled "Fantasou Apla" (Simply imagine).

Collaboration with Schiller[link]

Vandi was featured on the gold-certified album Sehnsucht by German electronica act Schiller, which was released in early 2008, providing vocals for the song "Destiny", composed by Phoebus. She performed the track with Schiller on 17 June 2008 at the MAD Video Music Awards 2008, where she won the category of "Best Female Artist" and also performed "I Gi Ki I Selini" (Earth and Moon).^[40] Her live appearance in the MAD Video Music Awards 2008 was included in the live edition of Sehnsucht (Desire).

Album repackage[link]

On 24 June 2008, the album was repackaged with the title 10 Hronia Mazi: It's Destiny as one disc. The repackaged version includes the song "Destiny" by Schiller featuring Despina Vandi. The one-disc repackaged version features the songs from the original first and second discs, excluding all the remixes (with the exception of "Ta Lefta (Remix)"). Two more songs were released as singles, "I Gi Ki I Selini" and "Tha Thela"; the music video for "I Gi Ki Selini" was her performance at the MAD Awards, while the video for "Tha Thela" was the live performance of the song at the Love Radio party which took place on 12 May 2008.

Vandi has become involved in the Global One music project. She attended a recording session in Beijing with Chinese pop start Wei-Wei and Brazilian samba singer Daniela Mercury, while also attending the project's first official press conference.^[41] The project's ambitious goal, driven by successful international record producer Rob Hoffman, is to have one artist representing their country record common Global One songs in their native language, as well as in the English language, in efforts to pool together as many languages and cultures as possible to promote their artistry on a global level.^[42]

In the end of 2008, Vandi began touring out of Greece. On 10, 11 October and 12 she performed three sold-out concerts in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide and then from 15–24 May 2009, she sang a five venue tour of the United States and Canada.^[43]

In 2009, Despina Vandi did not appear in any nightclub in Athens or Thessaloniki, but preferred to rest after a long period of appearance in nightclubs. Instead, she performed in charity concerts in Cyprus, where she was given the platinum award for her album 10 Hronia Mazi in Cyprus, after she had already received the platinum certification for the sales of the album in Greece. Following these concerts, Vandi went on with concerts in the USA and Canada.^[44] Following her tour in America, she collaborated with Goin' Through for a lengthy tour throughout Greece.^[45]

Iparhi Zoi[link]

On 16 June, Vandi made a comeback, after a year of abstinence, with the song Iparhi Zoi (There's still life), a pop-rock song with a charity character.^[46] The song was written by Phoebus and it was presented on 24 June in the Mad Video Music Awards 2009. On 29 June, Despina gave the opening concert in Thessaloniki for the Long Hot Summer Tour. After 32 sold-out concerts the tour sold 150,000 tickets.^[47] With this tour Vandi broke the record for pre-sale tickets to the concert in the Olympia pre-selling 3,000 tickets.^[48] The tour was, also, the most successful tour of 2009.^[49][50]

Following the departure of her songwriter and collaborator Phoebus from Heaven Music, Vandi officially announced on 2 November 2009, that she also has chosen to leave Heaven Music. She signed in with the record label founded by Phoebus, called The Spicy Effect.^[51]

On 11 December, Vandi returned to the Greek nightlife, singing at club Politia in Thessaloniki alongside Goin' Through. On 12 December, Heaven Music, released the compilation "Despina Vandi – Greatest Hits 2001–2009", which included major hits of hers. The album was released in two versions: the standard version (1 CD) with 16 tracks and a deluxe edition (2 CDs and 1 DVD) with 32 tracks and 27 music videos.^[52]

[edit] Move to The Spicy Effect and C'est La Vie (2010–present)

After her appearances in Thessaloniki, Vandi appeared at Thalassa People's Stage with the group 48 Ores, which had participated in the Greece's The X Factor. The show began on 15 April and lasted until July.^[53] Vandi later appeared on 14 March on Chart Show, a show broadcast by Alpha TV where her certifications and sales figures were chronicled.

In 2010 Vandi sang her new song, "Koritsi Prama", live exclusively for the listeners who wοn VIP invitations from the Dromos 89.8 FM radio. The fans who had the chance to listen to the new song participated at the video clip as well.^[54] "Koritsi Prama, Part 1", was released to radios on 22 March and was the lead single from her eighth studio album, "C' est la vie".^[55] The pop rock song was written by Phoebus and is the first released coordinated by The Spicy Effect label. The music video of the song was filmed on 22 March at "Diogenis Studio" and during filming, Vandi revealed that the song is the first part of a two-part work and that a second song will follow soon afterwards.^[56] Also at the video shoot, a release date for the album was said to be scheduled for June 2010.^[57]

In addition to the new single, the German band Schiller, which worked with Vandi in the past, released a new song featuring her as vocals. The song's name is Sunday and included on the Schiller's album Breathless, the international version of Schiller's album Atemlos.^[58] The song was also included in the forthcoming album of Vandi, C'est La Vie.^[59][60]

Vandi released "Koritsi Prama, Part 2" on 14 May 2010.^[61][62] During the spring of 2010, Greek medias and press named Vandi The Queen due to the success of her comeback and her 16-year successful career.^[63] Also, The Time magazine referred to Vandi as the "Queen of Greek Pop".^[64]

C'est La Vie[link]

The new album of Despina Vandi, called "C'est La Vie", was released on 13 June with Real News newspaper.^[65][66] It was her first album to be released along with a newspaper, following a popular tendency of the Greek musical industry, as an effort to deal with the reduction in the disc sales. The newspaper, along with the album, sold more than 100,000 copies. Furthermore, on 14 June Vandi performed live at the MAD Video Music Awards presenting her new song Kommati Ap' Tin Kardia Sou.^[67]

The song Kommati Ap' Tin Kardia Sou was also the following single of the album C'est La Vie and was released on 7 June 2010. The video clip was released on July 5, 2010 and made positive impressions revealing a "rock side" of Vandi.^[68] The third single of the album, Erota Theli I Zoi, was released to radio stations on 13 September 2010. The music video, filmed in the Greek island of Hydra, was a combination of the cd version of the song, plus a remix version with Ipohthonios and it was uploaded on October 19, 2010 on Spicy's YouTube Channel.

Vandi was also the first artist who took part in the MTV Unplugged concert series of the music channel MTV Greece. Vandi sang some of her big hits along with songs from other artists. The concert took placed in the theater Hora in Kypseli on 9 June.^[69][70]