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Sexually transmitted infections awareness.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

HomeHealth and WellnessSexual Health and ClinicsSexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
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Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing

  • Blood samples to test for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, syphilis and HIV/AIDS.
  • Rapid HIV testing (point of care-POC) for high risk patients.
  • Urine (pee) samples to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
  • Routine PAP testing.
  • Swabs (penile, vaginal, throat, anal) to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.

Common STIs

Chlamydia
  • Is a common bacterial infection.
  • Is spread by sexual contact with an infected person.
  • It is common to have no symptoms.
  • It is treated with antibiotics.
  • Can be tested by urine or swab from cervix, penis, throat or rectum.
  • Takes at least two weeks to show in your urine after being in contact with someone who has chlamydia.
  • After treatment it is important not to have sex (oral, anal, vaginal) for seven days.
  • You need to tell every partner you have had sex with in the past 60 days to get tested and treated.
  • It is important to follow all of your treatment plans.

Symptoms in men can be:

  • Burning when peeing.
  • Discharge from the penis.
  • Pain in testicles.

Symptoms in women can be:

  • Burning when peeing.
  • Change in vaginal discharge.
  • Lower abdominal pain.
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Facts about chlamydia

Gonorrhea
  • Is a common bacterial infection.
  • Is spread by sexual contact with an infected person.
  • Can be tested by urine or swab from the cervix, penis, throat or rectum.
  • Takes at least four to seven days to show the infection in your urine after being in contact with someone who has gonorrhea.
  • After treatment it is important not to have sex (oral, anal, vaginal) for seven days.
  • You need to tell every partner you have had sex with in the past 60 days to get tested and treated.
  • It is important to follow all of your treatment plans.

Symptoms in men can be:

  • Burning when peeing.
  • Discharge from the penis.
  • Pain in testicles.

Symptoms in women can be:

  • Burning when peeing.
  • Change in vaginal discharge.
  • Lower abdominal pain.
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Facts about gonorrhea

Gonorrhea in Durham Region Infographic

HIV
  • HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system.
  • The virus stops the body's ability to fight illness.
  • HIV is spread through blood, semen (cum), vaginal fluid, or breastmilk of someone who has HIV.
  • Pregnant women with HIV, who are not treated with medication, can give it to their baby at birth and during breastfeeding.
  • Once you have a HIV virus, you always carry the virus.
  • After being exposed to the virus, it can take up to three months before it will show up in your blood.
  • HIV is treated with antiviral medication to stop the virus from attacking the immune system.
  • You must tell every partner that you have HIV before you have any sexual contact with him or her. It is the law.
  • If you test positive for HIV you may be sent to a specialist for follow up care and treatment.
  • You should tell every partner you have had sex with from your last negative HIV test date to get treated and tested.
  • It is important to follow your treatment plans.

Symptoms can be:

  • Loss of appetite.
  • Fever.
  • Headache.
  • Vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Swollen glands (lymph nodes).
  • Stomach pain.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Sores in the mouth.
  • Sores on the genitals.

Facts about HIV

HIV Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
  • PEP is medicine(s) that is taken within 72 hours of being in contact with HIV.
  • PEP is not 100 per cent effective.
  • PEP is free for people who have been sexually assaulted.
  • PEP is free for people who may have had contact with the virus at work (i.e., needle stick injury).
  • PEP is different kinds of medicines that are taken for four weeks to try to prevent HIV infection.
  • Healthcare providers can prescribe PEP to people after having a high-risk contact with someone with HIV that is not work related. This includes unprotected sex, condom broke, dirty needle use.
  • You can get PEP from a local emergency department. This includes Lakeridge Health Oshawa.
  • PEP costs $800 to $1,600 for the four weeks of medication if it is not covered. (Only sexual assault and work incidents are paid by the government.)
  • Your drug benefits may cover the cost of the medicine.

HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

  • PrEP can be taken before having sex with someone who has HIV.
  • A health care provider can only prescribe PrEP.
  • PrEP has been approved in Canada for use in men having sex with men.
  • PrEP has been approved in Canada for use in couples where only one person has HIV.
  • PrEP costs about $1,000 per month.
  • Your drug benefits may cover the cost of the medicine.
Hepatitis B
  • Is a virus that damages the liver.
  • It spreads through blood, blood products, saliva (spit), semen (cum), vaginal fluid or other fluid.
  • You can get it by sharing dirty needles for injecting drugs.
  • You can get it through people using dirty tattooing or body piercing equipment.
  • You can get it by sharing razors, toothbrushes, or nail care tools.
  • It can be spread to sexual partners.
  • It can be spread to people who live in close contact with the person who has the virus.
  • Women who are pregnant and carry the hepatitis B virus can give it to their baby at birth and during breastfeeding.
  • After being exposed to the virus, it can take up to three months before it will show up in your blood.
  • If you test positive for hepatitis B you may be sent to a specialist for follow up care and treatment.
  • You need to tell every partner you have had sex with in the past 90 days to get treated and tested.
  • Symptoms can start two to three months after being infected but can take as long as nine months.

