STI Testing, Treatment, and Vaccines

Infections

Chlamydia
Bacterial infection of the genitals can lead to inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility.

How you get it

By having vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; from mother-to-baby (eye and chest infection).

Symptoms

Some people often have no symptoms or may have pain with sexual intercourse, lower abdominal pain, or changes in bleeding patterns. Other people may have watery or thick discharge from the penis, pain, or urinating.

Treatment

Antibiotics.

Partners

Recent sexual partners need treatment. Don’t have sex until 7 days after starting treatment and until sexual contacts have been treated.

Infections

Gonorrhea
Bacterial infection of the genitals, throat, or anus, can lead to infertility.

How you get it

By having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; from mother-to-baby (eye infections).

Symptoms

People usually have no symptoms, but may have pain with sex, vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain. Others may have discharge from the penis, discharge from the anus, pain in testicles, pain on urinating.

Treatment

Antibiotics.

Partners

Sexual partners must be tested and treated if positive. Avoid sex until 7 days after treatment is completed. Condoms provide some protection, but not total.

Infections

Syphilis
Bacterial infection entering the body through breaks in skin or linings of the genital area; over time, goes on to damage internal organs (heart, brain, spinal cord)

How you get it

By having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; from mother-to-baby across the placenta during pregnancy (congenital syphilis).

Symptoms

Painless ulcer (chancre) usually on genitals;  later swollen glands, rash, hair loss.

Treatment

Antibiotics with follow-up blood tests.

Partners

Sexual partners must be tested and treated if positive. Current health regulations advise no sex until you are cleared.

Infections

Genital herpes
Herpes simplex virus causes skin infection usually on the mouth and lips (cold sores) or genitals.

How you get it

Close skin contact with someone with the virus; from mother-to-baby.

Symptoms

Painful, red blisters, little sores or ulcers, flu-like symptoms, and sometimes a discharge.

Treatment

Anti-herpes drugs and pain relief can be given to treat symptoms, but the infection cannot be cured. Some may need medication to prevent further outbreaks.

Partners

Partners may or may not catch herpes. Do not have sex when open sores are present. Condoms provide some, but not complete, protection.

Infections

Non-specific urethritis (NSU)
Infections that cause inflammation of the urethra.

How you get it

Can be caused by chlamydia or by bacteria, viruses or other organisms.

Symptoms

People usually have no symptoms, however some may have discharge from the penis, pain on urinating, but sometimes there are no symptoms.

Treatment

Antibiotics.

Partners

Partners need to be examined and treated.

Infections

Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginalis, a small parasitic organism, causes irritation in the vagina and can cause irritation inside the penis.

How you get it

During sexual intercourse with an infected person.

Symptoms

Some people have no symptoms, but there may be a yellowy-green frothy vaginal discharge.

Treatment

Antibiotic tablets and/or vaginal pessaries.

Partners

Treat with antibiotics to avoid re-infection.  Don’t have sex until 7 days after starting treatment and until sexual contacts have been treated.

Infections

Hepatitis A
A viral infection which affects the liver.

How you get it

Mainly through contaminated food or water or not hand-washing after toilet, before food, etc. Can be through anal sex and oral-to-anal contact (rimming).  

Symptoms

Often no symptoms, or may have mild flu-like illness, or vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Treatment

Immunization for prevention. Good hygiene and hand-washing. Avoid alcohol and drugs. Eat a well-balanced low-fat diet.

Partners

Immunization for prevention and avoid anal sexual practices until recovered.

Infections

Hepatitis B
A viral infection which affects the liver.

How you get it

By having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection; form mother-to-baby. By sharing needles, syringes, toothbrushes, razors, and unsterilized instruments that pierce the skin. Blood transfusion in countries that do not pre-test blood for transfusion.

Symptoms

May have no symptoms or mild flu-like illness or vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Treatment

Rest, exercise, and avoid alcohol, drugs and smoking. Eat a well-balanced low-fat diet. Check any prescribed or over-the-counter medicines are safe to take.

Partners

Always use a condom if your partner is not immunized. Protection is offered to babies on the immunization schedule and children under 16 years. Free immunization is available for household and sexual contacts.

Infections

Hepatitis C
A viral infection which affects the liver.

How you get it

After contact with infected blood or by sharing needles or syringes or possibly through sexual contact. Blood transfusion in countries that doe no pre-test blood for transfusion.

Symptoms

Often no symptoms or may have mild, flu-like illness or vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Treatment

Rest, exercise, and avoid alcohol, drugs and smoking. Eat a well-balanced low-fat diet.

Partners

Sexual and needle-sharing partners can have a blood test to check for Hep C antibodies.

Infections

HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the white blood cells and causes damage to the immune system so that it can be difficult to fight off infections.

How you get it

HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, sharing needles, and from mother-to-baby. Blood transfusion in countries that do not pre-test blood for transfusion.

Symptoms

Usually no obvious symptoms for many years.

Test

In-Office rapid Testing 

Results in 10 minutes. Fingerstick. Able to detect HIV from 6 to 8 weeks after exposure. If the result is positive, a blood sample is taken and sent to a lab for confirmation.

Laboratory Testing 

Results in one week. Blood draw. Able to detect HIV 2 weeks after exposure to the virus.

Blood drawn and sent to the laboratory. Results available in one week. Both tests more than 99% accurate.

Treatment

No immunization or cure available although some secondary infections can be treated or prevented. Keeping well for longer is possible with good care. Some people with HIV/AIDS need a cervical smear yearly.

Partners

Practice safer sex to prevent transmission. 

Partners should ask for an HIV test, and consider using PrEP to prevent infection.

Infections

Genital warts
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes fleshy or flat lumps—may be present even if not visible.

How you get it

HPV transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex; from mother-to-baby. Sometimes no identifiable source of transmission.

Symptoms

Fleshy or flat lumps on or around genitals, anus, groin, or thigh. 

Treatment

Visible warts can be treated, but the infection cannot be cured. On 1 January 2017, HPV immunization became free for everyone aged 9 to 26, including non-residents under the age of 18.

Partners

Condoms provide some protection, but not total.

Infections

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
An infection of the womb and fallopian tubes that can cause infertility.

How you get it

Usually by having vaginal sex without a condom with someone who has gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Symptoms

Pain during sex, sore abdomen or back, heavy, irregular or painful periods, spotting, high temperature, feeling sick; sometimes no symptoms.

Treatment

Antibiotics and rest.

Partners

Need to check for STIs and be treated to avoid reinfection.  No sex until treatment is completed and until sexual contacts have been treated.

Infections

Pubic lice  (crabs)
Small lice that live in the pubic hair and cause irritation.

How you get it

By close body contact, usually during sex with an infected person. Can be spread via infected bedding and clothing.

Symptoms

Intense itching in the pubic area, small nits (eggs) on pubic hair.

Treatment

Special shampoo, cream, or spray applied to the pubic area. Wash all clothing and bed linen.

Partners

Treat partners of the last 3 months in the same way at the same time.

Infections

Scabies
Small mites that burrow into the skin cause irritation.

How you get it

By close body contact, sometimes during sex. Can be spread by sharing clothes or bedding.

Symptoms

Itching, worse at night, and a rash on the body.

Treatment

Special lotion, cream, or ointment. Wash all clothing and bed linen.

Partners

Treat partners of the last 3 months in the same way at the same time.