It seems like all the time we’re hearing about a different STI that we can’t pronounce. This article will help you understand the biggies in a simpler way! We’ll tell you the name (and how to pronounce it), what it looks like, what it is, and a bunch of other stuff you need to know.
Chlamydia (Kluh-mid-ee-uh)
-caused by bacteria (can get rid of it with antibiotics)
-Can cause big health problems and it needs to be treated
-Can get it from unprotected oral, vaginal and anal sex with someone who is infected
-Can get passed from mother to child during birth and cause serious risks for the baby
- You need to get tested because it can cause an infection in your uterus and fallopian tubes (for women) which can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease which can lead to infertility (not being able to become pregnant)
-You might not show any symptoms
What it looks like for girls:
-A change or increase in vaginal discharge
-An itchy vagina
-A little bit of bleeding (when you don’t have your period)
-Bleeding after vaginal sex
-pain in your lower abdomen
-Hurts to pee
What it looks like for guys:
-Burning feelings when you pee
-A watery/milky discharge from your penis
-Burning or itching around the hole of your penis
-Pain in your testicles
Gonorrhea (gon-uh-ree-ah)
-Caused by bacteria (can be cured with antibiotics)
-Can cause big health problems, so it needs to be treated
-Can get it on your penis, rectum (lower part of your intestines), throat, eye or cervix (opening to the uterus)
-Can get it from unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with a person who has it
-Can be passed from mother to child during birth and cause serious health risks for the baby
-You might have it and not know it, you don’t always show symptoms
What it looks like for girls:
-A change or increase in vaginal discharge
-Bleeding a bit from your vagina (when you don’t have your period)
-Bleeding during or after vaginal sex
-Pain in your lower abdomen
-Pain when you urinate
What it looks like for guys:
-A burning feeling when you pee
-A thick greenish-yellow discharge from your penis
-Burning or itching around the hole of your penis
-Pain in your testicles
Trichomonas (Trik-o-mo-nas)
-Can be cured with antibiotics
-You need to get tested because it can cause an infection in your uterus and fallopian tubes (for women) which can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease which can lead to infertility (not being able to become pregnant)
-You can get it from having unprotected vaginal sex with someone who is infected
-If you’re pregnant and have it, it can cause your baby to be born early or weigh less than normal
-You might not show symptoms if you have it, so get tested
What it looks like for girls:
-Strange discharge from your vagina
-An itchy vagina
-Pain during vaginal sex
-Burning feelings when you pee
-Testing for girls consists of a swap being taken of your vagina
What it looks like for guys:
-Burning when you pee
-Slight discharge from your penis
-Burning or itching around the hole of your penis
-testing for guys is not normally done
Pubic Lice “crabs” & Scabies (pew-bic lahys & Skey-Beez)
-Pubic lice are found around the genitals and pubic hair, and look like tiny crabs
-The lice are grey or brownish red
-Lice feed on human blood
-Lice lay their eggs at the base of the hair and the eggs are called nits
-Scabies are tiny mites that burrow below the surface of the skin and lay eggs
-Scabies looks like a rash and is itchy, you can’t see scabies
-You can catch both scabies and lice by sexual and non-sexual contact (eg sharing a towel)
What it looks like for guys and girls:
-feeling itchy
-Seeing tiny brown lice or whitish eggs on hair
-Being itchier at night (scabies)
-Treated with special creams or shampoos from the drug store (talk to the pharmacist about how to properly use it)
Syphilis (sif-uh-lis)
-Caused by bacteria and cured with antibiotics
-Can cause serious health problems if untreated
-Can get it from unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who is infected
-Causes painless sores on the genitals, mouth, vagina or rectum
-Can cause a rash to form anywhere on your body
-You can spread syphilis through contact with your sores and rashes
-If you are pregnant you can spread it to your baby before it is born or during birth which can sometimes cause birth defects or death
What it looks like for guys and girls:
-a sore that doesn’t hurt (called a chancre) that you may not notice (the sore may go away but you still have the infection)
