Sexual health help forum
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
STIs used to be known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and refer to a range of infections that tend to be transmitted through close sexual contact. Some STIs will show symptoms almost immediately, while others might not show symptoms for years. The problem is, something like Chlamydia might not show any symptoms but is the leading preventable cause of female infertility in the UK and maybe a third of the 58,000 HIV positive people in the UK don’t know they have it.
Having STIs generally increases your chances of catching other ones - including HIV - so the smart thing to do is to get checked periodically. Condoms, if used properly, reduce your chances of catching most STIs, but condoms won’t necessarily stop you getting something like genital herpes, genital warts or syphilis. All other things being equal, unprotected anal sex is even more risky than unprotected vaginal sex. Unprotected oral sex carries risks, but lower risks that unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
Whatever kind of sex you have, not letting someone cum in you reduces – but definitely does NOT remove – your chances of acquiring HIV.
By knowing what STIs are out there and by being able to spot the most obvious symptoms, you’ll be better prepared to make informed decisions about what risks you are prepared to take and what risks you are prepared to expose your partners to.
If you’re worried about STIs and don’t want to go to your local NHS clinic, DrThom offers postal testing and treatment for the most common STIs. If you test positive for Chlamydia or gonorrhoea using their service their doctors treat you free of charge. Topics:Pubic Lice and Scabies
Chlamydia
Hepatitis A
HIV
NSU
Hepatitis B
Syphilis
Genital Warts
Hepatitis C
LGV
TV
Gonorrhoea
Herpes
Molluscum Contagiosum
Unprotected sex and HIV
