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Leicestershire AIDS Support Services

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major cause of ill health. They can also cause ectopic pregnancy (where an egg is fertilised and becomes implanted in the fallopian tube), and may also lead to infertility in both men and women.

Since 1995 there have been large increases in the number of people diagnosed with STIs, particularly women in their late teens and men in their early twenties. This may be because people are more aware of STIs and are visiting clinics to be tested.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms vary between STIs and some have no symptoms at all. Where there are symptoms, these may include unusual discharge from the vagina or penis, heavy periods or bleeding between periods, pain or burning sensation when passing urine, rashes, itching or tingling around the genitals or anus.

Tests and treatment
Most STIs can be easily diagnosed and treated at Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics which are usually based in local hospitals. If you think you may have an STI, you can refer yourself to any GUM clinic for advice and treatment. The service is completely confidential and you don’t have to go to your nearest clinic if you don’t want to.

Tests for STIs vary. Some involve taking swabs from the cervix or tip of the penis. Others involve taking a blood sample.

Before being tested it is usual to see a health adviser who will discuss safer sex with you so that you can avoid infections in the future. Counselling is usually offered before testing for HIV so that you are prepared for the implications of the test result if it is positive.

If you test positive for any STI, the clinic will encourage you to talk to your current partner and, where relevant, previous partners, so that they can also be tested. If you prefer, the clinic can do this for you without revealing your identity. Most STIs are treatable with antibiotics.

Avoiding STIs
STIs are usually passed on by sex with an infected person though some can be passed on in other ways as well. They can be caught during oral, vaginal or anal sex.

Using a male or female condom every time you have sex will stop the transmission of most STIs. Condoms can be used in addition to another method of contraception, such as the pill, which does not protect against infections. This is often referred to as the ‘double dutch’ method.

Dental dams (small squares of latex) can also be used as a barrier during sex involving contact between the mouth and the vagina, or the mouth and the anus.

Condoms are easily available LASS, family planning clinics, and from GUM clinics.

There are 25 types of sexually transmitted infection. Some can be acquired without sexual contact. The most common infections are:

The following are not necessarily transmitted through sexual contact: