Advice and Information - Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
STIs and HIV are on the increase amongst young people aged 18-24 (especially young gay men). Below is a list of the 6 most common STIs, their symptoms, treatments options and the effect on your health. If you exhibit any symptoms you should get yourself checked out at a clinic, a list of clinics will be posted soon.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Preventing STIs
One of the most effective ways to prevent STIs is to use a barrier method of contraception (condom, femidom or dam). You can get Freedoms packs (free condoms and lube) from most gay bars and clubs however dams and femidoms are less widely available for free. You can also get free condoms and dams through London Met LGBT. Simply come to one of our events or drop us an email at the contact section. We are also going to be working with the University to make condoms, dams and lube more widely available.
To buy cheap condoms, lube or dams visit the Freedoms shop by clicking on the link below.
Chlamydia (caused by Bacteria)
Chlamydia is by far the most prevalent STI amongst young people with 1 in 10 sexually active young people being diagnosed with it. You can get free chlamydia screening from a number of places including STI clinics and Boots! Find out more about THTs chlamydia screening (and where you can get a kit for free) at: http://www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/hivandstitesting/youngandfree/
Symptoms
Most women and some men don't have any symptoms. If there are symptoms, they might include:
Women
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Men
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Treatment
- Easily treated with antibiotics
- Someone receiving treatment must not have sex again until seven days after treatments completed (to make sure the infection has cleared up)
Effect on Health/Complications
- Left untreated in women, Chlamydia can spread to the womb and fallopian tubes and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID, which can lead to infertility – inability to have a child)
Genital Warts (Caused by Virus)
Condoms will only help here if the condom covers the wart!
Symptoms
- Growths or warts in the genital area (can take a year or more to appear after infection)
- Warts are not always visible (especially if they occur inside the vagina or anus)
- If warts are not present, tests cannot be made for the virus
Treatment
- Applying special ointments or paints
- By freezing or by surgical removal under local anaesthetic
Effect on Health/Complications
- It used to be thought that genital warts were associated with cervical cancer. Some variant of the papilloma virus are still linked with cervical cancer but not the one which causes genital warts.
Gonorrhoea (caused by Bacteria)
Symptoms
The symptoms are different for men and women. Most women don't have any symptoms.
Men
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WomenMost women do not have symptoms but could have:
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Treatment
- Antibiotics can cure gonorrhoea completely.
Effect on Health/Implications
- None if treated.
- If left untreated, it can cause serious problems such as arthritis or make women infertile
Herpes Simplex (Caused by Herpes Simplex 2 Virus)
Condoms will only help here if the condom covers the blister!
Symptoms
Tingling or itching on or around the genital area, followed by:
- Appearance of small painful blisters
- General flu-like symptoms such as headache, backache or a temperature
- Burning sensation when passing urine (peeing)
Treatment
- No cure is available.
- An anti-viral drug (Aciclovir) can reduce the severity of the first and recurrent episodes as well as the length of the first episode.
Effect on Health/Complications
- A pregnant women might infect her baby although this is very rare.
Note that Herpes Simplex 1 virus, which causes cold sores, can also cause some infection although this is unlikely.
Hepatitis B (caused by a Virus)
Symptoms
There may be no symptoms but usually symptoms come in two stages, starting between one and six months after infection.
First Stage
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Second Stage
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Treatment
- There is no treatment for Hep B apart from plenty of rest and healthy food
- It usually takes several months to recover
- There is a vaccine for people who know they are at risk of catching Hep B (gay men are one of these groups)
Effect on Health/Complications
- Hep B can cause liver cancer and other liver damage
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Symptoms
- People with HIV may have no symptoms for ten years or more
- The vast majority will eventually develop AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
Treatment
- There is no cure for HIV or AIDS
- Current treatment consists of a combination of three or more antiviral drugs
- This combination treatment has enabled people with HIV to maintain good health. However, 8% of new HIV cases are found to be resistant to one or more of the antiviral drugs and the long-term outcome for people treated with combination therapies is still unclear.
Effect on Health/Complications
- HIV damages the body's immune system so that most people with HIV develop AIDS
- People with AIDS can get serious infections and/or cancer which may eventually lead to their death