Anyone who is sexually active can get a sexually transmitted infections or STI. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread through sexual contact with an infected partner. Sexual contact can mean oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, skin-to-skin contact and/or sharing sex toys. STIs can also be spread through non-sexual activities like sharing of razors, needles, or tools for drug use.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a very common STI, particularly in young people aged 15-24. Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria and can be easily cured. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems including:
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) (when infection spreads to other reproductive organs like the uterus and fallopian tubes)
- Infertility (difficulty getting pregnant)
- Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain
- Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus)
- Pain in the testicles
- Reiters Syndrome (rash, sores and joint pain)
- Increased likelihood of contracting another STI, including HIV
Chlamydia is spread by having unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with a person who has the infection.
Most people who have chlamydia do not show any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear for weeks after having sex with an infected partner.
Women with symptoms may notice:
- A change in vaginal discharge
- Burning with urination
- Vaginal bleeding between periods or after having sex
- Pain during sex
- Abdominal or lower back pain
Men with symptoms may notice:
- Discharge from the penis
- Itching of the penis
- Pain with urination
- Pain or swelling of the testicles
People can also have Chlamydia infections in their rectum or throat. Symptoms can include:
- Rectal pain
- Discharge
- Bleeding
- Sore throat (throat infection only)
Testing can be done with a urine test or by swabbing the infected area (cervix, urethra, rectum or throat). Testing is offered at Southwestern Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic
Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor or local public health unit. Medications must be taken as directed. If you have been treated for a Chlamydia infection, it is important to:
- Talk to your partner
- Avoid having sex (oral/vaginal/anal) for seven days after your treatment
- Use condoms for all sexual activity
- Test again 3-4 weeks after your treatment
- Notify any sexual partners you have had in the last 60 days. They may also need testing and treatment.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common STI caused by the Neisseria Gonorrhoeae bacteria. This bacteria has become resistant to certain types of antibiotics. However, gonorrhea can be cured with the right antibiotic.
If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) (when infection spreads to other reproductive organs like the uterus and fallopian tubes)
- Infertility (difficulty getting pregnant)
- Long-term pelvic/abdominal pain
- Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus)
- Pain in testicles
- Reiters Syndrome (rash, sores and joint pain)
- May increase your risk of getting another STI, including HIV
Gonorrhea is spread by having unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with a period who has the infection.
People with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. If symptoms do occur, they usually begin 2-7 days after having sex with someone who has the infection.
Women with symptoms may notice:
- Burning with urination
- A change in vaginal discharge
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Pain during sex
- Vaginal bleeding between periods of after sex
Men with symptoms may notice:
- Burning with urination
- Yellowish/white discharge from the penis
- Burning or itching at the opening of the penis
- Pain or swelling of the testicles
People can also have gonorrhea infections in their rectum or throat. People with symptoms may notice:
- Rectal pain
- Discharge
- Bleeding
- Sore throat (throat infection only)
Testing can be done with a urine test or by swabbing the infected area (cervix, urethra, rectum or throat). Testing is offered at Southwestern Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic.
Gonorrhea can be cured with the right antibiotics. Talk to your doctor or local public health unit.
- Talk to your partner
- Avoid having sex (oral/vaginal/anal) for seven days after your treatment
- Use condoms for all sexual activity
- Test again 3-4 weeks after your treatment
- Notify any sexual partners you have had in the last 60 days. They may also need testing and treatment.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. While most adults with hepatitis B will fully recover, some people may become chronic carriers of the virus, especially if infected at an early age. Chronic infection means that the infection does not go away. Over time, chronic hepatitis B infection can cause permanent damage to the liver including liver cirrhosis (scarring) and liver cancer.
- After the skin, the liver the body’s largest organ
- The liver is like a large filter; blood passes through it and is cleaned
- The liver breaks down toxins found in alcohol and drugs
- After food is digested, the nutrients from food go to the liver where important things like proteins and clotting factors that heal cuts and other injuries are made
- The liver keeps substances like hormones, sugar and cholesterol at balanced levels in the body
You can get hepatitis B through contact with blood and other body fluids of an infected person. This can happen through:
- Unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner
- An infected mother to her baby at birth
- Sharing needles or other drug equipment
- Sharing needles, ink or other equipment used for tattooing and body piercing
- Sharing personal items like razors, nail clippers or toothbrushes
- Needle stick injuries in healthcare workers
Did you know? Hepatitis B virus can live on surfaces for days and remain infectious.
