STIs – Huh?

It's easy for us to overlook the wide range of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) other than HIV that we can expose ourselves to. Most of these are much easier to catch than HIV, but are either preventable or easily treatable.

Dealing with STIs can be a lot easier if you know what to look for and have some idea yourself of what you've got. There's nothing worse than contracting gonorrhoea and thinking that your penis is about to fall off because you've no clue what's happening to it.

So have a read and bookmark our site for future use. Look at it as your service manual for keeping your sex parts in good working order. Being informed will help you stay healthy and have fun.

Testing centres

A full list of Queensland sexual health clinics is here: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/sexhealth/help/default.asp

Gonorrhoea or The Clap

Gonorrhoea is an STI caused by bacteria in your penis, throat or bum. You get it by having sex without a condom, oral sex, rimming (licking bum), fingering or touching an infected penis, vagina, throat or bum.

Symptoms: In some instances, you may not be aware of any symptoms, however symptoms usually show up 2 to 10 days after being exposed. They include:

• if you have it in your penis, a creamy, yellow discharge from its opening and an itching or pain whenever you cum or urinate

• if you have it in the throat, generally no symptoms
• if you have it in the bum, a discharge and an itch

Even if the symptoms clear up without treatment, the infection will still be there.

How do I get tested and treated? A simple urine test, and your doctor can collect a small amount of fluid from your throat or bum and get it tested. Treatment is antibiotics. If you're HIV positive, check with your doctor about whether the antibiotics prescribed are right for you. Untreated gonorrhoea in your penis can develop into a serious infection in your balls and prostate gland and can lead to sterility. Untreated gonorrhoea in your throat or bum can develop into ulcers. These increase your risk of getting or passing on HIV if you have sex without a condom. Gonorrhoea may have serious implications for HIV progression.

Herpes

Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV, one usually found around the mouth and commonly called a cold sore and a second type usually found around the anal or genital areas. Both types of virus can cause infection anywhere on the body. Herpes can be transmitted or contracted by coming into contact with the blisters or sores it causes although transmission can occur even when there are no symptoms. This could be through skin to skin contact (including kissing for oral herpes), having sex without a condom, oral sex or rimming.

Symptoms: There may be none. Symptoms often show up 2 to 30 days after being exposed. They include: small, red, painful blisters or erosions where the blisters have been which can last for 1 to 3 weeks; itching or burning feelings which occur before a blister appears.

How do I get tested and treated? Your doctor will swab and test the blisters. There is no cure. Treatment of the blisters is with tablets or ointments. If you're HIV positive, symptoms can be more severe and outbreaks recurrent, especially in the later stages of HIV infection. Problems can occur when recurring sores last more than a month and with herpes associated inflammation of the eyes (herpetic retinitis). Laboratory studies show that herpes viruses and HIV can interact to make both viruses replicate faster. Check with your doctor about the benefits of drugs that may prevent and treat herpes outbreaks.

Tip: Condoms don't always completely cover the area that has blisters. Avoid contact with blisters at any stage. There is no cure for herpes but it can be managed. Even when blisters aren't visible, there's a risk you can get or pass on the virus to your sex partners. If you are HIV negative and have herpes, a herpes flare-up can make you more vulnerable to getting HIV.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a very common STI and is caused by bacteria. You can get it by having sex without a condom, oral sex or rimming.

Symptoms: 30% of men may not be aware of any symptoms with chlamydia, however, for the rest, symptoms usually show up 5 to 14 days after being exposed. They include:

• a watery, white discharge from your penis which is most noticeable in the morning
• itching or pain in the opening of your penis particularly when you urinate

How do I get tested and treated? A simple urine sample and your doctor will get it tested. Treatment is often with one dose of antibiotics.

Tip: The longer you delay treating chlamydia the harder it is to treat and get rid of. Untreated chlamydia may lead to infection in your balls and reduced fertility.

Genital and Anal Warts

Genital warts are caused by a virus in your penis or bum. You can get it by having sex without a condom, rimming, fingering, or if an infected penis or vagina touches your penis, balls or bum.

Symptoms: You may have no visible symptoms. If you do notice symptoms they usually show up 3 weeks to 3 months after being exposed. They include:

• small bumpy warts that appear on your penis, balls or bum
• discomfort, and they may bleed in your bum when relieving your bowels

How do I get tested and treated? Your doctor will look at your penis, balls and bum. No special tests are needed. Genital warts can be removed as they appear, either by burning or by the use of liquid treatments that cause the warts to fall off.

There is no cure for genital warts. Eventually your immune system will control the virus. This may not be the case if you are HIV positive. Anal warts may be more difficult to treat in people with HIV. If you don't get genital warts removed they get much bigger and are harder to clear up. Genital warts are also associated with increased risk of cancers.

Non-specific Urethritis (NSU)

NSU is an inflammation of the tube inside your penis (urethra). It can be caused by a number of different organisms, but most frequently chlamydia. You can get it by having sex without a condom, oral sex or rimming.

Symptoms: You may not be aware of any symptoms with NSU, however symptoms usually show up in three days to two weeks after being exposed. Symptoms for NSU include:

• a watery, white or clear discharge from your penis
• discomfort or pain when you urinate
• you may urinate more often

How do I get tested and treated? Your doctor will collect a small amount of fluid from your penis and get it tested. Treatment is with a fully completed course of antibiotics.

Tip: Urinating after cumming (or having sex) will reduce your risk of getting NSU.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a curable STI caused by a bacteria called Treponema Pallidum. Syphilis is transmitted through most sexual activity including anal, oral, mutual masturbation, and vaginal sex. Syphilis can show no symptoms so a regular sexual health check up is recommended. Syphilis can cause serious damage more quickly if a person also has HIV/AIDS so it is important that it be detected and treated early.

Symptoms: The first sign of syphilis is a painless sore or ulcer (called a chancre – pronounced "shanker") which usually appears on the genitals. The sore can also occur inside the mouth, arse, or vagina, and these may often go unnoticed. If syphilis is not treated the sore will heal by itself although the syphilis infection will remain in the body.

The next sign of syphilis is a rash all over the body, including the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. If the infection is not treated, the rash will go away, although it may come and go for up to a year. In this stage there may also be other symptoms such as weight loss, hair loss and raised glands.

If still not treated, syphilis can go on to cause serious damage to the brain and other major organs including the heart and nervous system.

How do I get tested and treated? Testing for Syphilis is done by blood tests, although swabs may be taken from the sore or rash in early syphilis infections. Treatment for syphilis is effective and involves injections of antibiotics.