STIs
It’s simple - if you have unprotected sex, then you’re at risk of catching a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). Anyone who is sexually active can catch an STI, regardless of their age, gender or sexuality. In fact, you can have an STI and be totally unaware of it, because not everyone will get symptoms. And just because your partner says that they are free of STIs it doesn’t mean that they are. Do you really want to trust someone else with your health? If you do have unprotected sex, be sure to get yourself tested. Remember - the only way you can protect yourself is by wearing a condom, not just once but every time.
Chlamydia | Gonorrhoea | Genital Herpes | Genital Warts | HIV | Syphilis | Scabies (Pubic Lice) | Hepatitis B | Hepatitis C |
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Chlamydia
If you are under 25 and are sexually active then you have a 1 in 10 chance of getting Chlamydia.
How can you get it?
• Penetrative sex
• Oral sex
• Passed from mother to baby at birth
• By touching the genitals and then the eyes (This is rare but can occur)What are the symptoms?
Girls
(70% of girls who have Chlamydia will not have any symptoms.)
If there are symptoms they may include:
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding after sex or between periods
• Burning sensation when you go to the toilet
• Lower abdominal pain
• Cystitis (Water infection)
• Increased discharge from the vaginaBoys
(Boys are more likely to develop symptoms)
• Discharge from the penis
• Burning sensation when you go to the toilet
How is it treated?
Treatment is simple and effective. A doctor/nurse will prescribe a course of antibiotics.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Chlamydia can lead to infertility and/or pelvic infections. Boys can experience painful swelling of the testicles.
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Gonorrhoea
How can you get it?
• Sexual contact
• Passed from mother to baby during childbirthWhat are the symptoms?
Girls
• Increased discharge from the vagina
• Change in discharge colour
• Pain when you go to the toilet
• Pain during sex
• Discharge from the anusBoys
• White, yellow or green discharge from the penis
• Inflammation of testicles or prostate gland
• Discharge from the anussHow is it treated?
Treatment is simple and effective. A doctor/nurse will prescribe a course of antibiotics.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Girls
Pelvic infections can develop.
This may eventually result in infertility or ectopic pregnancies.Boys
Serious infections of the testicles can develop.
Both
The bacteria that causes Gonorrhoea can infect the bloodstream and infections can develop in the heart, joints or skin (Although this is rare).
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Genital Herpes
How can you get it?
• Penetrative sex
• Oral sexWhat are the symptoms?
Many people will never get symptoms and in others the virus may not be visible for months or even years. So if you do notice that you have symptoms it doesn’t always mean that you have just caught the virus!
If symptoms do appear, then they are the same for both girls and boys:
• General flu-like illness develops
• Irritation of genital/anal area
• Pain when you go to the toilet
• Small blisters appear on the genital or anal area. They burst and leave painful sores, which dry out and scab over; the scab takes two to four weeks to heal.How is it treated?
There is no cure, although antiviral drugs can take away the pain and help to heal the sores quicker, you will carry the virus for life. The first outbreak is always the worst. Not everyone will suffer regular outbreaks - a few people will only get symptoms once.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Genital Herpes will clear up if left untreated, however, treatment will relieve the pain, heal the sores quicker and reduce the risk off you passing it on to someone else.
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Genital Warts
How can you get it?
• Skin to skin contact
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms are the same for both girls and boys and will usually appear within one to three months of infection. Like Genital Herpes not everyone who comes into contact with the virus will develop the symptoms:
• Warts, of different size, shape and colour appear on the genital and/or anal area.
• The warts are usually painless but can cause irritation.How is it treated?
Condoms can offer significant protection against Genital Warts, but not a 100% guarantee as warts are often found outside the area that is covered by the condom. It is therefore important that you get treatment to reduce the risk of passing it on to someone else.
A number of different treatments are available including anti-wart cream and freezing.
Treatment is not usually painful but may be uncomfortable.What happens if you don’t get treatment?
The warts may disappear, grow or stay the same. Genital Warts will not damage your health but they are unsightly and uncomfortable.
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HIV
Studies have shown that you are more likely to get HIV if you have another STI.
