Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are conditions that pass from one person to another through sexual contact
• STDs can be contracted through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has an STD
• An STD may also be referred to as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or venereal disease (VD)
• STDs can also be transmitted through sharing needles and breastfeeding

Symptoms of STDs in Men

• It is possible to contract an STD without symptoms
• Common symptoms in men include:
• Pain or discomfort during sex or urination
• Sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
• Unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis
• Painful or swollen testicles
• Specific symptoms vary depending on the STD

Symptoms of STDs in Women

• STDs often don't cause noticeable symptoms in women
• Common symptoms in women include:
• Pain or discomfort during sex or urination
• Sores, bumps, or rashes around the vagina, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
• Unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina
• Itchiness in or around the vagina
• Specific symptoms vary from one STD to another

Chlamydia

• Chlamydia is a common STD capable of infecting both men and women
• It can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system
• The damage can make it difficult or impossible for a woman to get pregnant later on
• Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy

How Chlamydia Spreads

• Chlamydia spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia
• A male sex partner does not have to ejaculate for chlamydia to spread
• Even with prior treatment, re-infection is possible through unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia
• A pregnant individual can give chlamydia to their baby during childbirth

Chlamydia Trachomatis Symptoms

• Early-stage Chlamydia trachomatis infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms
• Symptoms typically begin one to two weeks after exposure
• They are often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook
• Signs and symptoms may include:
• Painful urination
• Lower abdominal pain
• Vaginal discharge in women
• Discharge from the penis in men
• Painful sexual intercourse in women
• Bleeding between periods and after sex in women
• Testicular pain in men
• Chlamydia trachomatis can also infect the rectum
• These infections can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding
• Conjunctivitis chlamydial eye infections can be acquired through contact with infected secretions

Causes and Risk Factors for Chlamydia

• The Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium causes Chlamydia trachomatis
• It spreads most commonly spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex
• A mother can spread chlamydia to her child during delivery
• This can cause pneumonia or a serious eye infection in her newborn
• Factors that increase the risk of chlamydia trachomatis include:
• Being sexually active before age 25
• Multiple sex partners within the past year
• Inconsistent condom use
• History of prior sexually transmitted infection

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an imbalance of bacteria normally found in the vagina/internal genitals
• Bacterial increase may be noticed as fluid from the vagina or a change in odor
• BV is not an STI
• BV is more common amongst people who are having sex, but people who are not sexually active can also have BV
• When one female partner has BV, there is a high chance her other female sex partner will also have BV
• Having BV makes it easier to get another STI or HIV

Causes of BV

• The exact causes of BV aren't clear
• Some things that can lead to it include:
• Having more than one sex partner or a new sex partner
• Being a female having sex with females
• Smoke
• Douching
• Having an IUD

Symptoms of BV

• Many people who have BV do not notice any symptoms and do not need treatment
• Common symptoms include more discharge and a change in vaginal fluid odor

Complications of BV

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) typically does not cause other health problems
• Rarely, BV may spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes which can cause more serious problems
• BV during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, early delivery, or a pelvic infection after pregnancy
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is more likely after an IUD insertion or an abortion with BV

Gonorrhea

• Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported STI in British Columbia
• Gonorrhea can be found in the urethra, vagina/internal genitals, rectum and throat
• In rare cases, it can cause an infection in the eyes, skin and joints

Gonorrhea Symptoms

• Some individuals with gonorrhea remain unaware due to mild or nonexistent symptoms
• In women, early symptoms might be mistaken for bladder or minor vaginal infections
• Gonorrhea infections in the throat typically do not produce symptoms
• When symptoms occur, they generally manifest 2 to 7 days after exposure

Common Symptoms of Gonorrhea

• Internal genitals symptoms in females:
• A change in vaginal fluid
• A change in periods or more painful periods
• Vaginal bleeding after sex or spotting between periods
• Pain during intercourse
• Pain in the lower stomach
• Rectal irritation, bleeding or pus
• External genitals symptoms in males:
• Burning or pain when urinating
• Frequent urination
• Unusual fluid from the penis
• Itchy feeling inside the penis
• Pain and/or swelling in the gonads
• Rectal irritation, bleeding or pus

