Commonly asked questions about sexually transmitted infections

Jun 10, 2018 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Sexually transmitted infections, often called STIs, are infections you can catch during sex. They are also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. Some STIs are caused by bacteria, and others are caused by viruses.
The most common STIs include:
• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Genital herpes, also called “herpes simplex virus” or “HSV”
• Genital warts, also called “Human papillomavirus” or “HPV” – Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women.
• Hepatitis A, B, and C
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis
• Human immunodeficiency virus, also called “HIV” – This is the virus that causes AIDS.
Many of these infections can be transmitted through any type of sex. That includes not just penis-in-vagina or penis-in-anus sex, but also oral sex and other types of sex play. HIV and hepatitis can be transmitted in other ways, too, such as exposure to body fluids.
WHO SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR STIS?
Different screening tests are appropriate for different people, depending on their gender and sex habits.
• All men and women (including teenagers) that are sexually active should get screened for HIV.
• All girls and women younger than 26 years who have had sex should be screened every year for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
• Older women who have sex with more than one partner and do not use condoms should be screened every year for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
• All men and women who are having sex and either do not have a stable partner or are having sex with more than one partner should get screened for hepatitis B.
• Anyone who has had sex with a person infected with hepatitis C should be screened for it.
• Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis B. Some pregnant women might also need to be screened for other infections depending on their sex habits.
• Men who have sex with men should be screened at least once for hepatitis A, B, and C. They should also be screened at least once a year for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
The list above includes some general guidelines, but some people might need other screening tests depending on their sex habits and other factors. If you are unsure whether you should be screened, and for what, ask your doctor or nurse for advice.
WHERE CAN I GET SCREENED?
If you have a doctor or nurse you see regularly, he or she should be able to screen you. But if you prefer to have screening done without your regular doctor or nurse, or if you don’t have one, you can go to a clinic or health centre.
WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I WATCH FOR?
In general, watch out for any genital itching, burning, sores, or discharge. But be aware that many STIs do not cause any symptoms. The best way to know for sure if you have an STI is to be screened.
WHAT IF I HAVE AN STI?
If you have an STI, you will need treatment. The right treatment will depend on the type of STI you have. Treatment might include antibiotics or medicines called antivirals, which fight viruses. Treatment will cure your infection or keep it from getting worse. It will also reduce the chances that you spread your infection to others.
If you do have an infection, you might need to tell the people you could have infected. Your doctor or nurse can help you figure out which partners you need to tell based on when you last had sex with them.
CAN STIs BE PREVENTED?
There is no surefire way to prevent all STIs, but there are things you can do to reduce your chances of catching one.
• The most important thing you can do is to wear a condom every time you have sex. Both male and female condoms can protect against STIs. But be aware that male condoms made out of “natural materials,” such as sheep intestine, do not protect against STIs.
• Ask your doctor if there are any vaccines you should have. If you are 26 years old or younger, you can get a vaccine to protect against HPV, the virus that causes genital warts. If you do not have hepatitis A or B and have not already gotten the vaccine for hepatitis A or B, you can get those vaccines, too.
• If your partner has herpes, he or she can reduce the chances of infecting you by taking an antiviral medicine.
• If you are at very high risk of catching HIV, you might be able to take a pill every day to reduce the chances that you will get HIV. This is an option only for very few at-risk people. If you are interested in this, talk to your doctor.
Having a STI is never a good experience. Prevention is obviously better than cure. Be prepared and avoid risky sexual practices.

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