What is a sexually transmitted infection (STI)

1. What is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) Walt:- Describe the symptoms of common STI’s and to understand how to protect against them

2. Sexual Intercourse • An act between two people who want to make a commitment to each other. • It is something that both partners are happy to take part in.

3. Issues to Consider • Reputation • Self respect • Relationship • Saying ‘No’ • Unwanted pregnancy • Sexually transmitted diseases • Cervical cancer

4. Sexually Transmitted Infections • Who gets them? • How are they transmitted? • Signs and symptoms • Help • Used to be referred to as VD (venereal disease) named after the goddess of love - Venus

5. Genital warts Chlamydia Pubic Lice Hepatitis HIV/AIDS Syphilis Gonorrhoea …and there are more… STIs – How Many Can You Name?

6. Get your facts right • There are lots of stories about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), some true, some not. One thing's for sure, the risk of picking up or passing on a STI is no reason not to have sex, but it's a very good reason to be careful - and to always use a condom.

7. Did you know • As many as 70% of women and 50% of men who have an STI, don't show any symptoms. • If you have unprotected sex (sex without a condom), you have a much greater chance of getting a STI like Chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV. • There are an estimated 20,000 HIV positive people in the UK who don't know they've got HIV. • In the last 10 years, the number of people infected with Chlamydia has increased by 206%. In some high-risk groups, such as gay men, the number of people infected with syphilis has increased by 1,949%.

8. What does that mean to you • You don't need to sleep around to get an STI - anyone who has sex without a condom is at risk. • HIV is the most dangerous STI simply because there is no cure. It weakens the immune system so that your body finds it harder to fight off other infections. • Green ooze dripping out of your penis or vagina can be a symptom of gonorrhea, but many STIs don't carry any symptoms at all, though they can lead to infertility, heart disease, brain and nervous system damage. • Chlamydia is now the most common (yet easily curable) STI in the UK - as many as one in ten young people under 25 may be infected with it. Often people don't know they have it as there aren't always symptoms, but an infection could leave you unable to have children.

9. What can I do about it • Get yourself checked out. If you have itches, sores or blisters around your genitals, you probably have an STI. No need to panic, but you should contact your local sexual health (GUM) clinic immediately. • Sexual health check-ups are free and available to everyone in the UK. You can arrange a visit to a sexual health (GUM) clinic anytime. It is completely confidential. • Condoms are essential wear: Always use a condom every time you have sex, as this is the best way of making sure you don't get a STI - It's not just a bloke thing either, women buy 4 out of every 10 condoms sold. • Condoms come in a wide range of sizes, flavours, colours and shapes and are available for both men and women. There are allergy-free versions and even vegan varieties, which use no animal products including milk- so there's no excuse for not using one.

10. Thrush Thrush is caused by a yeast that normally lives harmlessly on the skin, or in the mouth, gut and vagina, without causing any problems. It is not necessarily transmitted sexually, but having sex can cause an irritation that may result in thrush. How thrush develops Your chances of developing thrush are increased if you: • Are pregnant. • Wear lycra shorts or tight nylon clothes. • Take certain antibiotics. • Use a vaginal deodorant or perfumed bubble bath as this can cause an irritation. • Have sex with someone who has a thrush infection. • Are diabetic. Any man can develop thrush, but it is more likely in uncircumcised men, who should wash under their foreskins as part of their daily routine.

11. How can it be treated? • Men may have a swab taken gently from under their foreskin, and women may have a swab inside the vagina. A sample of pee may be taken. • Treatment for thrush is easy. A cream is applied to the genitals and women may be given pessaries (almond shaped tablets) to insert into their vagina. Oral anti-thrush tablets are now available from some sexual health clinics, GPs or from the chemist. • You should get individual advice about having sex during treatment from your doctor, nurse or health adviser.

12. Pubic lice Pubic lice are tiny insects that live in the pubic hair region or under the arms. They are often called 'crabs'. Pubic lice are usually acquired through sexual contact but can occasionally be transferred by close physical contact or by sharing sheets or towels. The lice can be seen on physical examination and may be examined under a microscope. Special shampoo or lotion can treat the lice. There is no need to shave off your pubic or other body hair. Anyone you have had recent sexual contact with should also be checked and treated. Until treatment is completed, you can pass on pubic lice between you, so you should avoid any sexual contact with anyone during treatment.

