Sexually transmitted infections – STIs

Paul can’t meet Molly today, he’s not feeling great. He has the flu. Paul doesn’t mind telling Molly that he has the flu, because it’s nothing special, everyone gets it. But there are some infections that Paul would be ashamed to talk about. The infections that might be passed on during sex.

If a person is infected, it means they have pathogens like bacteria, viruses, or parasites which carry the infection. If this person has sex without a condom, those pathogens are passed on - or TRANSMITTED to the other person. The other person becomes infected with a SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION or an STI. STIs are most often transmitted during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. They can also be transmitted through genital skin contact.

But sometimes STIs are not transmitted during sex. They can be transmitted through the use of contaminated syringes, during blood transfusions and tissue transplants, and also from mother to child during pregnancy and through breastfeeding. It is also important to know how STIs are NOT transmitted. They are NOT transmitted through mosquito bites, sneezing, hugs, shaking hands, or sharing cutlery. So if you know someone who has an STI, you shouldn’t isolate them.

Sexually transmitted infections can be divided into three groups based on what causes them. They are BACTERIAL STIs, VIRAL STIs, and PARASITIC STIs. Examples of STIs caused by bacteria are CHLAMYDIA, GONORRHEA, and SYPHILIS. If the infection develops into a disease, the infected person will start showing signs, or symptoms. Symptoms of bacterial STIs usually start a couple of weeks after the infection happened.

The most common symptoms are pain when urinating, unusual discharge from the genitals, and in women, pain during sex and bleeding between periods. Bacterial STIs can be treated and cured with antibiotics. The next group of STIs, is the one caused by different viruses. STIs in this group are GENITAL HERPES, HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS - HPV, and HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS - HIV. Symptoms of viral infections take the longest of all STIs to develop, so most people don’t know they are infected.

The viral STI that has the clearest symptoms is genital herpes. The symptoms are small red sores around the genitals, pain while urinating, and flu-like symptoms. HPV and HIV infections often take much longer to develop into symptoms, and these will be different from person to person. While the symptoms can be treated, the infections can’t be cured. Finally, there are parasitic STIs.

PUBIC LICE, are parasites that live in the pubic hair and are passed on during sex. TRICHOMONIASIS is also an STI caused by a parasite. Most common symptoms are unusual discharge, itching or irritation, soreness and swelling around the genitals. The symptoms can be treated and cured easily with insecticide creams or antibiotics. A lot of people infected with STIs, especially viral ones, never show any symptoms of an infection.

But even though they do not show symptoms they can still infect other people. This is why having protected sex is really important to prevent STIs. The best way to protect yourself against an STI, is to use a condom or a dam when having sex, if you’re not sure your partner is healthy. Nowadays you can also get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus or HPV, which protects you against the infection. Having a sexual partner that you trust, and know is healthy can also prevent you from getting an STI.

It’s also important to get tested for STIs frequently, if there is a chance that you could be infected. This way, you can get treatment, and you don’t risk spreading the infection. It is important to understand STIs and to talk about them, just like any other common infection. Not only to prevent them from spreading, but also to help the people who have STIs feel less ashamed. Because STIs are very common infections!

Even couples who have been together for a while, like Molly and Paul, should talk about it - because it’s nothing weird, or embarrassing - it’s just normal.