Chlamydia
Is a common bacterial infection – 1 in 10 young men and women who are having sex have got it, but many don’t know because at first most people don’t have any symptoms.
How you get it: Unprotected penetrative sex, oral sex (less likely).
Symptoms: Most of the time, none, but sometimes pain when peeing (for boys), lower abdominal pain (for girls) or discharge from the vagina or penis.
Treatment: A simple course of antibiotics (4 tablets taken together) for both partners.
If it’s not treated: Can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (see below) in women and infertility in men and women.
Get a free postal testing kit for Chlamydia from Healthy Respect
Genital warts
Are caused by a virus and are a bit like the ones you get on your hands.
How you get it: Through vaginal or anal sex or other genital skin to skin contact.
Symptoms: small pinkish white lumps that can be on the vulva, penis, scrotum, anus or in the vagina.
Treatment: Freezing the warts or using a cream or liquid to make them disappear.
If it’s not treated: The virus can take a while to clear from your system and warts can come back.
Gonorrhoea
is a bacterial infection sometimes called ‘the clap’.
How you get it: Unprotected penetrative sex (vaginal, anal or oral sex).
Symptoms: Many people have none, but there could be pain when peeing, a discharge from the penis or vagina, or pain in the lower abdomen. Boys may have sore or swollen testicles. If it is in the throat it could cause soreness.
Treatment: Both partners take antibiotics.
If it’s not treated: Can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (see below) in girls, and serious swelling and pain in the testicles.
Hepatitis B
Is a virus that is very infections. It can cause an acute (serious, but short-term) illness or chronic (serious and long-term) illness.
How you get it: Unprotected penetrative sex, sharing contaminated needles or razors, babies born to infected mothers or by receiving an (untested) blood transfusion. A vaccination (jag) is available which can prevent someone getting Hepatitis B. The jag is recommended for those who are at greater risk including: gay men, health care workers, injecting drug users and people who work in the sex industry.
Symptoms: Often there are none, but they can include feeling tired, unwell, sick or becoming jaundiced (yellowing skin).
Treatment: No specific treatment for an acute illness – most people make a full recovery. There are some treatments for chronic illness which may help – but it is a serious illness which can lead to liver disease.
If it’s not treated: Can cause permanent liver disease.
N.B Hepatitis C is not an STI, but a virus that attacks the liver and is often passed on by sharing needles.
Herpes
is a virus, that can cause cold sores round the mouth or in the genital area.
How you get it: Unprotected penetrative sex, including oral sex and other genital skin to skin contact. Cold sores round the mouth can be passed to the genital area.
Symptoms: Not everyone will get symptoms. A first attack may make you feel very unwell with flu-like symptoms with painful blisters around the genital area. It may be very painful to pee.
Treatment: A course of tablets and/or ointment if symptoms are bad.
If it’s not treated: There’s no cure, and the blisters may come back, but the first outbreak is usually the worst, and sometimes they don’t come back at all.
HIV
stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This serious virus attacks the body’s defence system, so illnesses can’t be fought off. A person is said to have AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) if they are infected with HIV and they have also developed a number of particularly severe illnesses.
How you get it: Unprotected penetrative sex (anal or vaginal), sharing contaminated needles, from mother to unborn baby or through breastfeeding, or by receiving infected blood for medical reasons.
Symptoms: People with HIV can remain healthy for many years with no signs or symptoms at all.
Treatment: there are now very good treatments available in the UK which can help people stay well for longer. There is no cure and no vaccine (jag) for HIV. The test for HIV is done using a sample of blood.
If it’s not treated: Severe illness leading to death due to AIDS.
For more info on HIV go to should I worry about HIV?
NSU
stands for Non-Specific Urethritis and is a bacterial infection. Only men get this. It’s an infection of the urethra (where you pee comes from).
How you get it: many cases are thought to be caused by Chlamydia, but sometimes the cause is unknown.
Symptoms: Often there are none, but there might be a discharge from the penis or a burning sensation when you pee.
Treatment: Antibiotics will cure the infection.
If it’s not treated: NSU might be a sign of Chlamydia or gonorrhoea, so the long term effects could be the same as for those.
PID
Stands for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Only girls and women can get this infection.
How you get it: PID can develop if Chlamydia or gonorrhoea is not treated.
Signs and symptoms: Perhaps none to begin with, but causes severe cramping and pain in the lower tummy area in the later stages.
Treatment: Antibiotics can cure the infection.
If it’s not treated: Can lead to infertility (unable to get pregnant) and a risk of ectopic pregnancy (baby develops in the fallopian tube rather than the womb) if not treated early enough.
Syphilis
is a bacterial infection which can lead to serious illnesses. There’s been a recent increase in gay men testing positive in Lothian.
How you get it: Penetrative sex (vaginal or anal) and oral sex
Signs and symptoms: A sore to start with and later a rash and flu-like symptoms
Treatment: Can be cured with antibiotics.
If it’s not treated: Can lead to damage of the heart, joint or nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves).
How can I protect myself and my partner?
What happens when you go for an STI test at a sexual health clinic?
Where can you get tested?