Sexually Transmissible Infections
AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). This can
damage the body's defense system so that it cannot fight certain infections.
HIV is not passed on through everyday social contact.
HIV is transmitted in four main ways:
· through unprotected sex (anal or vaginal)
· by injecting drug users sharing equipment including syringes and needles
. by blood transfusion or infected blood products
· from an infected mother to her unborn child
HIV is not passed on by:
· touching or shaking hands or hugging
· sneezing or coughing
· swimming pools
· tears or sweat
· mosquitoes or other insects.
Some people with HIV and AIDS have been treated badly and discriminated
against. So do not break up a friendship because someone you know has AIDS or
HIV - there is no need. Friendship and support are the most important thing you
have to offer.
Warts are small fleshy growth on the skin. They are caused by a virus called
human papillomavirus virus (HPV). There are at least 70 different types of HPV.
Some types cause warts on any part of the body. Others cause warts on the
private parts or genital, and sometimes around and inside the anus and rectum.
How could I get genital warts?
The virus can be passed by skin-to-skin contact with the wart. If you have sex
with someone who has wars, you may develop them too. Using condom may offer some
protection against this virus, but it won't always prevent contact with all
infected areas.
How do I know I have them?
You might feel or see them or your partner might notice them. The can be flat,
smooth, small bumps or quite large, pink, cauliflower-like lumps. They can
appear singly or in groups.
If you think you have warts arrange to attend the Bure Clinic or your local
clinic.
Herpes simplex is a viral infection which comes as two types. Type 1 can cause
"cold sores" around the nose and mouth, and more rarely in the eyes or
in the genital or anal area. Type 2 can cause sores in the genital and anal area
and occasionally on the mouth. The two types are similar and can only be
identified by laboratory tests. Genital infections caused by type 1 are
sometimes less severe.
It is possible for a herpes simplex infection to pass from the mouth to the
genital area and vice versa:
· either through oral-genital contact during oral sex
· or, much more rarely by self infection - for example, the virus can be passed
to the genital area by the fingers.
How do I know I have herpes infection?
· Stinging, tingling or itching in the genital or anal area
· You may be unwell with flu-like illness.
· You may have small painful blisters/ulcers in the private parts.
· Passing urine may be painful.
What do I do if I think I have herpes?
You can either see your doctor who may advice you to attend the clinic or come
to the clinic yourself. Your doctor won't be informed you attended unless you so
desire.
You may
find additional useful information at Herpes
Alliance
This is caused by bacteria and can affect the vagina, cervix, urethra, rectum or
even the throat.
How could I get it?
Gonorrhoea can be passed on through:
· vaginal sex - where the man puts his penis in the woman's vagina
· anal sex - where the penis is put into the rectum
· oral sex - where partners lick or suck each others sexual parts.
Can I get it from toilet seats or towels?
You cannot it get it from toilet seats or swimming pools or by sharing cups and
towels.
How do I know if I have it?
You may not know - that is the problem with gonorrhoea. And sometimes other
sexually transmissible infections can hide the symptoms of gonorrhoea.
Most women notice nothing at all until the infection has spread from the cervix.
Some may notice:
· an unusual discharge
· pain or discomfort when passing water
· sore throat.
Men may notice:
· white or yellow discharge oozing from the tip of the penis. This is enough to
stain the under pants.
· pain or discomfort urinating
· itching or discharge from the anus
· sore throat
There may be no symptoms in both men and women.
In women, it can not be picked up from cervical smear.
Chlamydia is a bacteria which infects the genitals and sometimes the eyes and
throat. It's one of the commonest causes of sexually transmitted infections. It
is the commonest cause of non specific urethritis (NSU) in men.
How can I get Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is usually passed on when you have sex with a new partner. If the
penis enters the vagina or anus without using condom you may get chlamydia.
Chlamydia sometimes appears in people who haven't had a new partner. This is
because the bacteria that cause chlamydia can stay inside you for sometime
before giving you problems. You may not be aware you have it until your partner
develops signs of infection.
How do I know if I have it?
Women:
Usually no symptoms until spread has occurred elsewhere but you may notice
· an unusual vaginal discharge
· bleeding in between periods
· pain or stinging on passing water
Men:
Often there are no symptoms, so it is not picked up in a routine medical check,
unless tested for. You may have (urethritis)
· slight white, cloudy discharge from the tip of the penis
· burning or uncomfortable feeling when urinating.
Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra and caused by several different
germs. NSU is often an alternative name when the cause is not due to gonorrhoea.
The commonest cause of NSU however in men is chlamydia.
Men can have NSU and pass on the infection without having any obvious symptoms.
Sometimes NSU is detected only after attending the clinic for another infection
- for example, warts.
This is caused by an organism that normally lives quite harmlessly in the
immuno-competent, on your skin, mouth and gut. This organism is called Candida
albicans and it is actually a type of yeast. If your body is healthy, candida is
kept under control. But sometimes it grows and multiplies and can cause
discomfort. This is more likely to happen if you:
· are pregnant
· wear tight jeans or nylon underwear
· are taking certain antibiotics
· have diabetes
· are unwell or ill
· have unprotected sex with someone who has candidiasis
· are taking the oral contraceptive pill
How can I tell I have it?
· itching, soreness and redness around your vagina, vulva or anus
· a thick, white discharge from your vagina that looks like cottage cheese and
smells yeasty.
· swollen vulva
· pain when you have sex
· pain when you pass water
What should I do if I think I have it?