About half the people who get hepatitis B will not have any symptoms, but can still spread the virus to others. Those who do have symptoms may experience:
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in stomach
- Nausea
- Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes)
- Dark urine
A simple blood test is all that is needed. It can take up to three months after becoming infected to detect the virus in a blood test. Testing is offered at Southwestern Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic.
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about any treatment options and necessary follow-up.
Yes. There is a safe and effective vaccine that can protect you from getting hepatitis B. The vaccine will give you long-lasting protection. Other ways to protect yourself and others include:
- Practice safer sex
- Never share needles, straws, pipes or any other drug-related equipment. A Needle Exchange Program is available at Southwestern Public Health.
- Make sure that tattoo, piercing and acupuncture businesses use clean equipment.
- Never share personal items like razors, nail clippers or toothbrushes.
Hepatitis C
Did you know? It is estimated that around 35% of people infected with hepatitis C don’t know they have the virus.
Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by hepatitis C virus. Over time, hepatitis C can cause liver damage, such as scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or liver cancer. For about 1 in 4 people who are infected with hepatitis C, the virus will go away on its own during the first 6 months after infection. The remaining 3 out of 4 people will have long-term infection.
- After the skin, the liver the body’s largest organ
- The liver is like a large filter; blood passes through it and is cleaned
- The liver breaks down toxins found in alcohol and drugs
- After food is digested, the nutrients from food go to the liver where important things like proteins and clotting factors that heal cuts and other injuries are made
- The liver keeps substances like hormones, sugar and cholesterol at balanced levels in the body
Hepatitis C virus is spread through blood to blood contact. Hepatitis C is a strong virus that can live outside the body for many days. This means that dried blood can also spread the virus. The following are ways that hepatitis C can spread from one person to another:
- Sharing drug use equipment (needles, syringes, filters, cookers, acidifiers, alcohol swabs, tourniquets, water, pipes for smoking crack or crystal meth, and straws for snorting)
- Sharing needles, ink or other equipment used for tattooing or piercing.
- Sharing razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers
- Receiving a blood transfusion before 1990
- Needlestick injuries in healthcare workers
- Unprotected sex where blood could be present (for example: sex during a woman’s period, if sores are present, rough sex, anal sex).
- During pregnancy or childbirth (about 3-7% of women with hepatitis C will spread to baby). (Public Health Ontario PIDAC 2014)
People with hepatitis C often do not have any symptoms of infection. For people who do have symptoms, they might notice:
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in stomach
- Nausea
- Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes)
- Dark urine
A simple blood test is all that is needed. It can take up to three months after becoming infected to detect the virus in a blood test. Testing is offered at Southwestern Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic.
Yes. The best way to keep yourself and others safe from getting hepatitis C virus is to:
- Never share needles, straws, pipes or any other drug-related equipment. A Needle Exchange Program is available at Southwestern Public Health.
- Treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious. Wear latex gloves if you are likely to be in contact with someone else’s blood or body fluids.
- Practice safer sex
- Disinfect any non-disposable equipment that has been in contact with blood or body fluids.
- Never share personal items like razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, etc.
- Make sure that tattoo, piercing and acupuncture businesses use clean equipment.
- Do not donate blood, blood products, organ tissues or semen if you have hepatitis C.
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about treatment options and necessary follow-up. Treatments for hepatitis C have come a long way in the last few years. The Canadian Liver Foundation has found that new treatments are very effective and can achieve cure rates of over 90%.
Herpes
Herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both types of herpes can cause painful sores on the genital area.
Herpes is spread through skin-to-skin contact with an infected partner. Herpes spreads most easily when there are visible sores. Even when no sores are present, the virus can still spread. This is because the virus is still present in the skin cells. When spread through oral sex, a herpes infection can be passed from mouth to genitals or from genitals to mouth.
