SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIs)

The dangers of unprotected sex

If you think you have signs or symptoms of an STI, seek medical advice as soon as possible and always tell your sexual partner

Some initial facts:

• Using a condom (male or female) correctly and consistently will prevent the transmission of most STIs, including HIV
• STIs are commonly passed on through vaginal, oral and anal sex and sharing sex toys
• You don't need to have a lot of sexual partners to get an STI.... but the more partners you have, the greater your chance of being passed one
• Have a routine check up at a genitourinary medicine (GUM)/sexual health clinic (free!)

CHLAMYDIA

• Bacteria can infect genitals, urethra, rectum, throat and eyes of men and women
• Most people show no symptoms and, often, symptoms are very mild
• Symptoms can include:
  unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
  pain when passing urine
  bleeding between periods
  testicular pain and swelling
  pain during sex
  low abdominal pain

Treatment: easily treated with antibiotics
If untreated, can spread to other reproductive organs, causing serious health problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility

GENITAL WARTS

• There are more than 100 types of the human papilloma virus, which causes genital warts
• Can increase risk of cervical cancer
• Symptoms:
  They appear small, large, flat or raised, single or multiple and are sometimes not visible
  They appear on the penis, inside and around the vagina and the anus

Treatment: There are treatments available, including creams, gels and surgery, to remove the warts, but not the virus

GONORRHOEA

Cervical smear tests and blood tests do not test for gonorrhoea

• There can be no symptoms
• Can lead to infections of throat, cervix, rectum and urethra
• Symptoms can include:

Burning sensation/pain when passing urine
Increased need to pass water
In Women
Unusual vaginal discharge
Bleeding after intercourse
Bleeding between periods
Abdominal or pelvic pain
In Men
Discharging from penis
Swollen or painful testicles

Treatment: early treatment of gonorrhoea is simple and usually involves a single dose of antibiotics

HEPATITIS B AND C

• Extremely serious liver disease
• Extremely infectious
• There is no cure, but there is an effective vaccine
• Symptoms include:
  Tiredness
  Sickness
  Fever and chills
  Dark urine
  Light stools
  Yellow eyes and skin
  Pain in right side, which can travel to the back

Treatment: Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, eat high protein, high carbohydrate diet and avoid alcohol

HERPES

• Common infection
• Can remain latent and not cause problems for a long period of time
• Spreads through intimate skin contact
• Oral herpes spreads through kissing
• Genital herpes spreads by sexual contact
• Stress, sunlight, sickness and fever and certain types of food and drink, such as peanuts, alcohol and coffee, can cause outbreaks
• Symptoms can include:
  blisters on face, mouth, genitals and anus

Treatment: No cure, but creams and anti viral drugs are available

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)

• Very serious condition requiring medical attention
• Can cause infertility
• Chronic pelvic pain

SYPHILLIS

• Transmitted through sexual contact
• Spreads throughout the whole body and without antibiotic treatment, it can cause heart disease, dementia, blindness, paralysis and death
• Symptoms include:

Sores which can appear anywhere on the body and are very infectious
Sores can appear 3-4 weeks after coming into contact with syphillis, if not longer
Sores can take 2-6 weeks to heal, in which time they may have spread to other parts of the body

Treatment: Syphillis can be treated and cured with antibiotics and penicillin

THRUSH

• Yeast infection
• Can develop thrush if you are pregnant, through sexual contact, wear restrictive/synthetic clothing, are ill, use perfumed products, such as bubble bath

• Symptoms include:
  In Women
  iching, soreness and redness
  thick, white, yeasty smelling discharge from vagina
  pain when passing urine
  pain during sex

          In Men

        thick discharge
        difficulty in pulling back foreskin

Treatment: anti fungal creams and pills are available from doctors and some are available from pharmacies