Sexually transmitted infections

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infectious disease which is passed from one person to another through intimate sexual contact. There are over 25 different types of STI's and 16 of them are common in the UK. It is estimated that one in ten sexually active teenagers has a STI. They can be passed from female to male, male to female, male to male, female to female; through vaginal sexual intercourse and other intimate sexual contact, e.g. oral sex, anal sex, mutual masturbation.  Many people with STI's do not have symptoms. Someone who has been treated may not tell you they have been infected and you may not be able to tell if someone is infected just by looking at them. The more sexual partners a person has, the greater the risk of contracting a STI. Some STI's can have long term complications such as infertility and cancer.   Prevention is better than cure. You will be at no risk if you do not have sex or only have sex with one mutually faithful uninfected partner for life who only ever has had sex with you.  Condoms are the only popular method of birth control used by young people which offer some protection against STI's.  However it is important to remember that condoms make sex safer, they do not make sex safe.  For example, genital warts are passed on by skin-to-skin contact around the pubic region and condoms offer little protection against transmission of HPV, the virus causing warts. Condoms may not be used correctly or may split. Up to three-quarters of unplanned pregnancies result from contraceptive failure, mainly condoms. If you or your sexual partner have one or all of the following: a discharge         irregular periods/staining pain on passing urine lower abdominal pain an ulcer or wart on your genital skin pain during intercourse, or ... ... you may have no symptoms at all but have recently become sexually active or changed your sexual partner, then you may have a sexually transmitted infection and you should either see your GP or contact the local NHS sexual health clinic and make an appointment. It’s called the GUM clinic which stands for Genito-Urinary Medicine.