Symptoms can be:

  • Loss of appetite.
  • Stomach pain.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Joint pain.
  • Fever.
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

Facts about hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

  • Is a virus that damages the liver.
  • It spreads through blood, blood products, saliva (spit), semen (cum), vaginal fluid or other fluid with blood.
  • You can get it by sharing dirty needles for injecting drugs.
  • You can get it through people using dirty tattooing or body piercing equipment.
  • You can get it by sharing razors, toothbrushes, or nail care tools.
  • It can spread through sex but risk is low.
  • Women who are pregnant and carry the hepatitis C virus can give it to their baby at birth and during breastfeeding.
  • You need to tell every partner you have had sex with in the past 90 days to get treated and tested.
  • After being exposed to the virus, it can take up to three months before it will show up in your blood.
  • There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
  • Most people with hepatitis C have no symptoms.
  • If you test positive for hepatitis C you may be sent to a specialist for follow up care and treatment.

Symptoms can be:

  • Loss of appetite.
  • Stomach pain.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

Facts about hepatitis C

Hepatitis C in Durham Region Infographic

Syphilis

  • Is an infection caused by bacteria.
  • It is spread by sexual contact with an infected person.
  • It can be spread by contact with sores, rash, saliva (spit), semen (cum), blood, or vaginal fluid of someone who has the virus.
  • Pregnant women can give syphilis to their baby if they are not treated.
  • Syphilis can cause birth defects.
  • Is tested by blood or swab of sore.
  • After being exposed to this bacteria, it can take up to three months before it will show up in your blood.
  • If you test positive for syphilis you may be sent to a specialist for follow up care and treatment.
  • You need to tell every partner you have had sex with in the past 90 days to get treated and tested.
  • It is important to follow your treatment plans.

Symptoms can be:

  • First stage: Painless sores.
  • Second stage: Body rashes. It can show weeks after being exposed.
  • Third stage: heart disease, brain damage and death.
  • Symptoms often go away six months even without treatment.

Facts about syphilis

Syphilis in Durham Region Infographic

Herpes simplex virus

There are two types of herpes viruses:

  • Type one (cold sore virus) through mouth to mouth contact.
  • Type two (genital virus) through genital to genital contact.

Genital herpes is spread by skin to skin contact, and:

  • Testing is done by a swab, blood or visual exam (seeing the sore).
  • Blood testing for herpes can be ordered by your health care provider but can cost money to have the test done.
  • The virus causes painful sores on mouth, genitals, anal area, bum and top of legs.
  • Symptoms show up two to 21 days after contact with the virus.
  • It is treated with an antiviral medication.
  • Once you have a herpes virus, you have it for life.
  • It is important to follow your treatment plans.

Symptoms can be:

  • Itching or tingling on the skin.
  • Painful sores.
  • Fever.
  • Joint pain.
  • Flu-like symptoms.
  • Burning when peeing.
  • Swollen glands (lymph nodes) in groin.

Facts about herpes simplex virus

HPV (human papillomavirus)

  • There are many types of HPV.
  • Some types cause genital warts.
  • Some types of HPV cause cervical, anal, penile, and oral cancers.
  • It is spread by skin to skin contact with someone who has the virus.
  • A symptom is a soft bump on the genitals that shows up two weeks to eight months after contact.
  • It is treated with skin medications, freezing or laser therapy.
  • It is important to follow your treatments.
  • Three out of four sexually active Canadians will get HPV in their lifetime.
  • Infections can be prevented with the HPV vaccine.
  • Condoms cannot fully protect you from HPV.

Symptoms can be:

  • Itching
  • Bleeding
  • Burning
  • Tenderness
  • Pain

Facts about human papillomavirus (HPV)

Molluscum contagiosum

  • It is a skin infection caused by a virus.
  • The virus causes small bumps on skin that show up on any part of the body.
  • Can be spread by skin to skin.
  • Can be spread by sharing common things like towels.
  • The bumps can go away on their own.
  • The bumps can be treated with freezing.
  • Do not touch or scratch the bumps. This can cause them to spread.

Facts about molluscum contagiosum

Trichomoniasis

  • Is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite.
  • It is spread by sexual contact with an infected person.
  • It can be tested by swab.
  • It is treated with antibiotics.
  • Do not have sex until you have finished your treatment.
  • You need to tell every partner you have had sex with in the past 60 days to get treated and tested.
  • It is important to follow all of your treatment plans.

Symptoms in men can be:

  • Unusual discharge from the penis.
  • Itchiness.
  • Burning when peeing or ejaculating.

Symptoms in women can be:

  • Itchiness.
  • Redness of the vagina.
  • Changes in vaginal discharge.
  • Vaginal odour.
  • Burning feeling during or after sex.

Facts about trichomoniasis

Vaginal infections

Bacterial vaginosis
  • It is an infection caused by an over growth of vaginal bacteria.
  • It is only found in women (men cannot get it).
  • It is not a sexually transmitted infection.
  • It is tested by vaginal swab.
  • It is treated with antibiotics, prescribed or over the counter medications.

Symptoms can be:

  • Gray, watery or white vaginal discharge that may be sticky.
  • Fishy odour.
  • Itching or burning.
  • Many women have no symptoms.

Facts about bacterial vaginosis

Vaginal yeast infection
  • An infection caused by an over growth of yeast.
  • It is a common infection in women.
  • It is not considered a sexually transmitted infection.
  • It is treated with over the counter medication.
  • It is tested by vaginal swab.

Symptoms can be:

  • Thick, white, clumpy vaginal discharge.
  • Itching.
  • Vaginal soreness.
  • Burning or hurting when peeing.

Facts about vaginal yeast infection

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