-Get a body rash and feel like you have the flu (both may go away if untreated, but you’re still infected)
- Untreated syphilis can lead to serious complications such as damage to the heart and other organs
Herpes (Hur-peez)
-an infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), there are two types of HSV (type 1 and type 2)
-cause painful sores around the mouth which are called cold sores, they can also cause sores on the genitals (called genital herpes)
-Can get it from kissing someone with a cold sore
-Can get genital herpes from receiving oral sex from someone with a cold sore
-Can get herpes in your eyes, mouth, and genitals by toughing the sores
-Can pass the infection on even if no sores are easily visible
-Can pass herpes on to your baby during pregnancy or birth, but can take medication to reduce the risk
-You may not know you have it, but you can still pass it on
-YOU CAN NEVER GET RID OF IT, only take medications to help prevent outbreaks and to reduce the time outbreaks last
What it feels like for guys and girls:
-May feel itching or tingling on your skin that can turn into painful blisters that turn into sores
-With your first herpes outbreak you may feel like you have the flu as well
Hepatitis B (Hep-uh-tahy-tis)
-It is a virus that can cause serious a infection in the liver
-Can get it from infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid or saliva
-Can pass it on through vaginal, oral or anal sex with an infected person
-Can pass it on from sharing personal items (eg razor, needle or toothbrush) with an infected person
- Can pass it on from unsterile tattooing and piercing equipment
-Pregnant women can pass it on to their babies
- there is a vaccine available to prevent Hepatitis B (it is offered in grade 7)
What it feels like for guys and girls:
-feel tired
-abdominal pain
-pee or poop is a strange colour
-yellow skin
-not feeling hungry
-feeling like throwing up
Human Immunodeficiency Virus “HIV” (Im-yuh-noh-di-fish-uhn-see)
-the virus that causes AIDS
-Attacks your body’s immune system so you can’t fight certain infections
-A person with HIV may not develop AIDS for many years
-The virus must enter your blood stream to catch it
-Virus is found in blood, vaginal fluids, semen and breast milk
-Can get HIV from unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, by sharing needles or other drug equipment, razors, toothbrushes with blood on them
- Can pass it on from unsterile tattooing and piercing equipment
-Can be passed through pregnancy or breast feeding
-Cannot be passed by casual contact or sharing of food or kissing or toilet seats
What it looks like for guys and girls:
-May develop a mild flu 2-4 weeks after being infected
-No easily seen symptoms
-If you participated in risky behaviour that may put you at risk see a doctor! You may need to be tested multiple times as it may not be accurate the first time
HPV – Human Papillomavirus
- HPV are viruses that can cause warts or lead to cervical cancer
Transmission
- You can get HPV through unprotected oral vaginal, anal sex with a person who has the virus as well as with skin to skin contact
Signs & Symptoms
- You can pass on the virus without even knowing you have it
- Genital warts can look like bumps which can be cauliflower-like and grow on your penis, scrotum, thighs vagina or anus. But you can pass the virus without even knowing you have it
- While condoms do not eliminate the risk of HPV infection, using a condom consistently and properly during vaginal, anal and oral sex decreases the chances of getting HPV or passing it on to your partner. You need to remember that a condom can only protect the area it covers so it may be possible to become infected by any uncovered warts (e.g., on the scrotum). Using a condom will also help to protect you from other sexually transmitted infections and reduce the chances of unintended pregnancies
Treatment
- Right now, there is no cure for HPV, but there are treatments for the things HPV causes – warts and changes in the cervix. Genital warts don’t have to be taken off. If you want the warts taken off there are different ways a doctor or nurse can do this:
- Put a liquid directly on the warts – it has to be done many times before the warts go away
- Freeze the warts
- Burn the warts
- Remove the warts surgically
- Even if they are treated there is a chance they can come back
- HPV vaccine is offered to grade 8 girls, it is given by a needle in three doses
Addition info available: www.publichealth.gc.ca
