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Types of STI
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Description:

It is usually a complication of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in women but may also be caused by bacterial vaginosis and other infections.

Effects:

The infection can spread to the reproductive system and surrounding area. Infertility.Ectopic pregnancy.Long term pain.

Cause:

Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. Intimate genital contact.

Symptoms:

  • Pain in your lower abdomen.Pain during sex.
  • Abnormal bleeding between periods.
  • Painful periods.
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge.

Treatment:

Antibiotics.
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Pubic Lice (crabs)

Description:

They are tiny insects, like head lice, that live in pubic or body hair.

Effects:

The itching will continue and get worse.
You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s).

Cause:

Close body contact with an infected person.
Rarely, infected bed linen or clothes may pass on the lice.

Symptoms:

Itching in your pubic hair.
You may be able to see the lice.

Treatment:

It can be treated with creams and lotions – for you and your partner(s).
You can buy these at a chemist, however, you should also have a full STI check.

Prevention:

Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
Using condom may not protect you against pubic lice.
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Non-specific infections

Cause:

  • Intimate genital contact.
  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
  • Infected fingers to eyes.
  • Unprotected rimming (mouth to anus contact).
  • From an infected pregnant mother to her baby.
  • Or the cause may be unknown

Symptoms:

Women:

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge.
  • Vulval irritation.
  • Stinging or burning sensation when you pass urine.

Men:

  • Discharge from penis.
  • Stinging or burning sensation when you pass urine.
  • You may have no symptoms.

Treatment:

Antibiotics – for you and your partner(s).

Prevention:

Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
or
Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.
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Thrush (Candida)

Description:

It is a yeast infection. Yeast is common around the mouth and genitals, especially the vagina, but does not cause symptoms until it multiplies. It is not considered a sexually transmitted infection, but it can be passed on through sexual contact.

Effects:

You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s). Symptoms can go away without treatment.

Cause:

Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Symptoms:

  • Genital itching or soreness.
  • Thick vaginal discharge usually with no smells.
  • Discomfort during sex.

You may have no symptoms.

Treatment:

  • Thrush is treated with anti-fungal creams, vaginal pessaries or prescribed tablets.
  • Avoid using soaps in the genital area.
  • Pregnancy and antibiotics may make it worse.

Prevention:

  • Don’t use perfumed soaps, sprays or shower gels around your genital area.
  • Wear cotton underwear.
  • Eat a healthy varied diet.

Trichomonas Vaginalis (TV)

Description:

It is a parasitic infection.

Effects:

You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s). It may cause problems in pregnancy such as premature labour and low birth weight.

Cause:

Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. Intimate genital contact.

Symptoms:

Infected women may have no symptoms and around 50% of infected man may have no symptoms.

Women:

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge.
  • Vaginal discomfort.
  • Burning or stinging sensation when you pass urine.
  • Offensive smell.

Men:

  • Discharge from penis.
  • Rash on the penis.
  • Rarely, burning or stinging sensation when you pass urine.

Treatment:

Antibiotics – for you and your partner(s).

Prevention:

Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
Or
Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.
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Molluscum Contagiosum

Description:

It is a viral infection caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus.

Effects:

You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s).

Cause:

Direct skin-to-skin contact.
Vaginal, oral or anal sex (protected or unprotected).

Symptoms:

Pearly smooth fluid-filled bumps on your skin.
They are most common in the genital area, the inner thighs and the lower abdomen.

Treatment:

Freezing the lumps using a special technique. The virus stays in your system so the lumps may come back.

Prevention:

Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
Or
Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.
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Syphilis

Description:

It is a bacterial infection.

Effects:

  • You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s).
  • You can pass it on to your baby during pregnancy.

Cause:

  • Intimate genital contact.
  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
  • Unprotected rimming (mouth to anus contact).
  • Kissing an infected person.
  • From an infected pregnant mother to her baby.

Symptoms:

There are three stages to the infection and the symptoms are the same for men and women.

Stage 1 – Primary infection
Incubation period: 9 to 90 days
Symptoms: Usually appear around three weeks after exposure as a painless ulcer (similar to a cold sore) in the genital, anal or mouth area.

Stage 2 – Secondary infection
Incubation period: 6 weeks to 6 months
Symptoms: Red spotty rash develops, typically on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, but it may also appear elsewhere on your body.

Stage 3 – Tertiary syphilis
Incubation period: Can happen months or years after initial infection
Symptoms: Rare, but there is a possibility of long-term damage to your heart and brain.

Treatment:

  • Antibiotics – for you and your partner.
  • Follow-up blood tests to make sure the infection is cleared.

Prevention:

Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
Or
Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.

Scabies

Description:

It is a parasitic mite.

Effects:

It spreads and the symptoms get worse.
You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s).

Cause:

Close body contact with an infected person
Rarely, infected bed linen or clothes may transmit the mite.

Symptoms:

Itching, especially at night.
Silvery lines on your skin and between your fingers.

Treatment:

It can be treated with lotions – for you and your partner(s).

Prevention:

Avoid skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

Hepatitis B

Description:

It is a viral infection that affects the liver and blood.

Effects:

Long term complications can include liver failure and cirrhosis of the liver.
Increased risk of miscarriage or premature labour. You can pass it on to your baby during pregnancy.

Cause:

  • Through blood and other body fluids.
  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
  • From an infected mother to baby during pregnancy.
  • Sharing drug using equipment with an infected person.
  • Tattoos, acupuncture and piercings with non-sterilised equipment.

Symptoms:

  • Flu-like symptoms.
  • Fever.
  • Jaundice (yellow colouring of the eyes and skin).
  • Nausea.
  • Tiredness.

