STIs
Sexually transmitted infections, testing, prevention and treatment. Many STIs have no symptoms, so regular testing matters more than guessing.
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Entries in this topic are written from public-health sources and are general information, not medical advice.
44 entries
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- AIDSAIDS is the most advanced stage of untreated HIV infection, when the immune system is badly damaged and serious infections or cancers can develop.
- Antiretroviral therapyAntiretroviral therapy is the combination of medicines used to treat HIV by stopping the virus from multiplying, allowing the immune system to stay healthy.
- Asymptomatic infectionAn asymptomatic infection is one that causes no noticeable symptoms; many STIs are asymptomatic for long periods but can still be passed on and cause harm.
- CD4 countA CD4 count measures the number of CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell, in a sample of blood; it shows how well the immune system is coping with HIV.
- ChancroidChancroid is a bacterial STI that causes painful genital ulcers and swollen glands; it is now rare in most countries.
- ChlamydiaChlamydia is a common bacterial STI that often causes no symptoms and is easily cured with antibiotics once it has been found through testing.
- Cold soresCold sores are small blisters around the lips caused by the herpes simplex virus, most often type 1, and are extremely common.
- Dental damA dental dam is a thin square of latex or polyurethane used as a barrier during oral sex on the vulva or anus to reduce the risk of STIs.
- Doxy-PEPDoxy-PEP is a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline taken shortly after sex to reduce the chance of getting syphilis, chlamydia and, to a lesser extent, gonorrhoea.
- Expedited partner therapyExpedited partner therapy is the practice of giving a person diagnosed with an STI a prescription or medicine to pass on to their partner, without the partner seeing a clinician first.
- Genital herpesGenital herpes is a common, lifelong viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, which can cause recurring blisters or sores but often goes unnoticed.
- Genital wartsGenital warts are small, usually painless growths on or around the genitals or anus caused by low-risk types of HPV.
- GonorrhoeaGonorrhoea is a bacterial STI that can infect the genitals, rectum and throat, and is treated with antibiotics, although resistant strains are a growing concern.
- Hepatitis AHepatitis A is a short-term viral liver infection usually spread through contaminated food or water, but it can also pass on during sex involving oral-anal contact.
- Hepatitis BHepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver spread through blood and sexual fluids; it can be prevented with a vaccine.
- Hepatitis B vaccineThe hepatitis B vaccine is a course of injections that gives long-lasting protection against the hepatitis B virus.
- Hepatitis CHepatitis C is a viral liver infection spread mainly through blood; sexual transmission is less common but possible, and modern tablets cure most cases.
- HIVHIV is a virus that weakens the immune system by attacking CD4 cells; with modern treatment, people living with HIV can expect a near-normal lifespan.
- HPVHuman papillomavirus is a very common group of viruses passed on through skin contact during sex; most infections clear on their own, but some types cause warts or certain cancers.
- HPV vaccineThe HPV vaccine protects against the types of human papillomavirus most likely to cause cancers and genital warts, and works best before a person becomes sexually active.
- Lymphogranuloma venereumLymphogranuloma venereum is an uncommon STI caused by particular strains of chlamydia that can affect the lymph nodes and, often, the rectum.
- Molluscum contagiosumMolluscum contagiosum is a harmless viral skin infection that causes small, smooth, raised spots; in adults it can be passed on through sexual contact.
- MpoxMpox is a viral infection that causes a rash or sores and flu-like symptoms, spread mainly through close physical contact, including sexual contact.
- Mycoplasma genitaliumMycoplasma genitalium is a bacterial STI that often causes no symptoms but can cause urethritis or pelvic inflammatory disease, and is becoming harder to treat.
- Non-specific urethritisNon-specific urethritis is inflammation of the urethra that is not caused by gonorrhoea; it is often linked to other STIs but sometimes has no identified cause.
- Partner notificationPartner notification is the process of letting recent sexual partners know they may have been exposed to an STI so they can get tested and treated.
- Pelvic inflammatory diseasePelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the upper reproductive organs, often caused by untreated STIs such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
- PEPPEP is a 28-day course of HIV medicine taken after a possible exposure to HIV to stop the virus from taking hold; it must be started as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours.
- PrEPPrEP is medicine taken by HIV-negative people before possible exposure to greatly reduce their chance of getting HIV.
- Pubic licePubic lice are tiny insects that live in coarse body hair, mainly pubic hair, and spread through close body contact, including sex.
- Rapid HIV testA rapid HIV test gives a result within minutes from a finger-prick of blood or a mouth swab, either in a clinic or as a self-test at home.
- Safer sexSafer sex means choices that lower the chance of passing on STIs or having an unplanned pregnancy, such as using condoms, testing, vaccination and PrEP.
- ScabiesScabies is an itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, spread by prolonged skin-to-skin contact, including during sex.
- Self-samplingSelf-sampling is when a person takes their own swab, urine or finger-prick blood sample at home or in a clinic and sends it to a laboratory for STI testing.
- SerodiscordantSerodiscordant describes a relationship in which one partner is living with HIV and the other is not.
- Sexual health clinicA sexual health clinic is a specialist service offering confidential STI testing and treatment, contraception, PrEP and PEP, and advice about sexual wellbeing.
- STIA sexually transmitted infection is an infection passed from one person to another mainly through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex and sometimes close skin-to-skin contact.
- STI testingSTI testing means checking for sexually transmitted infections, usually with urine samples, swabs or blood tests, even when there are no symptoms.
- SyphilisSyphilis is a bacterial STI that develops in stages, often starting with a painless sore, and is curable with antibiotics, usually penicillin.
- TrichomoniasisTrichomoniasis is a common STI caused by a tiny parasite, often without symptoms, and is cured with a course of antibiotics.
- U=UU=U means that a person living with HIV who keeps an undetectable viral load through treatment cannot pass HIV on to sexual partners.
- Viral loadViral load is the amount of a virus, such as HIV, in a sample of blood; for people on HIV treatment, a low or undetectable viral load is the main sign treatment is working.
- Viral sheddingViral shedding is when a virus is released from the body and can be passed on, sometimes even when there are no visible symptoms.
- Window periodThe window period is the time between a possible exposure to an infection and the point when a test can reliably detect it.