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sexually transmitted infections

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Sexually transmitted infections (also known as STIs) – not the greatest of subjects, which is probably why you don’t spend much time thinking about them. Even if you’re not having sex right now, you still need to know about them, because STIs are a lot more common than you may think. Knowing more about STIs – what they are, how to recognise the symptoms and where to get treated if you catch one – could one day prove extremely useful. It could even save your life.

Did you know?

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First up...

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Some people talk about STIs (sexually transmitted infections). Others call them STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). They’re all talking about the same thing. The important thing is to know what they are and how to avoid them!

Sex can be a lot of fun but only if you’re not feeling pressured into doing something you don’t want to and you feel like you have control over your body and your choices. Nobody wants to think about STIs or unplanned pregnancy, but you have to if you’re going to be able to relax and enjoy yourself.Young people have high rates of infection and it’s really important to know the facts. We hope you find this booklet gives you enough information about STIs to enjoy sex safely.

Definitions There are a number of words and phrases that we use in this booklet which might be helpful for us to explain upfront.

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Everyone has a different word for their genitals (some people call them ‘private parts’) and it would be a pretty long booklet if we tried to put them all in.Throughout all our booklets, we use the standard terms – penis, testicles and vagina. We also use the term anus for the opening in your bottom.

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Vaginal sex – the penis entering the vagina Anal sex – the penis entering the anus

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Oral sex – licking, kissing or sucking the genitals Genital to genital contact – any contact where genitals touch each other, with skin touching skin

Straight sex – sex between a man and a woman Gay sex – sex between two people of the same sex. If you read anything in this booklet that doesn’t make sense, or if you have any questions, do ask for advice from someone you trust – you can always contact Ask Brook on 0808 802 1234.

What’s an STI? Basically it’s a bacterial or viral infection that can be spread through sexual contact. And this doesn’t just mean unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Some STIs can be passed on through oral sex (kissing, licking or sucking someone’s genitals) or through close genital to genital contact.

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There are lots of STIs out there you’ve probably heard of, like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital warts, herpes simplex, HIV...

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Many are on the increase, and all of them can affect anyone – gay or straight, male or female. Some don’t show up straight after you get infected. Some may show signs a few days after unprotected sex. Others can go unnoticed for a long period of time, or even show no symptoms at all. The thing about infections is, they’re often easy to get rid of. But leave them untreated and they may cause serious damage to your long-term health and/or fertility.

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Your definitive guide to STIs most unwanted...

Chlamydia What it is Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI in the UK – and it’s on the increase.

How to recognise it

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How it’s treated

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Up to 80% of women and up to 50% of men infected with chlamydia have no symptoms. Because of this, a lot of infections don’t get diagnosed. Where there are symptoms, men and women may have an unusual or smelly discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when weeing, lower stomach pain or pain during sex. Women may notice heavier than normal periods or bleeding between periods. Men may have painful testicles.

Chlamydia is usually easily treated with a single dose of antibiotics, though occasionally a longer course is required. Treating it is actually much easier than ignoring it. If it’s not treated, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause pain and inflammation in the joints. In women it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility. Men’s fertility may also be affected. The more times you get chlamydia, the more likely you are to have complications, so it’s really sensible to get it treated quickly and avoid taking the risks of unprotected sex. New and simple methods of testing for chlamydia are now available like peeing in a cup. There will be a testing programme in your local area (check out www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk) or contact your local sexual health or GUM clinic.

Gonorrhoea What it is Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection like chlamydia but less common.

How to recognise it

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About 10% of men and 50% of women will not have obvious signs of gonorrhoea. Symptoms for both men and women include a thin white, yellow or green discharge from the penis or the vagina, a frequent need to wee, pain when weeing and in rare cases lower stomach pain. Women may notice heavier than usual periods or bleeding between periods. Men may have painful testicles. Gonorrhoea can be passed on in the throat during oral sex and this usually has no symptoms. Infection in the anal passage may cause anal pain, discomfort or a discharge from the anus.