Around 10-50% of people infected have no symptoms.

Treatment:

You may need medical treatment.
You should stop or reduce the amount of alcohol
you drink to reduce further strain on your liver.

Prevention:

  • Get a Hepatitis B vaccination free from your GUM/STI clinic.
  • Don’t share needles with drug users.
  • Don’t have intimate sexual contact. Or
  • Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.

Hepatitis A

Description:

It is a viral infection that affects the liver and blood.

Effects:

You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s).

Hepatitis A

Cause:

Unprotected rimming (mouth to anus contact). Through contaminated food or water.

Symptoms:

Around 50% of people infected have no symptoms. Flu-like symptoms.
Jaundice (yellow colouring of the eyes and skin).
Nausea.
Tiredness.

Treatment:

You may need medical treatment.

Prevention:

Get a Hepatitis A vaccination free from your GUM/STI clinic.
Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
Or
Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.

Chlamydia

Description:

It is a bacterial infection.

Effects:

You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s). It can lead to problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
You can pass the infection to your baby during birth. It can cause premature labour and low birth weight.

Cause:

  • Intimate genital contact.
  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
  • Infected fingers to eyes.
  • Unprotected rimming (mouth to anus).
  • From a pregnant mother to her baby.

Symptoms

In around 80% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia will have no symptoms.

Women:

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Stinging or burning sensation when you pass urine
  • Bleeding between periods or heavy periods
  • Pain or bleeding during or after sex

Men:

  • Discharge from penis
  • Stinging or burning sensation when you pass urine.

Treatment

Antibiotics – for you and your partner(s).

Prevention

Don’t have intimate sexual contact. Or Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.
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Bacterial Vaginosis

Description:

It is a condition caused by the overgrowth of normal vaginal bacteria.

Effects:

It can cause problems in pregnancy such as premature labour and low birth weight. It can contribute to pelvic inflammatory disease especially if you have a contraceptive coil in place.

Cause:

Exact cause is not known. It affects women with many sexual partners and new sexual partners. It may be triggered by sexual intercourse or a period.

Symptoms:

No symptoms in most cases.
Abnormal vaginal discharge and smell.
Genital itching.

Treatment:

Antibiotics.

Prevention:

It is likely to come back in about one-fifth of cases, especially after your period or after sex.
Don’t use harsh soaps, antiseptics and sprays in the vaginal area, as they can disrupt your vagina’s normal balance.
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HIV

Description:

It is a virus caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

Effects:

  • You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s).
  • You can infect your baby during pregnancy and birth.
  • You may get AIDS (Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome). This happens when the virus breaks down your immune system until it gets to a stage when you cannot fight certain infections.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Cause:

  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
  • From a HIV positive mother to her baby during pregnancy, at birth or in breast milk.
  • Sharing drug using equipment with an infected person.

Symptoms:

There are usually no obvious symptoms in the early years.

Treatment:

Prescribed HIV medication.

Prevention:

  • Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
  • Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.
  • Don’t share needles.
  • If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, have a HIV test.

Herpes

Description:

It is a virus caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). There are two types, HSV 1 and HSV 2.

Cause:

Direct skin-to-skin contact.
Unprotected vagina, anal or oral sex.
Unprotected rimming (mouth to anus).
From a pregnant mother to her baby.

Symptoms:

Most people who carry the virus have no symptoms.

During an outbreak you may have: Flu-like symptomsPainful blisters or ulcers on your external genitals and rectumA burning sensation when you pass urine.

Treatment:

Prescribed medication can reduce discomfort during an outbreak. The virus will stay in your system, so you may have further outbreaks. These outbreaks are usually less severe.

Prevention:

  • Don’t have sex while you or your partner(s) has an outbreak.
  • Don’t have intimate sexual contact. Or
  • Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.

Genital Warts (Human Papilloma Virus, HPV)

Description:

It is a virus caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Effects:

Some types of the virus are associated with cervical cancer in women, so you should follow up with your doctor for a smear test.

Genital Warts

Cause:

Direct skin-to-skin contact. Vaginal, anal or oral sex (protected and unprotected).

Symptoms:

The virus can be in your system for 3 weeks to 8 months (or longer) before you show symptoms. Warts usually appear as single or more painless, fleshy growths or lumps in the genital area. They come in different shapes and sizes.
You may not have visible warts, but can still pass the virus on to your sexual partner(s).

Treatment:

There are a few treatments available, such as freezing the warts and prescribed creams. The type of treatment will depend on the size, location and number of warts.
The virus will stay in your system, so the warts may come back.

Prevention:

Don’t have intimate sexual contact. Using a condom may not protect you against genital warts
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Gonorrhoea

Description:

It is a bacterial infection.

Cause:

  • Intimate genital contact.
  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
  • Infected fingers to eyes.
  • Unprotected rimming (mouth to anus contact).
  • From an infected mother to her baby at birth.

Treatment:

Antibiotics – for you and your partner(s).

Prevention:

Don’t have intimate sexual contact.
Or
Have safer sex – always use a new condom correctly and put it on before you have sex.

Effects:

  • You can pass it on to your sexual partner(s).
  • You can pass it on to your baby at birth.
  • It can cause problems such as pre-term labour and low birth weight.
  • Other long term complications include pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

Symptoms:

Around 70% of women and 5-10% men who are infected will have no symptoms.

Women: Abnormal vaginal or anal discharge Burning or stinging sensation when you pass urinePain during or after sexMay be bleeding between periods.

Men: Abnormal discharge from penis Burning or stinging sensation when you pass urine
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