Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

What is a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases that can spread from person to person through any sexual contact. Many STIs don’t have any obvious signs or symptoms at first. This is why it’s so important that you protect yourself and your partner(s) by using protection and getting tested regularly.

How can I prevent STIs?

The best ways to prevent an STI are:

• Use protection such as condoms
• Discuss STIs and safe sex with your partner(s) so that you can protect each other
• Ask your health-care provider about getting vaccinated against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Get tested regularly for STIs

What do I do if I think I have an STI?

If you think you might have an STI, contact your health-care provider. Or to find a sexual health clinic near you, visit the Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights website.

What are the different types of STIs?

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Syphilis
• HPV
• Trichomoniasis
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Herpes
• Pubic lice
• Scabies
• HIV

Chlamydia

Chlamydia affects the cervix and urethra, and sometimes the rectum, throat and eyes. It is the most common bacterial STI and is more common in female-bodied people than male-bodied people.

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms at all. Signs and symptoms of chlamydia may include:

• Discharge from penis or vagina
• Vaginal bleeding after sex or between periods
• Pain in the abdomen or lower back
• Pain during sex
• Itchy urethra
  
• Pain or swelling in testicles
• Pain or burning while urinating (peeing)

Chlamydia is diagnosed through:

• Urine sample OR
• Swab of cervix, urethra, vagina, rectum, nose, throat and/or eyes.

Treatment for chlamydia is antibiotic pills.

You should be retested for chlamydia 6 months after treatment.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea affects the cervix and urethra, and sometimes the rectum and throat. It is the second most common bacterial STI. You might sometimes hear it called 'the clap'.

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may include:

• Discharge from penis or vagina
• Pain during sex
• Pain in lower abdomen or pelvis
• Vaginal bleeding after sex or between periods
• Irregular periods
• Pain or swelling in testicles
• Pain or burning while urinating
• May have no symptoms

Gonorrhea is diagnosed through:

• Urine sample OR
• Swab of the infected area (penis, vagina, cervix, anus, throat, and/or eye)

Gonnorhea is treated with antibiotic pills and muscular injection.

You may be instructed by your health-care provider to be retested 2 to 3 weeks after treatment to ensure the infection is gone. Anyone who has been treated for gonorrhea should be retested 6 months after treatment.

Syphilis

Syphilis is caused by bacteria. Rates of cases have been increasing in Canada.

Syphilis has 4 stages of symptoms:

• Primary – a painless sore at the affected area.
• Secondary – flu-like symptoms and rash developing 3 weeks to 6 months after infection.
• Latent – syphilis is untreated, and generally has no symptoms; this phase can continue for years.
• Tertiary – 10-30 years after infection; damage to organs.

Syphilis is diagnosed through:

• Swab of affected area (primary syphilis only).
• Blood test.

Syphilis is treated with penicillin, or other antibiotics. Early treatment is important as damage caused by syphilis can’t be reversed.

HPV and genital warts

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI. The highest rates of HPV are in teens and young adults aged 15-24 years old.

Some types of HPV can cause genital warts and others can cause cancer if left untreated.

A vaccine is available to prevent HPV.

Some people may not have any signs or symptoms at all, while others might have the following:

• Warts that look like tiny bumps on the vagina, anus, cervix or inside of the thigh; may be small or hard to see.
• Pain or bleeding.

HPV is diagnosed through:

• Visual exam.
• Pap test (only for those age 25 or older).

Treatment for HPV includes watching the warts to see if they go away or wart removal by a health-care professional (never use over-the-counter wart medicine on genital warts unless prescribed by a health-care professional).

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a common infection affecting the vulva, vagina, cervix, urethra, bladder, and penis.

Signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis may include:

• Discharge or odor from the vagina or penis.
• Pain or burning while peeing.
• Pain during sex.
• Itchiness.

It's diagnosed through a swab of the affected area.

Antibiotics is the main treatment for trichomoniasis.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver.

A vaccine is available to prevent Hepatitis B.

Most people do not have signs of hepatitis B. Up to 8 weeks after exposure, you may have flu-like symptoms.

Hepatitis B is diagnosed with a blood test.

There is no cure for hepatitis B, but most people recover and have no symptoms after 6 months.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver.

Acute symptoms of hepatitis C may include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Decreased appetite, weight loss
• Jaundice
• Rash
• Dark urine or clay-coloured stool

Chronic symptoms of hepatitis C may include:

• Jaundice
• Swelling of the abdomen (belly)
• Blood in stool (poo) and vomit
• Interrupted sleep
• Depression
• Weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Brain disease

Hepatitis C is diagnosed with a blood test.

A combination of medications are used to treat the hepatitis C infection.Treatment also includes preventing liver damage.

Herpes

There are 2 types of herpes:

• HSV-1 more commonly causes oral infection (cold sores, fever blisters around the mouth)
• HSV-2 more commonly causes genital herpes with lesions/sores around the vulva, vagina, cervix, anus and penis

Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can infect both the mouth and the genitals. They can both be spread by kissing, touching, oral sex, unprotected vaginal or anal sex.

Symptoms of a first infection may include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Cold sore or fever blister around the nose, lips or in the mouth
• Pain while peeing
• Genital pain
• Genital blisters
• Genital ulcers

Symptos of a recurrent infection (an infection that comes back) include:

• Tingling, itching or burning
• Sores inside the mouth or on the lips, vulva, vagina, or penis

Herpes is diagnosed through a swab of a lesion/sore.

Medication is used to decrease the length and severity of a herpes outbreak. There is no cure for herpes.

Pubic lice

Pubic lice are small insects that nest in pubic hair. They're sometimes called 'crabs' because of their appearance.

Can also be found in the eyebrows, armpit hair, beards and mustaches.

The main signs and symptoms of pubic lice are itching, redness or irritation at the affected area.

They're diagnosed through a physical exam of the infected area by a health-care professional.

Pubic lice are treated with medicated creams, lotions, or shampoos to apply to the affected area.

Scabies

Scabies are mites that burrow under the skin to lay eggs.

Signs and symptoms of scabies may include:

Rash or bumps, particularly in a line.

Itching.

Scabies is diagnosed through:

• Physical exam of the infected area by a health-care professional.
• Scraping of the rash to look for mites, fecal matter of mites, or mite eggs under a microscope.

Scabies are treated with scabicide creams or lotions to apply to the affected area.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system. In some cases it can develop into AIDS.

Signs and symptoms of HIV may include:

• Mild flu-like symptoms that develop 2-4 weeks after exposure then disappear.

After several years (usually after at least 10 years), symptoms can include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Shortness of breath or dry cough
• Vision loss
• Lesions on skin
• Anemia
• Severe shingles or oral or genital ulcers

In rare cases, some people do not have any symptoms (chronic asymptomatic HIV).

HIV is diagnosed through blood work.

Antiretroviral therapy is used to slow the progression of HIV.