STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Whether you’re having sex for the first time or have been doing it for a while, it’s important to think about reducing your risk of getting an STI. This may not be fun to think about but it’s even less fun getting an STI. Going for regular tests is really important… in fact, once you’ve started having sex you should have regular examinations and tests. This ensures your health as well as your partner’s.
It’s also important to understand your partner’s sexual history. If he/she has been with other people it’s okay to ask them if they have been tested for STIs in the past year. If they haven’t, then it’s definitely time they did! It can be an uncomfortable conversation but one that you need to be having if you’re having sex. Plus the more conversations you have, the easier it gets – sort of like practicing when you’re learning how to play the piano.
Oh, and if you get an STI, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or that you’re “dirty”. This is a misconception that we need to work at eliminating.
Let’s go over some of the common STI’s you may (or may not have) heard about. All the “more” links will open in a new window to the STD Resource. If you’re looking for a clinic, they also have a fantastic list of STD clinics from all over BC (click here).
Gonorrhea (or Clap, Drip) is a bacterial infection. You can get gonorrhea through vaginal, anal or oral sex. Though gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility (in both males and females). Symptoms include: pain/burning during urination, abnormal fluid discharge, need to urinate more often, pain or swelling of the sexual organs. (more)
Crabs are lice in the pubic area. These small (but visible) lice feed off blood and can also live in armpits and hair. You can get crabs during close physical contact with someone who has it (usually sex), and (more rarely) by sharing underwear, clothes and bedding. Crabs can be treated with store-bought medication, but you should also wash any linens and clothes you’ve used in the past 2-3 days (or bag and isolate them for a week or so). Symptoms include mild to major itching, though it’s possible to have them and show no symptoms. (more)
Scabies, by contrast, is an infestation by a microscopic (and so too small to see) mite. It usually requires a more prolonged and direct physical contact than crabs, but lives a little longer without a host so get transferred by clothes & linens. Scabies will usually appear as an itchy rash on hands and folds in the skin, but can only be confirmed by a health care specialist; Treatments (lotions, shampoos), however, can be purchased without a prescription at the store. (more)
Herpes (or Herpes Simplex Virus - HSV) comes in two strains: Herpes simplex I and Herpes simplex II. Both strains can appear as cold sores or blisters around the mouth, genitals or buttocks. Both are contracted through oral, genital or anal contact and can be transmitted even if no symptoms are present. There’s no cure for herpes but medication can help reduce symptoms and complications. Some people infected with herpes experience no symptoms but can still infect others. Symptoms include cold sores and blisters, or flu-like illness, painful or difficulty starting urination. (more)
Human Papillomavirus or HPV is a very common STI. Genital warts are the visible sign of infection, but often there are no symptoms whatsoever. There are over 130 strains of HPV - certain strains can cause genital cancers (primarily cervical cancer) and others cause warts (none do both). You get both through skin-to-skin contact, generally vaginal and anal as oral transmission is very rare. A lot of people have HPV and don’t know it. There is now an HPV vaccination: depending on where you live, this vaccination might be available at your school and/or local doctor. (more) (our blog entry on HPV)
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection in the genitals transmitted from by contact with genital fluids. You can reduce the risk of transmission by using a female or male condom. It can be treated and cleared completely with antibiotics if diagnosed early… However, if left untreated, it can cause urinary tract damage and damage to the reproductive organs, even sterility. Often there are no symptoms (particularly in men) so it goes unnoticed and untreated, but can still be transmitted. But if there are symptoms they might include: a burning feeling when peeing, a change in the texture and smell of discharge, itchy genitals and possible abdominal pain. You can get tested for chlamydia at almost any clinic. (more)
Hepatitis (A, B or C) is a range of highly contagious viruses that cause liver damage. They are transmitted in different ways depending on the type. Symptoms include rashes, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, aches, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, yellowing skin. Other than that, the three types are quite different: (more)
- Hepatitis A is transmitted via feces-to-mouth, so oral sex with the rectum (rimming), indirectly via anal sex, or through improperly handled food. It’s an acute viral infection with no treatment. There is a vaccine.
- Hepatitis B is transmitted in genital fluids and blood, so can be passed on by unprotected sex or blood-to-blood contact. Some people never show symptoms but remain carriers that are capable of infecting others. Treatments are available, and there is also a vaccine.
- Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood (and hence blood-to-blood contact), so transmission via sex is uncommon. Transmission from intravenous drug use (if you share equipment) however, is very common. There is currently no vaccine, but there are treatments available.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that gets into the bloodstream. It can spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex. If untreated, it can live on and cause rash, fever and headache. If it clears up on it’s own (untreated) the person can become a carrier. If infected, a person should make sure they are cured before having sex with anyone; it can be treated with antibiotics . Initial symptoms include a sore where initial contact was made, then a dry rash and/or outbreaks of smaller sores, sometimes fever and chills. If left untreated for years, syphilis can lead to degeneration of vital organs, cause brain damage and death. (more)
HIV stands for human immuno-deficiency virus. HIV is viral infection that lives in the blood and breaks down immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off other infections. HIV can be transmitted by blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk, so is transmitted through vaginal or anal sex (and to a lesser extent, oral sex), breast-feeding or blood-to-blood contact. Symptoms of initial infection are sometimes flu-like (fever, rash, joint ache/stiffness), though if your immune system is broken down, other symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and night sweats may appear. There is a test, which should be able to detect the presence of the virus from 3 weeks to 6 months after infection. There is no vaccine or cure, although it can be treated through the use of medications.
- AIDS (Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) refers to the advanced stage of HIV infection where the immune system has been broken down so far that the person has a life-threatening infection that would otherwise be rare or trivial, called an Opportunistic Infection. Examples include neumonia, thrush, lymphosis, toxoplasmosis, and herpes.
If you read nothing else, read this:
HIV infection is not a death sentence - though it is life-threatening, treatment is available and with a healthy lifestyle, it is now possible to be HIV-positive and outlive the disease.
(learn more from AIDS Vancouver)