Sexually Transmitted Infections

There are many different sorts of sexually transmitted infections.
Most sexually transmitted infections are treatable. Just GO to your local GUM clinic

> It’s free.
> Its’s confidential.
> It’s non-judgemental.

All you have to do is turn up!

How would i know if i have a STI?

Women:
> Your normal slight, white vaginal discharge may become a different colour, smell nasty and/or become sore.
> You may get a painful burning or stinging feeling while passing water, and a feeling of wanting to go again straight away.
> You may see a rash, sores or warts around your vagina.
> Sex may be painful.

Men:
> You may get a painful burning or stinging feeling while passing water.
> You may get discharge from the end of your penis.
> You may see a rash, sores or warts around your penis and testicles.

But... Both men and women can have a STI without realising it, particularly HIV, as people may not show any signs of the disease for up to ten years after infection. So think carefully about sleeping with someone whom you haven’t known for a long time – you don’t know about their past.

Click on:
www.likeitis.org.uk for more information on STI and VD.
Venereal Disease (VD) and STI are just different names for the same thing.
www.fpa.org.uk
www.agum.org.uk which has contact details of all GUM clinics.
(GUM stands for Genito Urinary Medecine)

Contact:
> Contraceptive/Sexual Health Services for Young People/EAST SURREY
> Contraceptive/Sexual Health Services for Young People/WEST SURREY

You can call the SEXWISE confidential helpline for teenagers on anything to do with 'STIs', relationships & contraception, open from 7am to 12 midnight everyday (all calls are free) on 0800 28 29 30 or visit www.ruthinking.co.uk/sexwise.aspx 

National Aids & Sexual Health Helpline Freephone 0800 567 123
24 hour free advice about HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia is a Sexually Transmitted Infection, which is passed from one person to another by vaginal, oral and anal sex.

Because there aren’t often any signs or symptoms you can have Chlamydia for many years and not know. (Up to 50% of women and 70% of men with Chlamydia do not have any symptoms).

> If left untreated Chlamydia can lead to infertility, miscarriage or infections in babies.

> Chlamydia is most common in women under 25 and men under 30, but anyone who is sexually active is at risk.

> Using condoms can reduce the risk of Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections.

> CHLAMYDIA CAN BE CAUGHT AFTER ONE UNPROTECTED INTERCOURSE.

> The test and treatment for Chamydia is easy and straightforward.

> The most modern method for testing women is from a urine sample. (Make sure you haven’t wee’d for at least 2 hrs beforehand, or had antibiotics in the last 3 weeks). A new method of “self swabbing”, for women where the woman takes her own swab, is also being looked into.

> Treatment is with antibiotics, and really importantly not having sex for 2 weeks after treatment.

> Anyone with symptoms is encouraged to attend their local GUM clinic.

Treatment is Free and Confidential and there are no prescription charges.
If you have got Chlamydia, it’s important that your partner gets checked out and treated too, it;s not worth ignoring or the chances are that you will get it again.

IMPORTANT NOTES - BOTH PARTNERS MUST BE TREATED

If you have any:
> discomfort or soreness when you urinate,
> need to urinate more often
> any unusual or unpleasant discharge from your vagina or penis, (e.g. funny smell or colour)
> abdominal pain or pain during sex
> or bleeding between periods or after sex

Contact your sexual health clinic or GUM clinic or GP as soon as possible.

> Contraceptive / Sexual Health Services for Young People/EAST SURREY
> Contraceptive / Sexual Health Services for Young People/WEST SURREY

Another name for STI is venereal disease (VD).

Conditions such as pubic lice (crabs or nits) and scabies (the itch) can be sexually transmitted, but scabies is more commonly passed on in other ways, such as sharing towels or bed linen.

Some other conditions can be sexually transmitted but can also arise naturally, such as cystitis (pain when urinating) and thrush (a yeast infection which causes a white discharge, itching and soreness around the vagina). Girls are most at risk from these infections.

Conditions such as syphilis (the pox), gonorrhoea (clap), hepatitis B, non-specific urethritis (NSU), herpes, chlamydia and genital warts are sexually transmitted. If not treated, some of these can develop into serious diseases.

Perhaps the most famous STI is AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS.

HIV can be caught by contact of your own blood with the blood, semen, or vaginal fluid of an infected person. Blood contact can occur when drug users share needles, but the majority of cases result from having sex.

Currently there is no cure for HIV but most other infections can be cured, especially if you see a doctor as soon as possible. If you suspect you are infected, see a doctor at once as some STI’s can become more serious and cause permanent damage to your general health or even your fertility.

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