How Long Can You Have an Std and Not Know

The clap, the clam, the pox, the souvenir that keeps on giving – we've created so many slang terms to make sexually transmissible infections (STIs) seem a niggling bit funnier and a trivial less serious. Simply when the long-term side effects of STIs can include chronic pelvic pain, infertility and in rare cases, cancer, it turns out they are no laughing matter.

STIs are spread from one person to another through sex and sexual body contact. And that's all types of sexual practice; anal sexual practice, oral sex activity and penis in vagina sex activity as well every bit mitt play and through sex activity toys.

Y'all won't be able to tell for sure if you lot or the person you're having sex with has an STI without existence tested, because these nasty infections don't always cause symptoms that you tin run into or feel.

That makes it kinda catchy, as people tin can be having sex without knowing they're infected, which means the infection could exist passed on and be causing damage to your torso unnoticed. But it's also elementary, actually simple to be sexually healthy. You see, in that location are a couple of easy things you can do to have a confident and good for you sex life, to await later your trunk and brand sure you don't have an infection that could cause yous harm.  Nosotros've got you covered here with a rundown of the most common STIs, what they can do to your body and simple means you can prevent getting them.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is one of those STIs that people tin alive with for years without knowing they have it. It's really common – in 2019 lone, over 23,000 Queenslanders were diagnosed with chlamydia.

If it's not treated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory illness (PID) for people with a vagina, which is a serious disease that causes fever and pain in the lower belly. PID can also crusade scarring in the fallopian tubes, which can get in difficult to become pregnant and increases the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. Babies whose mothers have untreated chlamydia might be born with center or lung infections.

Untreated chlamydia can cause infections in the urethra (the tube in the penis that pee and semen passes through) and likewise cause sore, bloated testicles. Ouch.

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea has a name every bit ugly every bit its long-term side effects. Just similar chlamydia, information technology won't always cause symptoms, so you might non even know it's in that location while it messes with your body.

Gonorrhoea that has not been properly treated tin crusade an infection in the testicles, leading to infertility. Like chlamydia, it can also lead to PID, which may crusade chronic pain, infertility and increased risk of having an ectopic pregnancy.

Gonorrhoea infection as well increases the chance of HIV transmission in people of any gender.

HPV

Human papillomavirus or HPV is a virus that can cause genital warts, but information technology won't always cause symptoms. Y'all can catch HPV even when at that place are no warts around. If yous accept warts, these tin be treated.

There are many strains of the HPV virus, some of which, in rare cases, have been linked to cervical, anal and rima oris and throat cancer.

The good news is that regular cervical screening through the National Cervical Screening Programme tin can accurately detect a HPV infection.  If you take a cervix and are aged over 25 years, you should talk to a doctor or nurse about having a cervical screening test.

Also, you tin go vaccinated confronting HPV, and people of all genders can go this vaccination. You lot can read more almost how and when to go vaccinated on the HPV Vaccination website. (Note: you should notwithstanding have cervical screening tests fifty-fifty if y'all have had the HPV vaccine).

Syphilis

Diagnosed cases of syphilis are on the rise in Queensland, more than doubling between 2015 and 2019. Acquired by a type of bacteria, it's easily curable simply can go out permanent damage if it'southward not treated.

At first, syphilis causes sores or ulcers effectually the mouth, anus, penis or vagina that are ofttimes painless and don't bleed. They're kind of like an ulcer you might become when yous accidentally bite your cheek, just that doesn't necessarily hurt.

Other possible symptoms of a syphilis infection are similar to those you experience when having the flu. In its subsequently stage, it can cause rashes, swollen glands, wart-like lumps on your body, hair loss, headaches, tiredness and hurting in your muscles, bones and joints. Audio bad? It gets worse.

If not treated, the signs of syphilis will come up and go over years. Just regardless, the infection will still exist in your body and can lead to serious permanent problems like damage to the fretfulness and large vessels near the heart.

