Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

• 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

• 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 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

• 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

• 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 vulvovaginal candidiasis (yeast)

• 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