You need to attend the clinic. A swab will be taken to get a sample from the
discharge which will be examined under the microscope. It may be possible to
confirm you have candidiasis at that visit or await the results of samples sent
to the laboratory.
What should I tell my partner?
Candidiasis can sometimes be shared with your partner, and it may be necessary
to see and examine him, as often men may have thrush without noticing it.
Bacteria vaginosis occurs when bacteria that usually grows in the vagina are
overwhelmed by other bacteria, sometimes called Gardnerela.
How can I tell I have it?
You may have a grey, watery discharge which has a strong "fishy
smell", especially after you've had sex.
What should I do if I think I have it?
You need to attend the clinic. A swab will be taken to get a sample from the
discharge which will be examined under the microscope. It may be possible to
confirm you have bacterial vaginosis at that visit or await the results of
samples sent to the laboratory.
Will it come back?
It might, so you may need to re-attend as we do not really cure it but control
it.
What about my partner?
Sometimes men may have an associated NSU and treatment in tandem may be
beneficial.
This is an infection caused by a tiny parasite that is sometimes found in the
vagina and urethra.
How do you get TV and how soon does it show up?
By having unprotected sex with someone who has it. Symptoms may start a few days
or weeks after you've had sexual contact.
How can I tell if I have it?
You may have:
· a thin frothy yellowish-green discharge that may have an unpleasant fishy
smell.
· soreness and itching in and around the vagina.
you may have no signs at all until identified either from a cervical cytology
smear or from a test on your urine.
What should I do if I think I have it?
You need to attend the clinic. A swab will be taken to get a sample from the
discharge which will be examined under the microscope. It may be possible to
confirm you have TV at that visit or await the results of samples sent to the
laboratory.
Should I tell my partner?
Yes, this is very important. You can have TV without having symptoms, so your
partner may be carrying the infection without knowing it.
When can I have sex again?
Until you have been given the "all clear" from the clinic as you would
need to attend for a "test of cure". You must finish your course of
antibiotics even if the problem seems to have cleared after you have taken the
first few.
This is caused by the bacteria called Treponema pallidum which is spread
mainly by sexual intercourse, but can be passed on to your baby if are pregnant.
If you are pregnant, in this country you would have had this test during your
antenatal visit to the hospital. It usually starts as a painless sore and may be
any where in the private part, areas of contact during sex as (the mouth, anus)
or in women on the neck of the womb. If left untreated it usually heals in 3 - 8
weeks. This is called primary syphilis.
About 8 to 10 weeks after the sore has healed, you feel unwell with flu-like
illness and develop skin rashes. Sometimes what looks like warts occur around
the genitals and the peri-anal areas. This could occur over period sometimes
lasting up to 2 years.. This period is known as secondary syphilis. Again it may
clear without any treatment. It then lurks in the body and is only found when
blood test are done for it and in others this may go on to cause problems with
the joints, heart and brain. This period is what we call tertiary syphilis.
It is important to attend the clinic when ever you notice any areas of sore
in the genital region or mouth if you have had oral sex. It can be cured at this
stage with injections or tablets. It will however always be found in your blood
when a test for syphilis is done. Don't worry, just tell the doctor when and
where you were treated.
Congenital syphilis occurs when your baby is born with this condition. It is
now very rare in this country, because you will be tested in pregnancy. But, do
inform your doctor if any painless sore occur if pregnant for testing to be
repeated
These are viral infection that affects the liver, that could go on to cause
cancer of the liver. Hepatitis B can be acquired from
· sexual intercourse
· injecting drugs
· transfusion of infected blood/products
· from mother to the (unborn) child through the placenta
Some people become unwell when infected with yellowness of the eyes and the body
in fair skinned individuals. A blood test at the clinic can confirm the
infection. It can be prevented by vaccination which we offer in the clinic.
Hepatitis C is mostly acquired by
· injecting drugs
· transfusion of infected blood/products
· very rarely from sexual contact
· from mother to the (unborn) child through the placenta
If you inform us you have injected drugs in the past, we perform this test in
addition to the other test we consider necessary. Regrettably there is no
vaccination for it at present and most people who have it don't know until
tested. NEVER SHARE YOUR INJECTION NEEDLES.
Molluscum contagiosum
This is a skin infection caused by a virus which is spread by body contact. They
appear as small, pink or fleshy, circular domes with a central depression. They
are painless and do not itch. They can occur in the genital area, lower abdomen,
thighs and the buttocks but may spread to other parts of the body.
They are quite harmless and do not produce any serious illness but once they
have appeared they are infectious and may spread to other people by contact.
Sexual partners should be seen, examined and treated.
Scabies
This is a skin infection caused by a mite that burrows into the skin, where the
female lays her eggs. It causes itching, particularly on retiring at night.
Personal bodily contact including sexual intercourse are the means of acquiring
the infection. It is important that your partner (s) be seen, examined and
treated.
Crab louse
The louse infests the strong hairs of the body-pubic and peri-anal areas. It
sometimes causes itching of the genital area. Close bodily contact particularly
during sex are the means of acquiring the infection. It is important that your
partner (s) be seen, examined and treated.
All the known sexually transmissible infections have not been covered,
but browse the male or female sexual health pages, and if you feel you may have
put your self at risk, then attend the clinic for a check. It is important you
inform the doctor as this information is dealt with in strictest confidence. The
care you receive is dependent on the information you provide. Particularly
sexual encounters on holidays in foreign countries can be dangerous. All
information is important to guide the doctor in doing the appropriate tests.
Last reviewed on the 17th April 2008 | 
