Chlamydia is one of the most commonly reported STIs in Algoma and the world.

It is caused by  bacteria and if left untreated can cause serious health problems such as infertility.

Chlamydia can be transmitted through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with a person who has an infection. It can also be passed on to a baby when giving birth.

Many people do not know they have chlamydia as they don’t experience any symptoms, which is why it is easily transmitted from person to person.  

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Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV. HSV type 1 causes sores around the mouth called “cold sores” and it can also cause sores on the genitals. HSV type 2 usually causes genital herpes.

Genital herpes is transmitted through unprotected oral, vaginal and/or anal sex with a partner who has the infection, whether the person has sores or not. It can also be spread to other parts of you or your partner’s body by touching the sores or fluids from the sores and then touching elsewhere. Herpes can also be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, causing lesions and possibly life-threatening infections in the baby. A herpes infection of the eye can cause scarring and even blindness.

Genital herpes cannot be cured but symptoms can be managed.

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Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can cause genital warts or lead to cancer. There are many different types of HPV which can infect different parts of the body and you can have more than one type of HPV at a time.  HPV can be transmitted by unprotected oral, vaginal and/or anal sex with a person who has the virus, as well as intimate skin-to-skin contact. In rare cases, HPV can be passed to an infant during delivery.

You or your partner(s) can still spread the virus even if you do not have any symptoms.

HPV cannot be cured, however, symptoms can be managed and resolve with treatment. Although the immune system will often clear the virus in a few years, HPV infections can reoccur in the future.

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Gonorrhea is also one of the most commonly reported STIs in Algoma and Canada.

It is caused by  bacteria and if left untreated can cause serious health problems such an infertility.

Gonorrhea is transmitted by having unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with a person who has an infection, or through mutual masturbation and sharing of sex toys. Gonorrhea can be passed on to a baby when giving birth.

Most people will have no early symptoms of gonorrhea. Symptoms/signs can take up to 2-7 days to appear after infection or longer.

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Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Some adults with hepatitis C will clear the virus on their own within six months, while others will have to take medication to treat it and to prevent progression of liver disease caused by hepatitis C. These individuals are still at risk of becoming re-infected in the future. Hepatitis C can lead to severe liver damage and cancer of the liver.

Hepatitis C is transmitted through contact with infected blood. It is most often spread through sharing contaminated drug-use equipment (e.g. needles, straws, pipes, cookers, etc.) to inject or snort drugs; tattooing, body piercing or acupuncture when unsterile equipment is used; unsterilized medical equipment; and, through blood or cutting rituals. It can also be spread by sharing personal care items like a razor, nail clippers or a toothbrush with a person who has the infection. Sexual transmission of hepatitis C is less common, but it can be transmitted sexually, especially when there is a chance that infected blood is present (such as during menstruation).

Many people who become infected with hepatitis C show no symptoms at the beginning, however, symptoms can develop years after infection. Treatment is complex, however, available to prevent progression of hepatitis C to liver disease.

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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection. It is caused by a virus that attacks and weakens a person’s immune system. The number of Canadians living with HIV infection continues to increase.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a collection of symptoms, signs, and characteristics that occur once a person’s immune system has been substantially weakened by HIV infection.

On average, it takes approximately 10 years to progress from initial HIV infection to AIDS.

Two main ways HIV is transmitted is by unprotected sex (anal, vaginal), by sharing or using non-sterile needles (drug use, getting a tattoo, body piercing, acupuncture needles), or sharing other equipment to inject drugs (including steroids).  It can also be passed to a fetus or baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

Only five bodily fluids can contain enough HIV to infect someone:

• blood
• semen (including pre-cum)
• rectal fluid
• vaginal fluid
• breast milk

HIV can only be passed on when the virus in one of these fluids gets into the bloodstream of another person—through broken skin or the opening of the penis or the wet linings of the body, such as the vagina, rectum, or foreskin.

Symptoms of acute HIV infection can include mild flu like symptoms. If untreated, AIDs can develop and result in severe health outcomes, such as severe uncommon infections, cancers, dementia, or death.

HIV treatment includes antiretroviral therapy. Although there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, there are some treatments that slow the progress of the disease and can help people live a healthy life with HIV.

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Although a less common STI in Canada, syphilis rates have been rising rapidly in Algoma. Syphilis is caused by bacteria and if left untreated can cause serious health problems such as damage to the heart, brain and other organs of the body, and in very rare cases, may even cause death. 

Syphilis is transmitted by having unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with a person who has an infection, or through mutual masturbation and sharing of sex toys. The infection is also spread through direct contact with syphilitic sores or rashes. If you are pregnant and have syphilis that remains untreated or insufficiently treated, you can pass on the infection to your baby during birth, sometimes causing congenital syphilis, birth defects, developmental delays, or unfortunately, fetal death.

There are four stages of syphilis, that can present with different symptoms. Some people may not experience any symptoms, while others may experience many. Even when symptoms go away, the person can still be infected and infectious to others. At its early stage (primary syphilis), syphilis causes painless sores on the genitals, anus, or throat/mouth.

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