Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) – Common Sexually Transmitted Infections
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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections spread by sexual contact. These infections are usually passed from person to person through vaginal intercourse. However, they also can be passed through anal sex, oral sex, or skin-to-skin contact. STIs can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Many people get STIs but don’t know it because they don’t have symptoms. Other people have symptoms that can be mild or more bothersome.
Path to improved health
There are many different kinds of STIs. Here is information on some of the most common ones, their symptoms, and their treatments.
Chlamydia
What it is: Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is easily cured. Left untreated it can cause infertility in women.
Symptoms: Women may have no symptoms or may have pain when urinating, itching around the vagina, yellow fluid (discharge) from the vagina, bleeding between periods or pain in the lower abdomen. Men may have a burning sensation when urinating and a milky colored discharge from the penis. If not treated, chlamydia can cause infertility and other problems in women and painful swelling of the scrotum in men.
Treatment: Antibiotics. Usually both partners should be treated.
Gonorrhea
What it is: Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection. Left untreated, it can cause serious health problems. But it’s easily cured.
Symptoms: Women may have no symptoms or may have white, green, yellow or bloody discharge from the vagina, pain when urinating, bleeding between periods, heavy bleeding during a period or a fever. Both women and men can get sore throats if they’ve had mouth to penis or vagina contact (oral sex). Men may have thick, yellow discharge from the penis and pain when urinating. The opening of the penis may be sore. Gonorrhea can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated.
Treatment: Antibiotics. Usually both partners should be treated.
Herpes
What it is: Herpes is a viral infection that causes painful sores in the genital area. It’s spread through skin-to-skin contact. Once you’re infected, you have the virus for the rest of your life.
Symptoms: Women and men may have tingling, pain or itching around the vagina or penis. Small blisters can form in these areas and then break open. When they break open, the sores can cause a burning feeling. It may hurt to urinate. Some people have swollen glands, fever and body aches. The sores and other symptoms go away, but this does not mean that the infection is gone. The sores and blisters can come back (called an “outbreak”).
Treatment: Medicine can treat symptoms but can’t cure herpes. If one partner is infected, the other should by checked by a healthcare provider.
HIV/AIDS
What it is: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV attacks the body’s immune system, making you more likely to get sick from other viruses or bacteria.
Symptoms: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes AIDS. HIV makes the body’s immune system weak so it can’t fight disease. Symptoms may take years to develop, and can include infections, feeling tired for no reason, and night sweats.
Treatment: Medicines can treat symptoms but can’t cure AIDS. If one partner is infected, the other should be checked by a healthcare provider.
HPV / Genital Warts
What it is: HPV (human papillomavirus) is a family of more than 100 types of viruses. Some don’t cause any symptoms. Some types cause genital warts. More aggressive types can cause cancer.
Symptoms: HPV (human papillomavirus) can cause warts in or around the vagina, penis or rectum. In women, the warts can be inside the body on the cervix or vagina so you can’t see them. Or they may be on the outside of the body but may be too small to see. The warts usually don’t hurt. There are many types of HPV. Depending on the type, HPV may not cause any symptoms.
Treatment: No medicine cures HPV. A healthcare provider can remove external warts. Warts on the cervix or in the vagina can cause changes that may lead to cervical cancer. Healthcare providers will watch these changes. If one partner is infected with HPV, the other should be checked by a healthcare provider.
Some types of HPV can be prevented through immunization. Recommendations are different by province.
Pubic lice (crabs)
What it is: Pubic lice (also called crabs) are tiny insects that live in pubic hair and lay eggs. They spread through direct contact but don’t cause many problems.
Symptoms: Women and men may have redness and itching around the genitals.
Treatment: Medicine, such as over-the-counter lotions or shampoos (some brand names: Nix, Rid) can kill the lice. Prescription shampoos, lotions or pills are also available to treat pubic lice if over-the-counter medicine doesn’t work. However, lice can come back if clothes, sheets and towels aren’t washed. Usually both partners need to be treated for pubic lice.
Syphilis
What it is: Syphilis is a serious bacterial infection that causes sores in the genital area. It’s passed by touching the blood or sores of an infected person.
Symptoms: An early symptom is a red, painless sore, called a chancre. The sore can be on the penis, vagina, rectum, tongue or throat. The glands near the sore may be swollen. After a few months, both men and women can get a fever, sore throat, headache or pain in their joints. Another symptom is a scaly rash on the palms of the hands or the bottom of the feet. The sores and other symptoms go away, but this does not mean that the infection is gone. Syphilis can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated.
Treatment: Antibiotics. If one partner is infected, the other should be tested.
Trichomoniasis
What it is: Trichomoniasis is an infection caused by a parasite. The parasite spreads through skin-to-skin contact.
Symptoms: Women can have a heavy, greenish-yellow frothy discharge and pain when urinating or while having sex. In girls, trichomoniasis can also cause redness, itching and a burning feeling in the genital area. Men may also have burning with urination or ejaculation.
Treatment: Antibiotics. Usually both partners need to be treated.
Things to consider
It’s common to feel guilty or ashamed when you are diagnosed with an STI. You may feel that someone you thought you could trust has hurt you. You may feel sad or upset. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you’re feeling.
- Remember you can take steps to prevent getting an STI. The only sure way to prevent them is by not having sex. But if you do have sex, you can lower your risk if you do the following things.
- Limit your number of sex partners.
- Avoid sex with people who have had many sex partners.
- Use condoms consistently and correctly.
- Ask your partner if they have, or has had, an STI. Tell your partner if you have had one. Talk about whether you’ve both been tested for STIs and whether you should be tested.
- Look for signs of an STI in your sex partner. But remember that STIs don’t always cause symptoms. Don’t have sex if you or your partner are being treated for an STI.
- Wash your genitals with soap and water and urinate soon after you have sex. This may help clean away some germs before they have a chance to infect you.
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