13. Chlamydia Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There often aren't any symptoms, but if left untreated it can lead to infertility. Symptoms include: Girls Boys increased vaginal dischargedischarge from penis frequent or painful burningpain/burning during urination pain during sex irregular periods You can get Chlamydia in the following ways: • Penetrative sex (where the penis enters the vagina or anus). • Oral sex (from mouth to the genitals or genitals to the mouth). • Mother to baby during birth. • Occasionally by transferring the infection on fingers from the genitals to the eyes. • Treatment will be a course of antibiotics.

14. Gonorrhoea Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), also known as 'the clap'. Gonorrhoea is passed on by: • Penetrative sex (when the penis enters the vagina or anus). • Oral sex (from mouth to the genitals or genitals to the mouth). And less often by: • Rimming (where a person uses their mouth and tongue to stimulate another person's anus). • Inserting your fingers into an infected vagina, anus or mouth and then putting them into your own without washing your hands in between. • Sharing vibrators or other sex toys. Can be treated with a course of antibiotics – tablet form or in an injection. You must tell anyone that you have had sexual contact with in the last 6 months as they to may have it.

15. Hepatitis Hepatitis is a virus that inflames the liver. There are several viruses that can cause hepatitis, these include hepatitis A, B and C. The hepatitis A virus is found in faeces (poo) and can be passed on: • If the virus comes into contact with a person's mouth through such things as rimming (where a person uses their mouth and tongue to stimulate another person's anus). • Sexual contact. • Through eating or drinking contaminated food or water or swimming near sewage outlets. It is very important to wash your hands carefully after going to the toilet and before eating. The hepatitis B and C virus is very common worldwide. It is very infectious and can be passed on: • By unprotected penetrative sex (where the penis enters the vagina or anus) or sex which draws blood. • By oral sex (from mouth to the genitals or genitals to the mouth). • By sharing needles or other drug injecting equipment contaminated with blood. • By using equipment for tattooing, acupuncture or body piercing contaminated with blood. • From an infected mother to her baby. • Through a blood transfusion in a country where blood is not tested - all blood for transfusion is tested in the UK.

16. Hepatitis A cannot be treated but the body can fight it off. If you are going abroad to a country where hepatitis is common get immunised. Some people may have no symptoms at all but can still pass on the virus. Symptoms may include: • A short, flu-like illness. • Fatigue. • Nausea and vomiting. • Diarrhoea. • Loss of appetite. • Weight loss. • Jaundice (yellow tinge to eyes or skin). • Itchy skin. Hepatitis B has the same symptoms as A but these can lead to liver disease and cancer – no known cure! Hepatitis C has the same symptoms as A but these can lead to liver disease, cancer and chronic hepatitis. There is no known cure. 80% of people infected will remain with the infection for life.

17. Genital herpes Genital herpes is caused by a virus - similar to the one that gives you cold sores around your lips. The difference is that genital herpes causes painful sores on and around your genitals. There is no known cure. However, if you think you have caught genital herpes you should go to your local sexual health (GUM) clinic straight away, as there are tablets you can take to help reduce the infection, but they must be taken within 72 hours of the start of any symptoms. You usually catch herpes by direct contact with sores during sex, though you can also catch it even when there are no sores present. The virus affects the areas where it enters the body. This can be by: • Kissing (mouth to mouth). • Penetrative sex (when the penis enters the vagina or anus). • Oral sex (from mouth to the genitals or genitals to the mouth).

18. Herpes – blisters sores and scabs on penis Herpes on a female Herpes around the mouth

19. Genital warts Genital warts is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Warts are caused by a virus and are spread through skin-to-skin contact. If you have sex or genital contact with someone who has genital warts, you may develop them too. They can be passed on during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Genital warts on penis and pubic hair, fingers and in the mouth

20. Syphilis Syphilis is a bacterial infection and can be spread without either partner knowing. If left untreated it can over time lead to heart disease and brain damage. It used to be more commonly known as 'the pox'. Syphilis can be passed on during the primary or secondary stages through: • Oral, vaginal or anal sex. • Skin contact with any sores or rashes. • From a mother to unborn child. It is not usually infectious when there are no symptoms. Can be treated with a course of antibiotics – tablet form or in an injection – if you have syphilis you should not have sexual contact with anyone until your treatment is complete. If left untreated, over time syphilis can lead to heart disease and brain damage.