How it’s treated

Gonorrhoea is usually treated with a single dose of antibiotics and you shouldn’t have sex until treatment is complete. If left untreated gonorrhoea can lead to infertility and inflammation of the joints or the eyes.

Did you know? A condom is the only thing that will protect you from pregnancy and STIs.

Genital herpes What it is Genital herpes is caused by the virus herpes simplex. There are two types of herpes simplex virus – HSV1 and HSV2. Both types can infect the genitals or anal areas (genital herpes) or the mouth and nose (cold sores). They are passed from one person to another through unprotected sex, oral sex or close genital contact (where skin touches skin).

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How to recognise it

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An initial infection of genital herpes may be followed by the virus being inactive in the body and then becoming active again from time to time, causing further outbreaks (also called ‘recurrent outbreaks’).

Symptoms of genital herpes usually include tingling or itching on or around the genital area followed by the appearance of small, painful blisters. Other symptoms include general flu-like symptoms such as headache, backache or a temperature and a burning sensation when peeing. Genital herpes is more likely to be passed on just before, during or straight after an outbreak of blisters. Tests are normally done during an outbreak of blisters.

How it’s treated No cure is yet available for genital herpes but an anti-viral drug, Aciclovir, can reduce the severity and length of an episode.

Did you know?

What it is

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Genital warts

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All STIs can affect anyone – gay or straight, male or female.

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Genital warts, caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) or wart virus, is one of the most common STIs. Genital warts are easily passed on through unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex and close genital contact (where skin touches skin).

How to recognise it

Most people infected by HPV don’t develop warts and the virus goes away by itself. Warts can appear weeks, months or years after infection with the HPV virus. Warts are small, fleshy growths and can appear anywhere in the genital area. They can grow to look like small pink cauliflowers. They are sometimes very small and you might not be able to see or feel them, but they can grow quite large. They can grow on the inside or outside of your genitals or anus and are not always visible. They are usually painless, though they can be a bit itchy and can grow on their own or in groups.

How it’s treated Warts can be treated by applying special creams or liquids, by freezing or surgical removal under local anaesthetic.

HIV What it is HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. There are an estimated 77,400 people living with HIV in the UK and more than a quarter of these people are unaware of their infection. HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) which damages the body’s immune system so it cannot fight off infections. HIV can be transmitted in three main ways:

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Through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex Through the sharing of needles, or other injecting equipment already used by someone infected From an infected mother to her baby, during pregnancy, birth or through breastfeeding.

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It is not transmitted by everyday social contact. That means you cannot get HIV from shaking hands or kissing, for example. Around 1 in 10 new HIV cases are in young people aged 16-24. In the UK men who have sex with men are most at risk of getting HIV infection although there are now more new cases each year passed through straight sex. A smaller number of people have acquired HIV through injected drug use or through mother to child transmission.

How to recognise it Many people infected with HIV have no symptoms.

How it’s treated HIV is preventable and treatable, but not curable. If you are diagnosed with HIV, you will need to discuss your treatment carefully with your doctor. Current treatment consists of a combination of three or more antiviral drugs which must be taken every day for life but treatments are still being developed.

How can I protect myself from STIs? Simple. Don’t have unprotected sex! The best form of protection is to use a condom. Even if you’re using other kinds of contraception like the pill, the implant or injection, you should still use a condom as well.

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So wear a condom – not just for vaginal sex, but anal and oral sex as well.

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You can find out more about different kinds of condoms in the booklet ‘Ask Brook about condoms’. Get tested – it’s easy, free and it will give you peace of mind. Call Ask Brook free and confidentially on 0808 802 1234 to find out where your nearest place to get tested is.

Did you know? You can’t get HIV from kissing, hugging, sharing toilet seats, cutlery, swimming pools or from having your food prepared by someone that is HIV positive.

Get to know the signs Many STIs have similar symptoms. So don’t even think about diagnosing or treating yourself using information from the internet or friends for example – always go to a professional.

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Remember – some STIs don’t even have any symptoms at all. But if anything does ring alarm bells, or someone you’ve slept with tells you they have an STI, or even if you think you might have taken a risk, get yourself checked out immediately.

