STI is a three-letter acronym that refers to sexually transmitted infections. Your parents (or even you) may know them as STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Whatever you call them, they refer to the same thing: infections that are passed from one person to another during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. They’re more prevalent than you may think and a lot of STIs show no symptoms at all. While they can be intimidating, there’s some good news: getting tested has never been easier. The majority of STIs are not difficult to treat, but it’s better to avoid them by using condoms.
- Get familiar with an unsafe situation
The contraceptive methods like the hormonal pill and coil (IUD) are excellent ways to protect against pregnancy, but unfortunately not STIs. Anybody who has oral, vaginal, or anal sex, or even genital skin-to-skin contact with another person can contract an STI. Using male or female condoms during vaginal, oral and anal sex is the only way you can protect yourself and your partner from getting STIs.
Here are a couple of situations where you should be taking precautions:
You just met someone you’re highly attracted to and you really want to have sex with him. Tip: first, we’ve all been there. If you find yourself in this situation, you should both get tested (it’s much more common than you may think) and until you get the results, try to limit sexual activity with your partner to avoid any additional risks or use condoms when you have sex.
You have a lot of sexual partners. There aren’t a lot of choices. Use a condom – even for oral sex, because you never know!
- They can be stealthy
Some STIs have symptoms, in which case you should consult your doctor. Some common symptoms include: burning, unusual (and smelly) discharge, bumps, and small lesions or sores on the genitals. These tell-tale signs may not be pretty, but luckily they serve as indicators that you should get checked. Sometimes, STIs have no symptoms at all and that’s where complications arise. When left untreated for a long time, they can cause chronic pain, and sometimes serious complications (sterility, fetal damage, ectopic pregnancies etc).
If you have any doubt about a sexual encounter you had without a condom, don’t hesitate to get checked – some clinics even do it for free! Communication with your partner is also crucial.
- Over-the-counter HIV tests are available!
Although it wasn’t the case in the past, HIV self-tests are now available in pharmacies without a prescription. The kits detect antibodies in the blood that are produced following infection with the AIDS virus. This advancement in medicine can be reassuring to a couple looking to practice unprotected sex. The test uses a spot of blood to detect abnormalities and it takes less than 30 minutes to see the results. Taking control of your sex life has never been easier. - Most STIs are treatable
There is a cure for chlamydia, genital warts, syphilis and gonorrhoea. But the longer you wait, the more you risk exposing yourself to further complications. As they say, prevention is better than a cure. There are preventative treatments, like vaccinations, that your doctor can talk you through if you test for hepatitis B and HPV. Some STIs, such as HIV, cannot currently be eradicated but there are treatments available to help curb their progression by reducing the amount of virus to very low levels. This reduces the risk of further complications and the risk of passing the infection to someone else. - How you can get tested
Don’t hesitate to contact your GP if you’re interested in getting tested. Your doctor will be the best advisor depending on your age, medical history, and the results of your last STI test.
