Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be passed on through any form of sexual contact. Anyone can acquire an STI and pass it on. There are about 25 different kinds of STI. STIs are sometimes also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

You may not know that you or your partner has an STI, it isn’t always obvious. But some of the more common symptoms of an STI are:

pain when you pee
unusual discharge from the vagina or penis
pain during or after sex
bleeding between periods
pain in the lower abdomen or testicles
a rash, irritation, blisters, sores or pain around the vagina or penis.

Having one of these symptoms does not mean that you have an STI. The only way to know for sure is to have a test. But remember some STIs don’t have any symptoms, so it’s a good idea to have a test just to make sure.

The best way to avoid an STI is to use a condom every time you have sex, especially if you have a new partner.

Testing

If you have unprotected sex of any kind, including oral sex, you could have caught an STI. Don’t leave it to chance – get checked out! Ask for a confidential check–up at a sexual health clinic.

Find you’re nearest sexual health clinic on the Sex Worth Talking About website.

If you have been diagnosed with an STI at a sexual health clinic, they will give you medication there. It’s free and you will get it on the spot – so you don’t have to take a prescription to a chemist or pharmacy.

Chlamydia (kla-mid-ee-a) is the most common STI diagnosed in young people – you’ve probably all heard of it by now! You can catch chlamydia from sexual contact even if you don’t have penetrative sex.

Chlamydia can cause painful testicles and pain when you have sex for men, but it usually has no symptoms. You can often have it without knowing. It can cause infertility in men and women if it’s not treated, which means you might have problems when trying for a baby later in life.

Testing

You can get tested at a sexual health clinic or you can order your own free kit to test yourself at home from Chlamydia Free:

Chlamydia Free

Phone: 08000 612 668 - 24 hour answerphone

Email: Chlamydia.Free@esdwpct.nhs.uk

Treatment

The good news is that chlamydia is easy to test for and easy to treat and cure. You take the test yourself: boys pee in a pot and girls take their own swab, which is a bit like using a tampon. The treatment is a one-off dose of antibiotics, which are free.

Read more about other STIs and their symptoms on the Brook website

How do you make sure you take care of your sexual health?

Did you know?

Women who have sex with women can get STIs.

You may have heard that women who sleep with women can’t get or pass on STIs. This isn't true. If a woman has an STI and has sex with another woman, the infection can be passed on through vaginal fluid (including fluid on shared sex toys), blood or close body contact. Always use condoms on shared sex toys, and use dams to cover the genitals during oral sex. A dam is a very thin, soft plastic square that acts as a barrier to prevent infection (ask about dams at a pharmacist or sexual health clinic). If a woman is also having sex with a man, using contraception and condoms will help to prevent STIs and unintended pregnancy.