Chlamydia

Genital Herpes

What is it?

Herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus [HSV]. There are two types of HSV, types 1 and 2. They can cause painful sores around the mouth which are called cold sores. They can also cause sores on the genitals. This in know as genital herpes.

How do you get it?

• You may get it by kissing someone who has a cold sore.
• You may get herpes in your genital area if you have oral sex with someone who has cold sores.
• You may also get herpes in your eyes, mouth and genitals by touching the sores.
• You can pass on the virus when you have sores on your mouth or genitals that are easy to see but you can also pass on the infection without have any sores.
• If you are pregnant, you can pass the virus on to your baby during pregnancy or when you give birth. Tell your doctor if you have herpes. He/she can give you medication to reduce the risk of your baby getting herpes while you are pregnant.

You may not know that you have herpes, but you can still pass it on.

How can you tell if you have it? 

A large number of people infected with herpes will not have symptoms and therefore you may not know you have it. If you have herpes symptoms you will most likely feel itching or tingling on your skin and then develop painful blisters that turn into sores. It will heal by itself. When you first have an outbreak of herpes, you may also feel like you have the flu and symptoms may last several weeks.

Can it keep coming back?

Yes, the first outbreak of herpes is usually the worst. You may get more than one outbreak. These are called recurrences and they tend to be milder than the first outbreak. 

The reinfection might appear again because you:

• are tired or under stress
• are ill
• have a fever
• got too much sun
• have your period
• are pregnant

If you have herpes, you have to rest, eat well and exercise.

How do you get tested?

A doctor or nurse checks your sores. They may also take a swab from your sores. In some places, the doctor may order a blood test to help in the diagnosis of herpes.

How is it treated?

It cannot be cured but it can be managed. There are medications that may help to prevent outbreaks or reduce the length of time that an outbreak lasts. The doctor may also prescribe a medication for pain if your outbreaks are severe.

What can you do if you have a herpes outbreak?

• Keep the area clean
• Wear cotton underwear
• Wear loose fitting clothes
• After urinating, wash your genital area with cool water
• If it hurts when you urinate, sit in a tub of warm water to urinate or pour warm water over the area while you are urinating
• Avoid "wiping" the area. Pat it dry to avoid spreading the infection.

How can you prevent passing on the virus?

If you feel a burning or tingling sensation but have no sores, do not have sex. This is a sign that you may be developing an outbreak and even without sores, you can pass on the virus.

• Do not perform oral sex when you have a cold sore.
• You should not have sex if you have an outbreak of genital herpes. Wait until the sores are completely healed.
• Remember, you can pass on the herpes virus even when you don't have sores.

Links:

www.publichealth.gc.ca/sti
www.sexualityandu.ca

Genital Warts

What is it?

HPV is short for Human Papillomavirus. It is the virus that can cause warts or lead to cancer. There are many different types of HPV which can infect different parts of the body. The different types can affect your body in different ways. You can have more than one type at a time. 

Genital warts may grow on your penis, scrotum and thighs or inside or outside the vagina or anus. HPV has been found to affect the cells of the cervix and potentially lead to cancer. It has also been found to contribute to other cancers, such as anal [both males and females], penile and vaginal. 

How do you get it?

You can get HPV if you have oral, vaginal or anal sex with a person who already has the virus. You can also get HPV from other sexual activity with skin to skin contact. Your partner may not have visible warts but can still spread the virus. A lot of sexually active people have HPV or will have it over their lifetime.

How can you tell if you have it?

You can pass on the virus without even knowing you have it. If you find warts on your genitals they may look like bumps which can be cauliflower like. Some warts are very hard to see. A doctor or nurse can do an exam to find them. 

HPV Vaccine
If you are a male between 9-26 years of age, or a female up to 45 years of age you can protect yourself against some types of HPV with a vaccine, Gardasil. It is given by a needle in three doses. Girls in grade 8 or of grade 8 age are offered publicly funded Gardasil in school clinics.

APH offers Gardasil at their immunization clinics, which are by appointment. Call 705 541 7085 or 1 866 402 1193.

The HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV. Even if you are vaccinated it is still possible that you will become infected with other types of HPV. It is still very important for you to continue to have regular PAP tests and use condoms for vaginal, anal and oral sex. 

How do you get tested?

A doctor or nurse can tell if you have genital warts by looking at them. Some types of HPV can cause changes to a female’s cervix. In some people these changes may lead to cancer of the cervix. A doctor or nurse can do a PAP test to check your cervix. They will gently take some cells from your cervix. If you are having sex, or have had sex previously, it is important to have a PAP test once a year or until you doctor determines that the time period between PAPs can increase. 

How is it treated?

Right now, there is no cure for HPV, but there are treatments for the things HPV causes – warts and changes in the cervix. Genital warts don’t have to be taken off. If you want the warts taken off there are different ways a doctor or nurse can do this: 

• Put a liquid directly on the warts - it has to be done many times before the warts go away
• Freeze the warts
• Burn the warts
• Remove the warts surgically
• Even if they are treated there is a chance they can come back

Websites:
http://www.hpvinfo.ca/
www.sexualityandu.ca

Gonorrhea

What is it? 

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by bacteria. Gonorrhea can cause serious health problems. It has to be treated. Gonorrhea can infect the penis, rectum, throat, eyes or cervix. The cervix is the opening to the uterus. The rectum is the lower part of your intestines.

How do you get it? 

You can get gonorrhea if you have unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with a person who already has the infection. If you are pregnant you can pass it on to your baby when you are giving birth.

How can you tell if you have it? 

