How much do you know about Sexually Transmitted Infections? It would appear it’s an issue not everyone is getting to grips with as statistics show that STI’s are increasingly on the rise.
Sex on Female First
TV doctor, Dr Hilary Jones wanted to test the general public’s knowledge of STI’s so he set out to question some people of London.
He worryingly found that many people were unable to name some of the lesser known STI’s such as ureaplasma urealyticum or bacterial vaginosis. And when you factor in also that many of the most common STI’s such as chlamydia are symptomless, he believes you can start to see why we are facing an STI epidemic in Britain.
To help stem any confusion around STI’s and educate us on those little known conditions, the doctor, who is also chief medical adviser at HealthExpress.co.uk, has produced a step-by-step guide that looks at the symptoms of the most common STI’s, some of which many of us have not heard about, so that you can take informed, full control of your own sexual health.
What symptoms do STI’s cause?
When looking for signs that you may have an STI, you need to be aware that there are several STI’s that have no symptoms. For those STI’s that do, look out for an unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or anus. If you experience pain during sex, pain passing urine or experiencing the need to urinate more often this can also suggest you have an infection. Blisters, sores, warts, irritation, rashes or itching near the genitals or anus are also an easy way to spot an STI and if you have any of the symptoms above, I advise you seek medical advice
The most common STI’s
Chlamydia is perhaps the most well-known STI, and is also the most common in the UK, but in many instances cases can remain symptomless. Research suggests that 50 per cent of men, and 70-80 per cent of women do not show symptoms at all, meaning that if you are having unprotected sex it’s important that you are regularly tested. However, those that have symptoms can experience pain when passing urine, pain in the lower abdomen, and a white cloudy discharge. The good news is that if you are diagnosed with chlamydia, treatment is often very simple with need for only a short course of antibiotics.
Gonorrhoea is also another well-known STI, and also extremely common in the UK. Typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include an unusual discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating and, in women, bleeding between periods. Gonorrhoea can be easily diagnosed through a simple swab test, or men may be asked to provide a urine sample and treated with medication.
Genital warts and genital herpes are also both common infections but many people do not know that they are different. Genital herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It causes painful blisters on the genitals and the surrounding areas. At least 8 out of 10 people who carry the virus are unaware they have been infected because there are often few or no initial symptoms. If symptoms do show these can include blisters and ulcers around the genitals, pain when passing urine, a fever and general feeling of being unwell. Although there is no cure for genital herpes, the symptoms can usually be controlled using antiviral medicines.
In comparison, genital warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital or anal area, and again are a common STI; in England, they are the second most common type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) after chlamydia. Unlike genital herpes, warts can be treated with creams and cryotherapy (freezing the warts), both of which have a good rate of success. However, many treatments can take up to three months before they are fully effective.
Syphilis is another STI that many people have heard of but is a less common sexually transmitted infection in the UK. If diagnosed early, syphilis can be easily treated with antibiotics; usually in the form of penicillin injections. There are three different stages to this STI with the infection getting progressively worse the longer it is left untreated. Symptoms start with a painless sore on the genitals or around the mouth. From here, this progresses to the second stage where people often experience a sore throat and skin rash. After this, all symptoms tend to disappear for several years. This can then progress to the third stage, a stage where serious health issues can develop such as infertility and can even result in an early death – so it’s important to get treated as soon as you can!
The unknown STI’s
When I hit the streets of London to discuss STI’s with the general public, it seemed many people were clued up on the most common infections, however, there were a number of conditions people had either not heard of, and were unaware of the risks of contracting them.
The first of the less commonly known STI’s is ureaplasma urealyticum. This is becoming a much more common infection which is extremely contagious through sexual contact. This STI’s is contracted when mycoplasma produces tiny colonies of harmful bacteria that then multiply. This STI often has no outward indications but when symptoms do occur, they can include discomfort when urinating, inflammation and an abnormal genital discharge. Treatment is simple with a course of antibiotics.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is another common STI but it is a very poorly understood condition, in which the balance of bacteria inside the vagina becomes disrupted. Around one in three women will experience at least one episode, and it can be caused by scented soaps or bubble baths, smoking or using vaginal deodorant. If you are diagnosed with this condition, abstain from any sexual contact to reduce the risk of it spreading to sexual partners. Like ureaplasma urealyticum is easy to treat with antibiotic tablets or a gel.
Mycoplasma genitalium is another unknown STI. This is a bacterial based STI that infects the mucous membranes of the urethra, cervix, anus and less commonly the throat, and is transmitted through sex. Symptoms include burning sensation during or after sex, pain when passing urine, abnormal discharge and bleeding. Like the majority of other STI’s, it is easily treated with oral antibiotics.
Like Mycoplasma genitalium, non-specific urethritis is the inflammation of the urethra - the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. It is usually caused by an infection and research has shown that chlamydia is responsible for nearly half of all male cases with over 80,000 cases of urethritis diagnosed in men every year. This is a more difficult STI to diagnose in women as there are no symptoms but once diagnosed, treatment is quick and easy with a course of antibiotics.
Trichomonas vaginalis is another form of sexually transmitted infection but unlike other STI’s; it is a tiny parasite which causes an infection. In women, the infection can be found in the vagina and the urethra, and in men it can only be found in the urethra. The infection is easily passed from one person to another through sexual contact and can cause discomfort when having sex. Symptoms include a change in vaginal discharge or pain when passing urine but it can be easily treated with antibiotics.
Although STI’s are a health issue we have become extremely familiar with, there is still much to learn. If you are sexually active, and especially if you are having unprotected sex, you need to make sure you are clued up on all the STI’s you could contract, know their symptoms and most importantly how you can be tested and treated.