Complications of Gonorrhea

• Early treatment of gonorrhea typically prevents complications
• Untreated gonorrhea may lead to serious complications including:
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause infertility, tubal pregnancies, or ongoing pelvic pain
• Epididymitis being an infection in the gonads which can cause infertility
• Pregnant people may pass gonorrhea to their baby's eyes during childbirth which can lead to blindness if untreated
• Reactive arthritis affects the skin, eyes and joints, or spread of the infection to other organs in the body (Disseminated Gonococcal Infection) can also occur

Herpes Simplex Virus

• Herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV)

• There are two types of herpes simplex virus: herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2)

• For many individuals, herpes is a minor, recurring skin condition

• HSV-1 is frequently found around the mouth and is referred to as "cold sores"

• It can be sexually transmitted to the genitals

• HSV-2 is commonly found in the genital area

• It is uncommon for HSV-2 to be found on the lips

• It is becoming more common to find HSV-1 in the genital area

• Both types are sometimes passed to other areas of the body through skin-to-skin contact

• Following the first outbreak, HSV becomes inactive within the body

• The virus may reactivate periodically, causing symptoms that typically reappear in the same general area as the initial outbreak

• The frequency of future outbreaks is unpredictable but typically decreases over time

Causes of Herpes

• HSV spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact
• HSV can be passed even when sores are not visible, but is less likely to occur during these times
• The virus can sometimes be found on the skin without symptoms
• This is called "asymptomatic shedding"
• The exception is within the first few months after a person gets HSV from a new partner- it can be passed to other parts of the body during this time
• If one has one type of HSV, it is not possible to get that same type again from a new partner

Symptoms of Herpes

• An individual may have HSV without knowing it

• Symptoms may not appear for months or years

• A "primary outbreak" is when contact with the virus causes symptoms

• Symptoms usually begin 2 to 21 days after contact

• The first outbreak can be more severe and last longer than future outbreaks

• Early symptoms can include itching, burning, or tingling at the site of a sore

• Painful red sores of tiny blisters may be followed by swollen glands, fever, and body aches

• Sometimes, symptoms may include flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle aches

• Over time, outbreaks usually happen less often and the symptoms are milder

• Herpes sores may be triggered by factors like sun exposure, lack of sleep, alcohol use, stressful events and skin irritation

• Symptoms can be reduced by getting enough sleep, eating well and minimizing stressors

Proctitis

• Proctitis is an inflammation of the lining of the rectum
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the most common cause of proctitis
• Treatment depends on the cause

Causes of Proctitis

• Sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or herpes simplex can cause
• These STIs pass during unprotected anal sex
• The receptive partner in anal sex has a greater risk of developing proctitis

Symptoms of Proctitis

• The most common symptom is a frequent or continuous urge to have a bowel movement involving pain and cramping with little or no stool
• Other symptoms include:
• Mucous or blood in stools or coming from the rectum
• Rectal or anal bumps, sores, blisters or redness
• Rectal bleeding
• Pain in the rectum or anus

Complications of Proctitis

• Untreated proctitis has a risk of complications including:
• Narrowing of the anal canal or strictures
• Anal fistula being an abnormal connection between the rectum and the skin around the anus

HIV and AIDS

• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the body's immune system

• HIV weakens a person’s immune system by destroying cells that fight disease and infection

• HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if not treated

• The human body cannot completely get rid of HIV, even with treatment

• Once someone gets HIV, they have it for life

• HIV attacks the immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells) to fight off infections

• HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body, leading to an increased risk of infections or infection-related cancers

• HIV destroys so many of these cells, that the body can’t fight off infections and diseases

• These opportunistic infections or cancers take advantage of a very weak immune system

• The presence of such infections is a signal that the person has AIDS which is the last stage of HIV infection

Causes of HIV

• HIV is found in semen, blood, breast milk/ chest milk, vaginal/internal genital fluid, and anal fluids
• Most people get HIV by having unprotected penetrative sex with someone who has HIV
• In rare cases, HIV passes during unprotected oral sex
• HIV passes when sharing drug equipment, such as syringes, HIV
• It can also be passed from a pregnant person to their baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding/ chest-feeding
• Medications can be taken to prevent the virus from passing to the baby
• HIV does not live for long outside the body
• HIV cannot be spread by casual contact such as kissing or sharing drinking glasses

Symptoms of HIV

• Some people may experience a flu-like illness within 2 to 4 weeks after infection (Stage 1 HIV infection)
• Some people may not feel sick during this stage
• Flu-like symptoms can include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, or mouth ulcers
• These symptoms can be short lived
• HIV infection may not show up on a HIV test during this stage, but people who have it are highly infectious and can spread the infection to others