How can you get it?
• Penetrative sex
• Using infected needles/syringes
• Passed from mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding
• Oral sex (although the risk is low)What are the symptoms?
Symptoms do not usually develop for a long time and the infected individual will live a ‘healthy’ life for many years, unaware of their positive status.
However, some people do experience flu-like symptoms within the first few weeks of infection. These symptoms will disappear within one to four weeks and the individual may remain unaware of their HIV status for many years, until they become physically ill. It is important that you get tested as soon as possible if there is a possibility that you could have been infected with HIV. The sooner you begin treatment the more effective it will be.How is it treated?
There is no cure but antiretroviral drugs can control the virus for many years or decades. What happens if you don’t get treatment? If you are infected you will carry the virus for the rest of your life. The virus will eventually destroy your immune system and you will not be able to fight off infections.
However, with treatment, the disease can be controlled for many years, even decades, and the immune system can be protected. -
Syphilis
How can you get it?
• Penetrative sex
• Oral sex
• Can be passed from a mother to her unborn babyWhat are the symptoms?
There are three different stages of symptoms:
• Primary stage – Within two to three weeks a sore develops at the point where the bacteria entered the body.
• During the secondary stage a number of different symptoms may appear, including: a rash, sores in the mouth, wart-like growths on the genitals, a flu-like illness may develop and patchy hair loss can occur.
• The third stage of symptoms results in extreme damage to the body (but this rarely occurs).
How is it treated?
Treatment is simple and effective and consists of a single or multiple injections. Tablets and capsules can be prescribed instead of an injection.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
In some rare cases third stage syphilis can develop causing damage to the heart, brain, nervous system or joints. This can result in death.
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Scabies
(Pubic lice)How can you get it?
• Close physical contact
• The mites that cause Scabies survive on towels, bedding and clothing for up to three daysWhat are the symptoms?
Symptoms are the same for both girls and boys and include;
• Appearance of an itchy rash, with or without tiny spots
• The skin can become broken/ inflamed due to itchingHow is it treated?
Scabies is easily treated using a cream or lotion.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Scabies will not disappear without treatment and you are likely to pass it onto someone else.
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Hepatitis B
How can you get it?
• Blood to blood contact
• Penetrative sex
• Oral Sex
• Sharing contaminated needles or syringes
• Can be passed from mother to baby
• Can be alcohol-induced
• The virus can survive for up to a week outside the body.
It is therefore important that you don’t come into contact with any dried blood that could be infected with Hepatitis B, e.g. on toothbrushes or razors.What are the symptoms?
Often no symptoms appear but if they do then they can include:
• Flu-like illness
• Tiredness
• Weight loss or loss of appetite
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Jaundice
• Itchy skinHow is it treated?
Most people will clear the virus from their blood without the need for any medical treatment. However, not everyone reacts in the same way to the Hepatitis B virus. Some people will require treatment to stop the virus from multiplying. Treatment usually consists of up to three injections per week over a three month period.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Serious permanent liver damage can occur. Hepatitis B can cause cancer.
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Hepatitis C
How can you get it?
• Sharing contaminated needles or syringes
• Passed from mother to baby during childbirth
• Can be alcohol induced.
• Penetrative or oral sex – although this is less commonWhat are the symptoms?
Most people are unaware that they have Hepatitis C because the symptoms do not appear for years or even decades. When symptoms do appear they are similar to those experienced with Hepatitis B, e.g.
• Flu-like illness
• Tiredness
• Weight loss/ loss of appetite
• Nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Jaundice
• Itchy skinHow is it treated?
One in five people infected will completely clear the virus from their blood without the need for any treatment. Those who cannot clear the virus will require treatment which will usually last between six to twelve months. They will receive one of two different drugs, or a combination of both. Treatment is only effective in around half of all cases and the drugs given are associated with some uncomfortable side effects e.g. nausea, depression, decreased appetite, headaches and a flu-like illness. In some people the virus can remain undetected for up to 30 years - this can result in the development of serious liver disease.
What happens if you don’t get treatment?
Serious permanent liver damage can occur. Hepatitis C can cause cancer.