21. Syphilis can attack any part of your body

23. STI Misconceptions If I only engage in oral sex, I can't contract a sexually transmitted infection The TruthSTIs can be transmitted through oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex and in some cases, heavy petting. Penile penetration is not a prerequisite for disease transmission. In fact, the number of cases of gonorrhea of the throat are increasing! If I have an STI, I will recognize the symptoms immediately The TruthIn most women (and some men), there are often virtually NO symptoms of STIs. Not only can a partner not tell if a woman or man has an STI, the person with the STI often does not know. I am not promiscuous and neither are the people I hang out with…it's unlikely that the people I would sleep with would be carrying something The TruthFemales are more susceptible to acquiring STIs than males because their anatomy is more prone to infection in general. In addition, contracting STIs has nothing to do with cleanliness or grooming. Contracting an STI has everything to do with being intimate with someone who is already infected. The more partners you have or have had, the greater your chances of having an STI. The more partners your partner has or has had, the greater your partner's chances of having a STI.

24. For more information • http://www.condomessentialwear.co.uk/protection • http://www.smartersex.org • STI Quiz

25. Question 1: True Some of the most common symptoms of an STI infection include: Abnormal discharge, painful urination, burning, itching or tingling in the genital area, but it is important to remember that many women and men who have an STI often do not experience any symptoms at all. Chlamydia, for example, often has no symptoms. Question 2: True Normal vaginal discharge has several purposes: cleaning and moistening the vagina and helping to prevent and fight infections. Although it's normal for the colour, texture, and amount of vaginal fluids to vary throughout a woman's menstrual cycle, some changes in discharge may indicate a problem. Question 3: False Having an STI and being cured from it does not mean that your body now has a built in immunity to the bacteria that causes the infection. You must protect yourself from becoming infected again by using a condom. Remember, it is your body! Question 4: True Although small traces of HIV can be found in tears, saliva, urine and perspiration, extensive studies have shown that there is not enough of the virus or the virus is not strong enough to be transmitted. Only blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk have been proven to transmit the HIV virus and Hepatitis B. HIV cannot be passed on by casual contact. Question 5: True Many different organisms can cause PID, but most cases are associated with gonorrhoea and genital Chlamydia infections, two very common STIs. Scientists have found that bacteria normally present in small numbers in the vagina and cervix also may play a role. Question 6: True STIs can be passed from a pregnant woman to the baby before, during, or after the baby's birth. Some STDs (like syphilis) cross the placenta and infect the baby while it is in the uterus (womb). Other STDs (like gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, hepatitis B, genital herpes) can be transmitted from the mother to the baby during delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal. HIV can cross the placenta during pregnancy, infect the baby during the birth process, and unlike most other STDs, can infect the baby through breastfeeding.

26. Question 7: False Even if symptoms appear to go away, the infected person will still have the infection and is able to pass the infection on to others until he/she gets treatment. STIs that aren't cured early can cause sterility. Question 8: True If the fallopian tubes are blocked at one or both ends, the egg can't travel through the tubes into the uterus. Blocked tubes may result from pelvic inflammatory disease, which is often caused by untreated STIs. Question 9: False The birth control pill does not protect against sexually transmitted Infections. For those having sex, condoms must always be used along with birth control pills to protect against STDs. Abstinence (the decision to not have sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Question 10: True Most condoms are made of latex. Those made of lambskin may offer less protection against some sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, so use of latex condoms is recommended. For people who may have an allergic skin reaction to latex, both male and female condoms made of polyurethane are available. When properly used, latex and plastic condoms are effective against most STIs. Condoms do not protect against infections spread from sores on the skin not covered by a condom (such as the base of the penis or scrotum).

27. Question 11: False As stated in question number 1, a person can have and STI and not know it. If they can't tell, how can you? Question 12: True The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 4 million new cases of Chlamydia occur each year. The highest rates of Chlamydia infection are in 15- to 19-year-old adolescents regardless of demographics or location. Question 13: True The Pap test is a way to find cell changes on the cervix. Abnormal cells may lead to cancer, so having a pap test can find and treat them early, before they have time to progress to cancer. Although Pap tests do not test for STIs, some STIs such as HPV (Human papillomavirus infection) can cause abnormal Pap test results. Certain types of HPV are linked to cancer in both women and men. If you suspect you or someone may have an STD, go to your school Health Centre or physician's office for a check-up. Tell them you suspect you may have an STD. They will not automatically test you. You have to ask for a test. There is no need to be embarrassed. They are not there to judge you; they are there to help.How can you avoid getting an STI? Abstain from sexual intercourse. Engage in lower risk sexual activities. Use condoms every time you have sexual intercourse. Get a hepatitis B vaccination. Refuse to share needles