Sexually Transmitted Infections
Chlamydia
This what we call our silent infection, due to high number of people not having any symptoms at all of the infection. It is caused by bacteria, which is found in semen and vaginal fluids and easily passed from one person to another through sexual contact. It is particularly common in younger people, however anyone who is sexually active can get it.
It is passed through sexual activity and can affect the genital area, throat and eyes and a mother can pass the infection onto her baby.
Symptoms in Men
- White cloudy and watery discharge from penis,
- Pain when passing urine,
- Painful swelling of the Testicles.
Symptoms in Women
- Unusual Vaginal discharge,
- Pain when passing urine,
- Bleeding between periods,
- Bleeding after sexual Intercourse,
- Lower abdominal pain.
To reduce the chances of catching Chlamydia it is very important that condoms and latex dental dams are used for all sexual activity. If you or partner has engaged in any unprotected sexual activity it is important that you both are tested, a doctor or nurse will use a swab to collect a sample of cells for testing. The infection will show up on tests a few days after you have been in contact with it.
Treating the infection in the early stages is very simple and involves taking a course of antibiotic tablets. However if you don’t have treatment this infection can lead to infertility (unable to have children), pelvic inflammatory disease and a painful infection of the testicles.
If you think you might have the infection you can contact your local doctor or contact one of the agencies that are detailed on the contacts page, or you can contact Nicola Townsend on 07968476297 for more information on any sexual health issue.
Genital Warts
This is caused by a virus (HPV) and is easily passed on through sexual contact. Anyone who is sexually active can get the virus and both men and women can have the virus and pass it on. There are more than 100 types of HPV, which can cause visible and invisible warts on the hands, feet or genital area. A lot of people do not show any symptoms of genital warts, so you may not know whether your or your partner has the virus.
This virus can be passed on from one person to another during sexual intercourse and by skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the warts virus. Once you have the virus it can remain in the body and be passed on before any warts are noticeable. Warts can be passed on through close intimate contact.
Symptoms in both men and women are visible warts, you might notice small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes which may appear anywhere in the genital or anal area, either externally on the skin or internally. Warts can appear on their own or in groups. Warts are usually painless; they may occasionally itch and can cause some inflammation.
To protect yourself and partner you should always use condoms and latex dams for all sexual activity. If you have engaged in unprotected sexual activity or come into close contact with someone with genital warts you should have a check up as soon as possible. In most cases a doctor or nurse can tell if you have warts just by looking. You may also need an internal examination to see if there are any warts inside.
There are a number of treatments for warts and the main aim is to remove visible genital warts and reduce the amount of the virus. As warts are caused by a virus and not bacteria antibiotics will not get rid of them. Visible warts can be removed by:
- Painting a liquid chemical onto them (this is the most common treatment)
- Using liquid or cream at home
- Freezing them
- Heat treatment
- Surgery to remove
- Laser treatment
These treatments can be uncomfortable but they should not be painful, sometimes a local anaesthetic cream is used.
If you think you might have the infection you can contact your local doctor or contact one of the agencies that are detailed on the contacts page, or you can contact Nicola Townsend on 07968476297 for more information on any sexual health issue.
Gonorrhoea
This is a bacterial infection, which is usually passed on from one person to anther through sexual contact. Both men and women have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all and can pass gonorrhoea without knowing they have the infection. This is an infection that can be passed on to your eyes and a baby’s eyes during the birth.
You cannot get gonorrhoea from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, from swimming pools, toilet seats or sharing eating equipment.
Symptoms
About 10% of infected men and 50% of infected women will not have any symptoms at all. If you do they can appear 1-14 days after coming into contact with gonorrhoea, symptoms include:
Men
- White/yellow/green
- discharge from penis,
- Pain when passing urine,
- Pain or tenderness in the testicles.
Women
unusual watery/yellow vaginal discharge,
Pain when passing urine,
lower abdominal pain.
To reduce the chances of catching Gonorrhoea it is very important that condoms and latex dental dams are used for all sexual activity. If you or partner has engaged in any unprotected sexual activity it is important that you both are tested, a doctor or nurse will use a swab to collect a sample of cells for testing. You may also be asked to provide a urine sample.
Treatment is simple and usually involves having a single dose of antibiotics. Treatment is usually very effective however some infections are resistant particularly those caught abroad. Without treatment the infection can spread to other parts of the body causing damage and serious long-term complications.
If you think you might have the infection you can contact your local doctor or contact one of the agencies that are detailed on the contacts page, or you can contact Nicola Townsend on 07968476297 for more information on any sexual health issue.
Genital Herpes
A virus causes genital herpes, which is easily passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Anyone who is sexually active can get the virus. Both men and women can have genital herpes and pass it on. There are two types of the virus herpes simplex 1 and 2 which are found on the mouth and nose (cold sores) on the genital and anal area, on the eyes, fingers and hands.
Genital herpes can be passed from one person to the other during sexual intercourse with someone who is having an outbreak at the time or by skin-to-skin contact with a herpes simplex sore. Once you have the virus it can remain in the body and passed on before you notice any symptoms. An outbreak or attack of genital herpes is normally called an episode.
Symptoms
The symptoms are the same in both men and women; it can take from 2 days to several weeks or longer for symptoms to appear. In most people it takes around 3-4 days. If you do have symptoms here are the usual patterns: first episode,
- Small, fluid-filled blisters anywhere in the genital or anal area which quickly burst leaving small red sores which can be painful
- Stinging, tingling or itching in the affected area
- Feeling generally unwell with flu-like symptoms such as fever, tiredness, headache, swollen glands, aches and pains in the lower back and down the legs or in the groin area
- Pain passing urine
Many people will never get another episode; in those who do the symptoms will be much milder and clear up more quickly in about a week. There are no flu-like symptoms.
You can only be tested for herpes if you present with signs, a swab will be taken to collect a sample of fluid from the infected area and may break a blister gently to get that sample. They may also ask for a urine sample as part of a full sexual health screening. There is no routine test for herpes if you do not have any signs.
Treatments are to relieve pain and to prevent the virus from multiplying. Treatment involves taking antiviral tablets. At the moment it is not possible to cure the virus completely, so it will stay in the body and can cause new episodes.
To reduce the chances of catching Genital Herpes it is very important that condoms and latex dental dams are used for all sexual activity. If you or partner has engaged in any unprotected sexual activity it is important that you both are tested.
If you think you might have the infection you can contact your local doctor or contact one of the agencies that are detailed on the contacts page, or you can contact Nicola Townsend on 07968476297 for more information on any sexual health issue.