Health Services
Student Life
Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are common around the world including Australia, passed on from one person to another by sexual contact. Some are relatively harmless and easily treatable/ curable, whilst others are serious, incurable and may cause long-term and chronic complications. Anyone who has unprotected sexual contact can contract an STI, they do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual preference, race, colour or social class.
Sexually transmissible infections include gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes or warts, scabies, pubic lice (crabs), chlamydia, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Detailed Victorian statistical information is available from the Victorian Department of Human Services Better Health Channel
Not necessarily. There are a large number of STIs with many different signs/symptoms and some STIs (including chlamydia, hepatitis B and C, genital warts and herpes) show no signs or symptoms.
If present signs and symptoms can include:
An STI screen involves the taking of a medical and sexual history, examination and testing (urine, swabs, blood). STI screening also involves education and advice.
In some cases STI testing may comprise of urine testing only for males and females depending on a person's history and presenting symptoms. On average, an STI screen can be done 2-10 days after a 'risk' contact, although for some STIs a waiting time of approximately 3 months may be necessary (for example HIV testing).
Genital warts are a common STI, with over 150 types of wart virus (HPV) in existence. It is estimated that up to 2 in every 3 people carry HPV. Genital warts are often carried and passed on asymptomatically, and it is estimated that it can take anywhere between 3 weeks to 8 months or more for warts to appear after initial infection. Some types of HPV virus have been linked with an increased risk of cervical cancer in women.
Like genital herpes, the wart virus once contracted cannot be cured, only treated. Even with treatment the recurrence rate is up to 25%. HPV can cause outbreaks of visible or invisible warts (undetectable to the human eye). If present, the warts might occur as painless, small cauliflower like lumps on the genital or anal area and occasionally in the mouth, vagina and cervix. Otherwise the person usually feels well.
The wart virus is spread easily by any kind of sexual contact (including touching), via direct contact with a partner’s infected skin or mucous membrane, whether warts can be seen or not. There is no reliable diagnostic test for genital warts, however a pap test may pick up wart virus on the cervix.
Treatment does not eradicate the virus and recurrences can occur. Options for external genital warts include freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen which is well tolerated and safe, applying a chemical paint to the warts over a period of time or applying a specially prescribed cream. These treatments must be done with extreme care and depending on the type of treatment administered only by an appropriately qualified health professional.
Prevention is again far better than cure. Genital warts are easily passed on from one person to another due to their highly infectious nature. Condoms and dental dams are the only tool we have to decrease risk of spread, however they are not completely the answer as they only cover parts of the genital and anal area. It is also important for sexually active women to have two-yearly pap smears.
The National HPV vaccine campaign will commence for 18-26 year old women in July 2007, providing free vaccination against 4 strains of wart virus - 2 which cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers and 2 which cause 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts. For further details see latest health news.
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmissible infections in Australia, especially among young people (aged 20-29 years), infecting the neck of the womb (cervix) in women and the urethra (urinary tube) in men. It can also infect the throat and anus of males or females.
Chlamydia is of serious concern because it can remain undetected and if untreated, can be a major cause of long-term complications including pelvic inflammatory disease and associated decreased fertility .
Symptoms in women
Women often have no signs or symptoms. If symptoms are present, they may include:
Chlamydia is easily spread by unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who has chlamydia and can also be spread via oral sex. Diagnosis is via a swab (from the cervix or penis) or a simple urine test whilst treatment consists of a simple course of antibiotics. Partners should also be treated.
Hepatitis B is a common and potentially serious disease, which predominantly affects the liver. Hepatitis itself means inflammation of the liver and can be caused by a number of factors including viruses, medications and disease (such as glandular fever).
In Australia the incidence of hepatitis B has increased significantly with an estimated 150,000 plus people infected with the virus. The highest incidence of the virus (approximately 40%) occurs in the 20-24 age group. It is impossible to know if someone is infected with hepatitis B and often individuals themselves do not realise they are carrying the hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B is present in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, saliva and breast milk and is easily spread by activities such as unprotected sex, tattooing, body piercing, intravenous drug use and blood contact where skin is broken (for example during contact sport and/or in first aid situations). The virus is extremely virulent and contagious (it is thought that only 0.00004ml of blood is needed to pass the infection on), surviving outside the body for up to 7 days.
Hepatitis B may cause no symptoms. The person may be well and unaware they carry the virus. If symptoms do occur they may include fever, weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting and yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. These symptoms can range from mild to debilitating enough to require extensive time off work or study and possible hospitalisation for a period of time.
Complications of hepatitis B are of concern. Although most people recover from the illness and do not continue to carry the virus, up to 10% of adults and 90% of children become what is known as a 'chronic carrier'. This means the virus remains in the body and can be passed on for life, increasing the risk of liver complications, including scarring or cancer later in life.
There are some reasonably good treatment options but currently no cure for hepatitis B infection. The answer lies in prevention via hepatitis B vaccination and prevention strategies including protected sex and safe injecting practices. Hepatitis B vaccination is available from Deakin Health service on your campus.
1. |
Always use an unused condom. Buy reputable brands and check the expiry date before purchase and use of single condoms. Store condoms in a dry, cool place away from direct light and heat. |
2. |
Open the packet carefully, don’t use teeth or sharp nails. Do not test the condom first. |
3. |
Squeeze the tip of the condom to expel the air and roll the condom carefully down the shaft of the erect penis before any genital contact. |
4. |
Use additional water-based lubricant (small amount). |
5. |
After ejaculation the penis should be carefully withdrawn holding the base of the condom whilst the erection is still present. |
6. |
Dispose of the used condom thoughtfully and carefully. They block the sewerage system. Dispose of via a rubbish bin. |
