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Sexually transmitted infections can affect anyone – including you. The scary thing about STI’s is that many of them don’t have any symptoms, which means you could be infected without even knowing it.
Make sure you use a condom every time you have sex, have regular STI checks, and keep an eye out for the following symptoms…
CHLAMYDIA:
Chlamydia is the most common STI in New Zealand. It is transmitted through unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex, and can cause infertility in women if not diagnosed early.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
Chances are you won’t. Some women do have a discharge, bleeding between periods, lower abdominal pain or pain when going to the toilet, but Chlamydia usually has no symptoms and is difficult to detect without a test.
Men may feel burning or itching around the opening of the penis and or swelling in the testicles, so watch out for those symptoms in your partner as well.
Is there a cure?
Chlamydia can be cured if it is detected early, but left undiagnosed for a long period of time it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or infertility.
Effective treatment of Chlamydia is as simple as taking a single dose of antibiotics. You may be asked to go back to the clinic or doctor after your course of treatment to make sure the infection is cured. It is very important to do this as a further course of treatment may be needed if the infection is still there.
HPV / GENITAL WARTS:
The Human Pampilloma Virus (HPV) has more than 90 different strains, making it one of the most infectious STI’s around. HPV is spread through unprotected sex, and while most are harmless, some strains have been linked to cervical cancer.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
Genital warts are fleshy, pimple like growths or bumps which grow around the genitals, anus, cervix, inside the vagina and in the opening of the urethra. Most strains have no symptoms, but a few cause painless warts on the genitals or in the vagina. If you do show any symptoms they will usually show up between 3 weeks and 6 months after infection. Women are often diagnosed with HPV as part of a smear test, which monitors cell changes in the cervix.
Is there a cure?
Unfortunately there is no cure for HPV. The virus will stay in your body and sometimes causes warts to reappear again and again. Visible warts can be treated with creams or removed by freezing (yeowch!). This removes the physical signs of the HPV, but does not remove the virus from the body. However, the immune system usually kicks in to suppress the virus, reducing the incidence of warts.
GENITAL HERPES:
Herpes is a viral infection which causes cold sores in the genital and anal regions. It is passed through skin to skin contact, generally from mouth to the genitals or anus and vice versa. Herpes comes in two forms, they are:
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 1:
Commonly called cold sores, these tend to occur in the upper half of the body, mainly around the lips and mouth. HSV 1 can also affect the genital area.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2:
HSV 2 is more commonly the cause of genital herpes.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
Most of the time herpes has no symptoms and you can catch it or pass it on to another sexual partner without knowing. If symptoms do appear they include stinging or itching in the genial or anal area, small blisters or ulcers around the genitals, flu-like symptoms and pain when going to the toilet.
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for herpes. The virus attaches itself to the nerve cells around the spinal cord in the lower back and can lie dormant until an outbreak occurs. Outbreaks are often triggered by stress, friction, or when the immune system is low. Herpes can be passed on at any time, whether a person is suffering an outbreak or not.
Herpes is treated with an anti-viral medication in the first instance, and further outbreaks are treated with either anti-viral medication or complementary medicines such as tea tree oil.
TRICHOMONIASIS:
Trichomoniasis, or TV, is a very common STI mainly affecting women. The infection is caused by a small parasite found in the genital tract/urethra, which can be passed on through vaginal sex.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
This is one of the few STI’s that actually has symptoms. TV can cause a green-yellow discharge that may have an unpleasant “fishy” smell, as well as itching and soreness around the vagina.
Men rarely have symptoms if they have TV, but if symptoms do appear they include discharge from the penis, burning of stinging when passing urine or needing to pass urine more often than usual.
Is there a cure?
TV can be cured with a short course of antibiotics, but both partners need to be treated for the infection at the same time and avoid sex until both are clear to prevent re-infection.
PUBIC LICE:
Public lice, aka crabs, are tiny parasites which live in course body hair. They are usually transmitted sexually, but can be transferred by close physical contact.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
Lice can be seen with the naked eye and look like tiny crabs, and there may also be red lumps around your pubic area. Lice attach themselves and their eggs to pubic, underarm, eyelash and eyebrow hair. Symptoms to watch out for include itching, black powder (droppings) in underwear, and brown eggs in your pubic or body hair.
Is there a cure?
Yes, but everyone who has been exposed must be treated to avoid re-infection. Lice can be treated with a lotion that can often be bought over the counter at the chemist. It needs to be applied head-to-toe, and your bedding and clothing should be thoroughly washed as well.
GONORRHOEA:
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of the genital area. It can get into the urethra, the cervix or the uterus and in some cases affect the throat or eyes. It can cause serious problems if not diagnosed early. Like other STI’s, gonorrhea is passed on through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
Gonorrhea is another STI with no symptoms. They can appear between 2-7 days after infection in men, but around half the women who catch gonorrhea will not have any symptoms at all. If symptoms do appear they could be an unusual discharge, the need to go to the toilet more often, and burning or irritation when going to the toilet. Women may also experience bleeding between periods.
More serious problems can develop from ineffective treatment or lack of treatment, including chronic pain in the lower abdomen, infertility, painful joints and ectopic pregnancy.
Is there a cure?
Gonorrhea can be cured, but you must make sure that both you and your partner are treated, and you avoid sex until you are clear.
SCABIES:
Scabies is caused by small mites, which burrow under the skin and lay their eggs. It is usually transmitted during sex, but it can also be passed on during close physical contact.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
Symptoms include intense itching which becomes worse at night, and small spots or a rash around the genital area, buttocks, on your hands, between your fingers, wrists and elbows, underarms, abdomen and breasts.
Is there a cure?
Yes, but everyone who has been exposed must be treated to prevent re-infection. A lotion can be bought over the counter at the chemist. It needs to be applied head-to-toe, and your bedding, towels and clothing should be thoroughly washed as well.
HEPATITIS:
Hepatitis is a viral infection, which inflames the liver. It has many different strains and the type of hepatitis you contract depends on the length of time an infected person has had the illness and the strength of the virus. Hepatitis B is most commonly passed on though unprotected sex with someone who has the infection, however all types can be passed on through unprotected sex.
How do I know if I’ve got it?
It is very common for people with some strains of hepatitis to have no symptoms at all, but still carry the infection. However early signs of infection include pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, weakness, tiredness, loss of appetite, aches and pains and fever. This may be followed by jaundice (yellowing of the skin), urine may be darker, faeces can be pale-coloured; a swollen and painful liver, itchy skin, sweats, diarrhoea, and lack of appetite leading to weight loss.
Is there a cure?
Some forms of hepatitis can be prevented with a vaccine, which gives a person immunity. The hepatitis virus itself cannot be treated, however some of the side effects caused by hepatitis can.
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Sexually transmitted infections can affect anyone – including you. The scary thing about STI’s is that many of them don’t have any symptoms, which means you could be infected without even knowing it.