A pregnant person with syphilis tin can likewise laissez passer it on to their unborn baby, which tin can cause a severe, disabling and life-threatening infection in the baby and sometimes, the infant can die from it.  This is why a syphilis test is routinely recommended for those who are pregnant.

HIV

Unprotected sex is one of the about common means to get Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. With its circuitous history there is a lot of unnecessary and harmful stigma around HIV. The reality though is in that location is no demand to be scared of or avoid people living with HIV.

HIV tin be passed on when infected pre-cum, semen, claret or vaginal fluid enters the body of a person who doesn't have the virus during sexual activity or sharing injecting equipment. You tin can't catch HIV from kissing, hugging, sharing eating utensils, shaking hands or from any other everyday social contact. It can be passed on during pregnancy and breastfeeding though, so a routine HIV examination is recommended for those who are pregnant.

When non treated, HIV can progress to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This can damage the allowed system, making the body vulnerable to infections that tin lead to serious disease.

There are a number of ways to prevent getting HIV.  These include using condoms when engaging in vaginal and anal sex and talking with sexual partners about whether they have HIV before engaging in sexual activity. Another prevention method is Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP, a daily pill that is effective in preventing the HIV virus from becoming established in the body. It is recommended when people are engaging in high risk activities such as unprotected anal intercourse.  Post exposure prophylaxis, PEP, is also bachelor to assist reduce the risk of getting HIV if, for case, a prophylactic breaks and in that location is business organization the person may accept HIV.

People living with HIV are likewise able to reduce their hazard of passing on HIV to sexual partners through something known as 'handling as prevention' or U=U (Undetectable = Untransmissible).  When a person who has HIV is taking HIV handling and has an undetectable viral load (this means very depression levels of HIV in their blood examination), they are unlikely to pass the virus on through sex activity. For more data run into HIV prevention

While HIV prevention and treatment has come up a really long way in terms of reducing its effects and manual, it'due south important that diagnosis is made as early equally possible, so y'all tin go started with treatment.

So I'm having sex...how do I  make certain I don't go an STI?

If yous're having sexual activity, the best manner to prevent getting an STI whilst having any kind of sexual contact is to employ condoms for protection. This includes oral sex, although dental dams are likewise bachelor.  Condoms literally create a barrier between your pare and someone else's, so that most STIs can't go through.

You should also use condoms on sexual practice toys if you're sharing them or using them in more than one part of the trunk.

It sounds easy right? And in many means information technology is, merely allow'southward be existent – it isn't always. Peculiarly when the person you're having sex with throws you a curve ball with a line similar, 'Merely sex doesn't feel as adept with a safe'.

Coming dorsum from those kinds of lines can be hard and negotiating to have rubber sexual activity in those situations or in the heat of the moment can be catchy. Whether information technology's a playful conversation or a more than serious one, having a chat with your partner about condoms and getting regular STI testing is cardinal to taking the worry out of sexual activity and getting on with the fun stuff. Some of these conversation starters may help.

How practice I know if I have an STI? Get tested, once a yr and between every partner

As these infections often don't cause symptoms, the merely way to know for sure if you have an STI is to get tested regularly if you lot're having sex. Regularly ways at to the lowest degree once a year and betwixt every new partner. It's much amend to know than not to know so that if you do have an STI, you tin get it treated equally shortly every bit possible.

The best way to get tested regularly is with a GP. If you don't desire to do this, yous could visit a sexual wellness dispensary, True Relationships and Reproductive Wellness clinic, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) or other community testing sites. If you recollect you accept any STI symptoms, a GP or nearest sexual health dispensary are the best options to get tested and treated apace.

More data

Finish the Rising of STIs

Let's talk about sex, babe! Your ultimate guide to sexual health

Condom 101: are you using condoms correctly?

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Source: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/long-term-effects-sexually-transmissible-infections-sti-health-chlamydia-hpv-gonorrhoea-syhpilis-hiv

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