Many people with herpes have no symptoms or only mild symptoms HSV-2 can cause more severe symptoms. People that have symptoms usually notice them about 2-20 days after becoming infected. According to the Herpes Virus Association, it can also appear for the first time years after you caught it. People with symptoms may notice:
- Itching, tingling and/or burning of genitals (early symptoms)
- Small blisters on the vulva, vagina, cervix, anus, penis, testicles, thighs, buttocks or mouth
- Tender lumps on the groin
- Fever or headache
- Painful urination
- Body aches
After the sores from the first outbreak heal, the virus goes into “hiding,” but does not leave the body. The virus can become active again, causing new or “recurrent” outbreaks. Some people have only one or two recurrences in a lifetime, while others have them frequently. Recurrences are typically shorter in duration and less severe than the first episode. Stress, menstrual cycle, illness, fever, surgery, exposure to sun, having sex, pregnancy and the use of some medications can play a role in the frequency and severity of outbreaks. According to Health Canada, herpes can continue to be transmitted to others, even between recurrences when the infected person has no symptoms.
A test can be done by taking a swab of the blister or sore. Go to your healthcare provider at the onset of symptoms, or make an appointment at Southwestern Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic
Although herpes cannot be cured, it can be managed well with antiviral medications. These medications can help lessen the severity and duration of symptoms. To be effective, they must be started as early as possible. For people that do not have coverage for this treatment, it can be accessed at the Sexual Health Clinic free of charge. Medication can also be taken to help prevent future outbreaks. This medication can also decrease the chances of spreading the virus. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
- Learn about safer sex methods and practice them.
- Make informed decisions about your sexual health. Talk to you partner(s) about their STI status and the use of protection.
- Avoid having sex when skin sores are present. This includes not having oral sex when cold sores on or around the mouth are present.
- Correct and consistent use of latex condoms. Remember that the exposed areas of skin are still unprotected.
- To prevent spread of the virus during oral sex, Health Canada suggests using a condom on the penis and a condom cut lengthwise or a dental dam over the female genital area
HIV & AIDS
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV attacks the body’s immune system, making it hard for the body to fight off infection and other serious illnesses. Without treatment, you can become sick with life-threatening diseases. This is the most serious stage of HIV infection called AIDS. A person with HIV may not develop AIDS for many years, if at all.
HIV can only be spread when one of the following body fluids of someone who has the infection gets into the bloodstream of another person (through broken skin, the opening of the penis or the wet linings of the body such as the vagina, rectum or foreskin):
- Blood
- Semen (including pre-ejaculate)
- Rectal fluid
- Vaginal fluid
- Breast milk
HIV is most commonly spread through:
- Unprotected sex (anal, vaginal or oral sex)
- Sharing needles and other equipment used for drug use
HIV can also be spread by:
- Sharing needles, ink or other equipment for tattooing or body piercings
- Sharing acupuncture needles
- Needle stick injuries in healthcare workers
- To a fetus or baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding
HIV is NOT spread by kissing, hugging, shaking hands, toilet seats, coughing or sneezing.
You can have HIV and not know it because you may not have symptoms for many years. However, if you do have symptoms, they may include:
- Flu-like illness 2-4 weeks after becoming infected. This might include weight loss, rash, muscle aches, diarrhea, night sweats and loss of appetite. These symptoms can last a few days or many weeks.
- Since these symptoms are common with other illnesses, the only way to know if you have HIV is by getting tested
- It is important to remember that a person with HIV can spread the infection even if they are not having symptoms.
A simple blood test is all that is needed. It can take up to three months after becoming infected to detect a virus in a blood test. Rapid HIV testing can also be done at Southwestern Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic.
There is no cure for HIV, but with treatment most people with HIV can avoid getting AIDS and live a long, healthy life. People who test positive for HIV need to tell their partner(s).
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
HPV is a very contagious sexually transmitted infection. About 75% of sexually active Canadians will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. The highest rates of HPV infection are in young people aged 15-24.
- There are over 100 different types of HPV. About 40 of these can affect the genital area.
