Resources - Sexual Health and STIs

Sexual health involves many things, including: knowing about your body and how it works; keeping yourself and others safe; and finding information and support when things go wrong, such as an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual activity. Some of the STIs you may be familiar with are:

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's)
Chlamydia - a common sexually transmitted infection for which there are often no symptoms at all.
Genital Herpes -a common, recurring viral infection caused by a virus called the Herpes Simplex Virus.
Genital Warts - caused by the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), not to be confused with the HIV virus.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus).
Hepatitis B - virus that can cause serious liver disease.
Gonorrhoea - a common sexually transmitted bacterial infection, also known as the clap.
Syphilis sometimes called the pox and is caused by a bacteria.
Pubic Lice - more commonly known as crabs
Further Information

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STI's) are infectious diseases which spread from person to person during intimate sexual contact.

How do I get a STI?

Anyone who has unprotected sex (vaginal, oral or anal) can get a sexually transmitted infection and you can’t tell who has one by how they look.

How can I tell if I have an STI?

Often you can’t tell as some STIs have no symptoms at all. But symptoms may include:

Unusual discharge from your penis or vagina
Blisters or sores in the genital or anal area
Itching, irritation or pain in the genital area
Pain during or after sex
Bleeding during or after sex
Feeling feverish or unwell or experiencing pelvic or lower abdominal pain
Burning pain when passing urine

When should I get tested and what’ s involved?

See your doctor if you have had unprotected sex or have any symptoms. Your doctor, family planning clinic or sexual health clinic can offer STI testing. Having a test is simple and painless. Your doctor will ask you about any symptoms and discuss your sexual history. Although there is no single test to detect all STIs, as a general rule you will have either a urine test, a swab, a blood test or a simple physical examination.
It’s a good idea to have regular sexual health check-ups once you start having sex, when you change sexual partners or start a new relationship.

Can I protect myself from getting a STI?

Yes you can in most cases by practising safe sex. Safer sex means making sure you don’t get anyone else’s blood, semen, or vaginal fluids in your body – and protecting your partners too. It can also mean covering up or avoiding contact with parts of the body that might be infectious (e.g. herpes sores or genital warts).
Using a condom is the best way to protect yourself and your partner from STIs, but they’re not foolproof. You’ve got to use them correctly every time you have sex.

What is the treatment if I test positive?

Bacterial STIs such as Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be easily treated with antibiotics. Other STIs such as herpes and genital warts can be managed to decrease your symptoms. While treatment for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is continually improving, at present there is still no cure for this potentially life-threatening infection. If left untreated some STIs can lead to long-term problems such as infertility.

More about STIs:

Chlamydia

Is the most common STI amongst young people in Australia
Is a bacterial infection that can lead to infertility if not treated
Most people do not get any symptoms and can pass it on without knowing
Testing usually involves either a urine sample or vaginal swab
Is easily treated with anitibiotics

Genital Herpes

Starts as an itchy, tingling feeling, small clusters of blisters then appear which turn into itchy, painful sores when they break, the sore forms a scab, which heals itself.
Herpes can be diagnosed by a swab from an active sore.
There is no cure for the herpes virus, but a doctor can help you manage the symptoms and outbreaks with medication.

Genital Warts

Are spread easily by any sexual contact with skin infected with the HPV virus, whether warts can be seen or not.
If present the warts appear as painless, small cauliflower like lumps in the genital or anal area.
In many cases the body's immune system will cause most warts to disappear without treatment after six months. If required, treatment includes freezing with liquid nitrogen, applying a chemical paint or a prescribed cream but recurrences can occur.
Some types of HPV virus have been linked with an increased risk of cervical cancer in women, HPV vaccination is available at the Health Service, Hawthorn Campus.

HIV & AIDS

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that slowly destroys the body's immune system, the body becomes unable to fight off infection and the person develops serious illnesses typical of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
HIV is passed on through blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk for example, through anal or vaginal sex without a condom, sharing needles whilst injecting drugs and from mothers to baby through child birth and breastfeeding.
You might not know if you have been infected by HIV, some people may experience flu-like symptoms for 1 to 2 weeks, some have no symptoms for years until the disease progresses to AIDS.
A blood test can determine if you have the HIV virus (are HIV positive).
There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, antiretrovirals are the main treatment available for people with HIV.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is the most common liver infection in the world and is caused by the hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B virus is found in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, saliva and breast milk.
Hepatitis B is easily spread through unprotected sex, intravenous drug use, tattooing, body piercing, sharing personal items such as razors or toothbrushes and blood contact where skin is broken.
Many people with hepatitis B have no signs of illness and do not realise they have the virus in their body.
Hepatitis B can be diagnosed by having a blood test, hepatitis B infection can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer or liver failure if it is not diagnosed and managed.
Hepatitis B vaccination is available at the Health Service, Hawthorn Campus.

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmissible infection.
Gonorrhoea may not cause symptoms in women. Symptoms in men may include a burning sensation while passing urine.
Left untreated gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women.
Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) caused by a bacteria which if left untreated can have very serious complications.
Syphilis may have no symptoms so regular sexual health check-ups are recommended for individuals at risk. Currently these include men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and people who have sex in countries where there are high rates of syphilis.
A simple blood test can detect syphilis
Syphilis can be cured with a course of antibiotics.

Pubic Lice

Pubic lice are small, flat, light-brown parasites that cling to pubic hair.
Pubic lice are spread through sex and intimate contact (bedding, towels, etc).
The main symptom is itching throughout your pubic region. This is often worse at night. Some people have no symptoms and may be unaware of the lice infestation.
Topical creams or lotions containing permethrin (for example, Lyclear cream or Quellada lotion) and applied to the affected area are the most commonly recommended treatment.
Condoms do not protect you against pubic lice.

Further Information

Click on the links below for further information about the Sexual Health and STI's, treatments and support services available.