STIs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are spread by sex (anal, oral and vaginal), and in some cases, by non-penetrative sexual contact (such as sharing sex toys, sexual touching, close skin-to-skin contact).

Anyone can get an STI, but don’t panic, most infections are easily treated, and getting tested is free and confidential

Using condoms and dental dams can help to protect you against STIs.

STI facts:

• The majority of STIs can be treated with medication.
• STIs that cannot be cured can be managed.
• The sooner STIs are treated, the better it is for your long term health.
• It’s possible to have more than one type of STI at once.
• Not all STIs have symptoms – if you’ve had unprotected sex then you’re potentially  at risk.
• You can get STIs from all types of sexual act (including oral and using toys).

If you’re worried because you think you’ve got an STI, go for a check-up at your nearest clinic, or order a testing kit online. If you have no symptoms, we would advise waiting at least 2 weeks after you have had unprotected sex to test for STIs. This is because most STIs don’t show in a test straight away. However, if you have any symptoms of concern please contact your nearest clinic.

Read a quick summary of different STIs below:

CHLAMYDIA

Symptoms: No symptoms, discharge, pain when weeing, bleeding between periods or after sex
Test: A urine sample or swab
Treatment: Easily treated with antibiotic tablets

Read more: Chlamydia Information Leaflet (PDF, produced by FPA).

GONORRHOEA

Symptoms: No symptoms, discharge, bleeding between periods
Test: A urine sample or swab
Treatment: Easily treated with an injection

Read more: Gonorrhoea Information Leaflet (PDF, produced by FPA).

SYPHILIS

Symptoms: No symptoms, sore on genitals, rash on palms of hands and soles of feet
Test: A blood sample
Treatment: Treated with antibiotics – this may be a single injection, a course of injections or tablets.

Read more: Syphilis Information Leaflet (PDF, produced by FPA).

HIV

Symptoms: Often no symptoms, possible to have a flu-like illness a few weeks after infection
Test: A fingerprick test or a blood sample, depending where you go for the test
Treatment: There is no cure but HIV can be treated and controlled with antiretroviral drugs.

Read more information about HIV further down on this page.

HIV Information Leaflet (PDF, produced by FPA).
HIV Prevention: PEPSE and PEP

GENITAL WARTS

Symptoms: Lumps, bumps or growths around genital/anal area
Test: Doctor/nurse will look at affected area
Treatment: Treatment is available warts, like using a cream or freezing treatment

Read more: Genital Warts Information Leaflet (PDF, produced by FPA).

GENITAL HERPES

Symptoms: Blisters, sores around the genital/anal area
Test: Doctor/nurse will look at affected area and run a swab over any sores
Treatment: There is no cure but you can ease symptoms and stop the virus from multiplying with anti-viral tablets.

Read more: Genital Herpes Information Leaflet (PDF, produced by FPA).

HEPATITIS C

Symptoms: No symptoms, high temperature, tiredness, loss of appetite, abdominal pains, feeling or being sick
Test: Blood sample
Treatment: Treated with antiviral medicine for several weeks

OTHER INFECTIONS

Some other infections and conditions can cause similar symptoms to STIs. These can include thrush, bacterial vaginosis and genital dermatology conditions (things like dry skin or rashes around your genitals). If you think your infection is not sexually transmitted (e.g. you’re not sexually active), we recommend visiting a pharmacy or your GP in the first instance as we may not be able to treat you.

Further information about HIV

What is HIV?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. ‘Immunodeficiency’ refers to the weakening of the immune system by the virus. If it’s not treated, it can weaken and damage your body’s defence system (the immune system) so that it can’t fight off infections. HIV treatment stops this happening.

If someone’s immune system is damaged by HIV (usually over many years), they may develop one or more serious infections and illnesses. Sometimes this is called an AIDS diagnosis. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, but the term isn’t used very often now. Late-stage or advanced HIV is sometimes used instead.

Almost all people living with HIV who are diagnosed early enough and have effective treatment won’t go on to develop an AIDS-defining illness.

How can I get HIV?

HIV can be passed through the following body fluids:

• blood
• semen (including pre-cum)
• vaginal fluid
• anal mucus
• breast milk.

People can get HIV through:

• vaginal/frontal and anal sex without a condom
• sharing drug injecting equipment
• sharing sex toys
• mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy
• coming into contact with contaminated blood

HIV prevention

The following measures can help prevent HIV transmission during vaginal/frontal and/or anal sex.

• Testing regularly for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Wearing condoms when having sex, as they are one of the best ways to prevent HIV and many other STIs. For anal sex, use water-based or silicone-based lube to reduce the risk of the condom tearing.
• Using HIV prevention medicines such as PrEP.
• Becoming undetectable through treatment, if you have HIV.

Signs and symptoms of HIV

People with HIV may have a short one- or two-week, flu-like illness soon after getting the virus, but can then feel well for a long time. Most people will only notice further symptoms of HIV after a few years.

HIV testing and treatment

If you have HIV, finding out means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus onto anyone else.

If you’ve acquired HIV, it takes time for there to be enough antibodies or antigens in your blood to show up on an HIV test. This time is sometimes called the ‘window period’. The length of the window period depends on the type of test you take, but it is typically 7 weeks.

There are 3 ways of getting tested:

• Online testing Kit: Order a FREE, confidential and discreet postal testing kit to complete at home from SH:24 by clicking here.
• Full Blood Test: A sample of blood will be taken from you by your GP or in the clinic. The blood is then sent off and you will receive your results in 7-10 days. This test is more than 99.99% accurate.
• Rapid Test* (Point of care or POC test): A ‘finger prick’ of blood is taken and you will get your results in less than 30 minutes, the test is 99.96% accurate at detecting any HIV exposure that may have occurred more than 12 weeks ago.

Other local services that offer free and confidential rapid HIV testing:

Trade – 0116 254 1747

Undetectable viral load

For people with HIV, if they have been taking effective HIV treatment and their viral load has been undetectable for 6 months or more, it means they are at a stage where the HIV in their body is so low, that it cannot be passed onto another person. This is called undetectable=untransmittable (U=U).

Being undetectable does not mean your HIV is cured. Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for HIV. But with effective treatment, most people can still live a long and healthy life.

More information on HIV

For more information and advice on HIV, please visit the Terrence Higgins Trust website.