STIs

Young people aged 16 years to 24 years are most likely to have a sexually transmitted infection; more commonly called STIs.

If a sexually transmitted infection is left undiagnosed and untreated it could cause infertility and other health problems.

Every 80 seconds, someone in the UK gets an STI. Some sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms, so you don’t even know that you are infected.  Chlamydia, for example, has no symptoms and is one of the fastest spreading STIs in the UK. Left untreated it can cause infertility in women and men. This means you might not be able to have children.

Common STIs

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhoea
• Syphilis
• Genital Herpes
• Genital Warts
• Thrush
• Pubic Lice (crabs)
• HIV & AIDS
• Trichomoniasis
• NUS - Non Specific Urethritis

If you’ve had unprotected sex then there is a chance you may have caught an STI.  It is always recommended that you are tested for STIs following unprotected sex with a new partner or if there is any risk that your partner has had unprotected sex with someone else. You can get an STI by having regular sex, oral sex and anal sex.

If you think you may have caught an STI, you must get tested quickly.  Once they’ve been diagnosed, most STIs are easy to treat with antibiotics.

You can get tests and treatment at your local sexual health clinics; e.g. GUM, some Brook centres, abortion clinics and CASH (contraception & sexual health) clinics as well as your GP or nurse.

For more detailed information about STIs please click here

Find out where you can get tested for free go to this website
www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk 

How do I know I’ve got an infection?

If you’ve got an STI you might not have any symptoms. Some infections don’t appear for weeks or months but during this time you may have given the infection to someone else.

Symptoms to be aware of:

• Pain or burning when passing urine (having a pee)
• Itching, rashes, lumps or blisters around the genitals and anus
• Abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina, this may also have an unpleasant smell
• The head of your penis or the entrance to the vagina may be swollen, red and hot to touch
• Crusty spots or lumps
• Pain in the lower stomach
• Pain during or after sex
• Bleeding during or after sex
• Irregular bleeding between periods
• Discomfort or pain in the testicles (balls)

If you experience any of the above symptoms you must see a doctor or a nurse immediately.

It is also a good idea to have a routine test if you have had unprotected sex with more than one partner, if you’re sexually active or if your partner has had more than one sexual partner.

It is also advised to have a test if you are in a long term relationship and thinking of using a contraceptive method other than condoms. You and your partner should both be tested.  An STI can sometimes stay in your system for long periods of time undetected with no symptoms.

If an STI is left untreated it can lead to illness, disease and health problems such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), damage to the reproductive organs causing infertility, ectopic pregnancy and problems during pregnancy.  STIs can even cause still births or pass infection on to an unborn child. STIs can cause cervical cancer and lead to other forms of genital cancer, liver disease and, in some cases, death.

Where can I get tested?

You can request an STI test at the following places:

• GP Surgery
• Family planning cinics
• GUM clinics
• Sexual health services
• Some pharmacies
• Your local Pregnancy Advisory Service
• Local abortion clinic
• Call the Department of Health sexual health line on 0800 567 123

Do tests hurt?
No, the tests don’t hurt; normally all you will have to do is pee in a pot or for a nurse to take a swab from your vagina or penis.