- Some types of HPV are “low risk” and will clear up on their own
- Some low-risk types of HPV can cause genital warts.
- Other types of HPV are “high risk” and have been linked to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus mouth and throat.
HPV is spread easily by skin-to-skin contact in the genital area (penetration is not required) or during genital, anal or oral sex. Both men and women can be infected by HPV.
Most people who have HPV don’t know because there are often no noticeable symptoms. HPV can still be spread when there are no symptoms.
Genital warts are often the only visible symptom of infection. Genital warts are:
- Small growths that can show up weeks, months or even years after contact with an infected partner
- Usually painless, but can cause itching or burning.
- Pink, white, brown or grey and have a cauliflower-like appearance.
- Can be flat or feel like a raised bump.
- Present in clusters, or there may only be one or two.
- Found on the external genitalia, or may be present where you cannot see them (if on the cervix or anus)
If you think you might have genital warts, a doctor will need to look at them. Contact your healthcare provider or make an appointment at the Sexual Health Clinic.
Sexually active women need a Pap test every 3 years beginning at age 21. Pap tests detect any changes to the cervical cells that are caused by HPV.
There is an HPV test that is available in some provinces in Canada. It can only be used in women over 30 years of age. This test does not replace the need for a Pap test. It can be used to follow up with abnormal Pap tests results. For more info: Canadian Cancer Society HPV Testing
For most people, HPV goes away on its own with two years of contracting it. This does not mean that a person cannot become infected with HPV again in the future. Genital warts can be treated by:
- Cryotherapy (freezing)
- Medications (creams that can be applied to the warts)
- Laser surgery
Molluscum Contagiosum
Molluscum is a common skin infection caused by the molluscum contagiousum virus.
Molluscum can spread through direct contact with a molluscum sore (bump) on the skin of an infected person. The virus can also be spread through contact with objects, such as towels, clothing or toys that have come into contact with the virus. A person who has molluscum can spread it to another part of their own body by scratching or picking at the bump or shaving the affected area. In adults, the virus is usually spread through sexual contact.
After a person comes into contact with molluscum, it can take anywhere from 1 week to 6 months before symptoms appear. Symptoms may include:
- Small, round, white/pink/flesh coloured bumps on the skin. They often have a dip in the middle and are filled with a firm, white substance.
- There may be one or many bumps
- A person can get molluscum anywhere on the body. Adults most commonly notice molluscum on the abdomen, inner thighs or genitals.
- There is usually no pain, swelling or redness unless that have been scratched or irritated.
- In children, bumps are most common on the fact, upper body and arms.
A healthcare provider can usually tell if a person has molluscum just by looking at the bumps. If you are concerned, contact your healthcare provider or make an appointment at the Sexual Health Clinic.
The bumps usually disappear on their own in 6-12 months. In some cases, it can take as long as four years to disappear completely. Molluscum that is found on the genitals is usually treated to prevent spread to sexual partners. Treatment usually involved freezing with liquid nitrogen.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by a bacteria. There is a higher rate of syphilis among men than women, particularly men over the age of 30. If not treated, syphilis can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Permanent damage to the brain, heart, bones and/or blood vessels.
- Mental disorders or neurological problems.
- Blindness.
- In rare cases, syphilis can lead to death.
- Sores on the genitals or anus can increase your risk of getting another STI, including HIV
Syphilis is spread by having unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with a person who has the infection. If you are pregnant and have syphilis, you can pass it onto your baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
- The first symptom is often a sore that doesn’t hurt. It’s called a chancre. The sore can be confused with an ingrown hair or other harmless bump. The sore goes away without treatment, but the bacteria stay in your body.
- Later, you may get a rash on your body and feel like you have the flu. The rash can show up all over your body or just in a few places.
You can have a special blood test or a swab can be taken of any visible sores. Testing is offered at the Sexual Health Clinic.
- Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics, usually penicillin.
- Follow-up testing is important to make sure the infection has been cured. Your healthcare provider will tell you when to test again after your treatment.
- Your healthcare provider will talk to you about notifying your sexual partners – they will need to be tested too.
- Your healthcare provider will also tell you when it is safe to have sex after treatment.