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It makes sense for the sake of your health and possibly even your chances of having children later in life. In many cases, a simple course of antibiotics will be all the treatment you need to get a clean bill of health. Keep an eye open for tell-tale signs and be ready to seek medical help – even if you just want a check-up to be sure you’re in the clear. To help remind you, here are some common symptoms to look out for...

Men: Discharge from the penis Sore, tender or inflamed penis head or foreskin Testicle ache or pain.

Women: Unusual vaginal discharge (a change in the amount, texture or colour)

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Bleeding in between periods or heavier than normal periods Sore, tender or inflamed vulva

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Lower abdominal pain.

Both sexes:

Stinging sensation when you wee Painless, itchy lumps or growths in the genital or anal area Itching, blisters or sores in the genital region (also around the mouth and/or nose) Pain during sex Anal discharge or itching Feverish, flu-like symptoms with any of the above.

Where can I get tested? If you’ve had unprotected sex, suspect you’ve come into contact with an STI, or just want to be sure you’re in the clear, get yourself tested at your nearest sexual health clinic. It’s really easy.

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In some places these are known as Genito-Urinary Medicine or GUM clinics.They’re usually part of your local general hospital.

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Staff at these places are friendly – they don’t judge you and there’s no need to judge yourself. They know how uncomfortable you’re likely to feel even just being there, so they do everything they can to make you feel OK about it. You don’t even need to give your name if you don’t want to and you will be seen confidentially (that means they won’t tell anyone about your visit without your permission). So get tested. It’s free. It’s simple. And it’s the only way you’ll really know you’re in the clear. Just call Ask Brook free and confidentially on 0808 802 1234 to find out where your nearest place to get tested is.

If you’ve got an STI... Where can I get treatment? Free and confidential treatment is available from your doctor, sexual health clinic or GUM clinic, even if you’re under 16.

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Contact one of the following places to find out your nearest centre:

Sexwise 0800 28 29 30

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Ask Brook helpline 0808 802 1234 or www.brook.org.uk

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NHS Direct 0845 46 47 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk fpa sexual health direct 0845 122 8690 or www.fpa.org.uk Condom Essential wear 0800 567 1234 or www.condomessentialwear.co.uk For information on whether your local hospital has an STI testing and treatment service, call your local hospital switchboard to find out: Clinic opening times Where they are Whether you need an appointment or can just walk in. If you prefer, you can even visit a clinic outside your area. Clinic staff will give you support as well as treatment, plus advice on avoiding sex ‘til you’re in the clear.

How can I tell my partner? It’s really important your partner gets tested too, but bringing up the subject isn’t exactly easy.

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It’s OK – the clinic can help you with this as well.They may even be able to contact them without revealing your name (though nothing will be done without your permission). Either way, there’s no point feeling guilty or blaming others. The responsible thing to do is just deal with the situation and reduce the risk of the infection spreading.

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It won’t be easy, but people will respect your honesty and courage.

Did you know? You can get tested free for STIs at sexual health clinics.

Where to get more help and advice...

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Now you’ve read this booklet, if you have more questions, just Ask Brook.

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Ask Brook is for all young people under 25 anywhere in the UK.

Did you know?

Brook has a network of centres around the UK offering free and confidential sexual health advice and contraception to all young people under the age of 25. To find your nearest Brook Centre visit our website: www.brook.org.uk or contact the Ask Brook information service.

Ask Brook offers a confidential helpline, secure online enquiry service and text information service. Ask Brook is available free and in confidence to all young people on 0808 802 1234 or via Ask Brook on Brook's website, www.brook.org.uk. The Ask Brook helpline is free from all telephones, including mobiles.

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Anyone under 25 can ask us anything about sexual health, including information, support and signposting about relationships, contraception, abortion, body worries around sexual health, STIs and sexuality.Tell us what’s worrying you and we won’t laugh, tut or tell.

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For information on key sexual health issues any time of day or night call our 24-hour information line 020 7950 7700. You will hear a recorded message and will then be asked to choose the topic you want more information on from a list of options.

Thank you to fpa for checking the clinical and factual accuracy of this booklet. June 2009

Registered charity number: 239966

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