STIs
Name | Transmission | Symptoms | Treatment | If Untreated |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chlamydia | Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected person. | Women: often no symptoms can cause vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. Men: pus like discharge from penis or anus as well as burning urine 2–14 days after infection. | Antibiotics for a short period of time. | Can cause sterility in both men and women.In women may cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Eye infections and pneumonia in newborn infants of infected women. |
Genital Herpes | Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected person. Oral herpes can be transmitted during oral genital sex.Self transmitted by fingers on oral blisters. | Symptoms can appear 2–20 days after contact with the infected person, but may not appear for months or years after contact. Itching, tingling and aching of infected areas. Then sore-like blisters which are very painful. | There is no cure.Analgesics can relieve the pain of symptoms. | Increases chances of cervical cancer in women. Can cause birth defects if first outbreak during early pregnancy or if baby comes into contact with sores during birth. |
Genital Warts | Sexually transmitted by vaginal, anal or oral sexual activity. | Symptoms appear from 6–8 weeks after contact. Can be seen on exterior or with internal examination. | Removal by cream, medical solutions, laser or frozen with nitrogen. | Increase in size and number over whole genital area, particularly moist areas. Can impede childbirth as they can become quite numerous. |
Gonorrhoea | Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected person.In eyes from contact with discharge of infected person. NOT spread by towels or toilet seats. | Symptoms start 2–10 days after contact. 80% of women and 10% of men have no symptoms when infected. Women: vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain. Men: pain when urinating, sore throat and yellow discharge.Rarely, a yellow discharge from the anus. | A single dose of antibiotics. | Severe inflammation of the genitals. Sterility. Chronic pelvic pain in women. |
Hepatitis B | Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected person.Sharing drug injecting equipment. | Hepatitis B Virus infects the liver. Symptoms include jaundice, fever, and loss of appetite, tiredness, and pain in joints. | Antivirals. Hepatitis B is the only STI that might be prevented with a vaccine. The vaccine involves a course of injections. | Severe cases of hepatitis may cause permanent liver damage. |
Hepatitis A | Faecal/oral contact transmits Hepatitis A, so sexual practices such as rimming are risky for Hepatitis A transmission. | Infects the liver. Symptoms include: jaundice, fever, loss of appetite, tiredness, pain in joints. | Rest, avoid alcohol, balanced diet and remain hydrated. 15% relapse after 9 months. | Fatality rate of 0.4% and 1.7% of infections. |
HIV/AIDS | Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected person. Sharing infected drug-injecting equipment. Mother to child transmission via pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. | Cannot be cured, but treatments can be used to address symptoms. Retroviral can be used to suppress the illness. | When life-threatening illnesses occur as a result of HIV, the person is diagnosed as having AIDS. | |
Non Specific Urethritis | Penile/vaginal intercourse.Penile/anal intercourse. 60% due to Chlamydia. NOT spread by towels or toilet seats. | Women: usually no signs, but if any they are usually the same as Gonorrhoea. Men: urinating a lot with pain and a watery discharge. | A range of antibiotics because of the range of sources that could have caused it. | Pneumonia in newborn infants of women who have it.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Sterility in men and women. Ectopic pregnancy. |
Syphilis | Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected person. | A painless sore on the penis, vagina, anus or throat. Later signs of syphilis include a rash on the hands and/or feet, or flu like symptoms. | Antibiotics. | Can lead to serious illness many years later including tumours, joint fusion and swelling around the brain. |
Thrush | Altered flora in vagina from taking antibiotics, the pill, stress, pregnancy, diabetes, etc…From sexual contact – foreskin of man’s penis or woman’s vagina. | Intense itching, which can interfere with sleep and normal activities.Vaginal tissues swell up and become red and dry. Discharge thick, white curdy with unpleasant smell.Redness and swelling in genital area. | Anti-fungal medications. | May develop in the mouth or bottom of newborn infants. |
Trichomoniasis | Sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral) with an infected person. | Women: may be no symptoms. May have a frothy yellow or grey discharge from vagina or discomfort during intercourse, itching and swelling of the genital area. Men: no symptoms. | Antibiotics. | In women, inflamed cervix and urethra. |