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What are STI’s & who can catch them?
If you’re sexually active or thinking of having sex, do yourself a favour and avoid many STI’s by always practising safer sex* (please see section on Contraception). An STI is an infection passed on through sexual contact. Infections can cause ill health, which can have long-term physical and psychological health consequences if not treated. Some might [...]
Continue reading...Want to get checked for STI’s
Anyone who has sex can have an STI. It doesn’t just happen to ‘bad’ people and people who sleep around – it can happen to anyone even if they only have sex once. Most of the time, people can’t tell if they have an STI so it’s always worth [...]
Continue reading...Chlamydia
Chlamydia (pronounced Kla-mid-e-a) It is estimated that 1 in every 10 sexually active young people have Chlamydia, and many don’t even know it. What is it? Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and it is the most common STI in young people. In men, chlamydia may cause infection of the urethra, resulting in pain on passing urine, tenderness / swelling [...]
Continue reading...Genital Herpes
Pronounced her-pees What is it? They are small painful blisters around the genitals. It is caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. (Herpes simplex is a cold sore usually around the mouth). This doesn’t mean that people who suffer with cold sores have an STI – Genital Herpes is the virus around the genitals, (penis, vagina and anus). How [...]
Continue reading...Genital Warts
Genital warts is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus If you’ve seen warts on hands or feet they look similar; small fleshy lumps around the genitals. How do I know if I’ve got them? After infection it can take between 1 and 3 months for warts to appear but the big problem is that there are often [...]
Continue reading...Gonorrhoea
Pronounced gon-nor-re-ya What is it? Once known as ‘the clap’, gonorrhoea is a disease caused by bacteria. If it’s not treated, it can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, infertility and other serious problems. This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, blocked fallopian tubes, infertility and ectopic pregnancy (where the embryo develops outside the womb). In men it can lead [...]
Continue reading...Hepatitis
Hepatitis means ‘liver inflammation’. It is caused by a virus, and although there are several kinds of hepatitis virus, Hep A and B are the most common. It is caught through the contamination of food and water with faeces (poo) through poor personal hygiene or sanitation. What is it? Hepatitis B is a virus which spreads through [...]
Continue reading...HIV & Aids
HIV is a sexually transmitted virus that attacks the body’s immune system, which provides a barrier to disease and infection. HIV infects special cells found in your blood that fight against infection. Once infected, HIV destroys the cells making it hard for your body to fight off infections. When someone is in the later stages [...]
Continue reading...Pubic Lice
Also known as crabs, pubic lice are small insects/bugs. People may know them as head lice – only they live in your public hair around your genitals. How do I know if I’ve got them? Wherever they are you’ll feel really itchy and there might be black powder in underwear, brown eggs, and sometimes can be seen [...]
Continue reading...Syphilis
It’s an infection caused by bacteria. If it’s not treated, it can be very serious… leading to heart disease, brain damage, blindness and even death. How do I know if I’ve got it? 1st stage Symptoms appear 2 – 6 weeks after being infected. Small sores (chancre) that may be seen on the mouth, penis, vagina, breasts, hands that [...]
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