You may have gonorrhea and not have any signs or symptoms. You can pass it on without even knowing that you have it. 
If you have gonorrhea and you do have symptoms, you might notice: 

Female:

• a change or an increase in discharge from you vagina
• a little bit of bleeding even when it is not time for your period
• bleeding during or after you have vaginal sex
• pain in your lower abdomen
• pain when you urinate

Male:

• a burning feeling when you urinate
• a thick greenish-yellow discharge coming out of your penis
• burning or itching around the hole of your penis
• pain in your testicles

How do you get tested? 

If you are female, a doctor or nurse will check for infection by taking a swab of the cervix [the opening to the uterus] or they may ask you for a urine sample. If you are male, the doctor or nurse will ask you for a urine sample or they may swab the urethra [the opening of the penis]. \

How is it treated? 

It can be cured with antibiotics. You should tell you sexual partner[s] that you have gonorrhea. They need to get treated too. A lot of people who have gonorrhea also have the STI called chlamydia. You and your partner[s] may need to be treated for chlamydia too. 

You and your partner should not have sex until you have completed treatment and have been told that the infection is gone. Even if you are treated for this infection, you can get it back if you have sex with someone who is infected or has not been treated. 

Websites:
www.publichealth.gc.ca/sti
www.sexualityandu.ca

Hepatitis C

The hepatitis C (HCV) is one of several viruses that can cause hepatitis, a serious inflammation of the liver. Complications of hepatitis include chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and liver failure. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989, before then it was known as Non A - Non B Hepatitis. Since 1994, all blood donations have been screened for Hepatitis C.

For more information check out the Hepatitis C fact sheet.

One quarter of people living with HIV in Canada are unaware that they have HIV.

What is it HIV?

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. 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.

How does HIV get passed from one person to another?

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

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

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

The two main ways that HIV can get passed between you and someone else are:

• through unprotected sex (anal or vaginal sex without a condom)
• by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs (including steroids)

HIV can also be passed:

• by sharing needles or ink to get a tattoo
• by sharing needles or jewellery to get a body piercing
• by sharing acupuncture needles
• to a fetus or baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding

How is HIV diagnosed:

The HIV test is a simple blood test. The test is available free of charge at our sexual health clinic

Anonymous Testing

In anonymous testing, the name or identity of the person being tested is not requested, recorded or reported. The test is ordered using a code known only to the person being tested.

Point of Care HIV Testing

Point of care testing is done by pricking your finger and testing your blood while you wait. If you test negative - that is, the point of care test says you are not infected - you receive your results immediately. If you test reactive - that is, the result of the point of care test is not certain - the clinic will take a blood sample and send it to the public health laboratory for standard testing. It can take up to two weeks to get the final results, and you will have to return to the clinic to get your results.

Standard HIV Testing

Standard HIV testing is done by taking a blood sample and sending it to the public health laboratory. It can take up to two weeks to get the results, and you have to return to your healthcare provider or clinic to receive the results.

How Can I Access Testing?

Point of care, Standard and Anonymous HIV testing is available at our Sexual Health Clinic, for information call our Sexual Health Info Line at: 705-541-7100 or 1-800-726-0398.

HIV cannot be passed by:

• talking, shaking hands, working or eating with someone who has HIV
• hugs or kisses
• coughs or sneezes
• swimming pools
• toilet seats or water fountains
• bed sheets or towels
• forks, spoons, cups or food
• insects or animals

Anyone can be infected with HIV. You can have HIV without knowing it. You may not look or feel sick for years, but you can still pass the virus on to other people.

Without HIV treatment, your immune system can become too weak to fight off serious illnesses. HIV can also damage other parts of your body. Eventually, you can become sick with life-threatening infections. This is the most serious stage of HIV infection, called AIDS.

There is no cure for HIV, but there is treatment. With proper care and treatment, most people with HIV can avoid getting AIDS and can stay healthy for a long time.

How can you prevent getting HIV?

• Practice safe sex
• Never share injection drug equipment
• If you are getting a tattoo, make sure that it is done by a professional who follows proper infection control precautions
• Talk to your partner(s) about their STI status

Syphilis

What is it? 

Syphilis is an infection caused by bacteria which are most often sexually transmitted. It can cause serious health problems. It has to be treated.

How do you get it? 

You can get syphilis if you have unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with a person who already has the infection. Syphilis causes painless sores on the genitals or they can be hidden in the mouth, vagina or rectum. It can also cause a rash anywhere on the body. The infection is spread through contact with the sores or rashes. If you are pregnant and have syphilis, you can pass on the infection to you baby before it is born or during birth, sometimes causing birth defects or death.

How can you tell if you have it? 

In most cases the first symptom is a sore that doesn’t hurt. It is called a chancre. You may not notice this sore. The sore goes away even if it is not treated but you still have the infection. 

Later you may get a body rash and feel like you have the flu. These symptoms will also go away even if they are not treated. 

If you don’t treat the syphilis, you may get very sick. Untreated syphilis can lead to damage to the heart, the brain and other organs of the body and may even cause death.

How do you get tested? 

You can get a special blood test.

How is it treated? 

You should be treated for syphilis as soon as you find out that you have it. Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics, usually penicillin. You will need to get penicillin injections. It is important to finish your treatment. If you are allergic to penicillin you will be given another antibiotic. You should tell you sexual partner[s] that you have syphilis and they need to be tested and treated too. 

Once you have been treated for syphilis, you will need to go for blood tests to make sure that the medication worked and that you are cured of the infection. Your doctor or nurse will provide you with advice on how often you need to be tested and when you are no longer able to pass on the infection.

Websites:
www.publichealth.gc.ca/sti
www.sexualityandu.ca