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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common and highly contagious. They spread predominantly by unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother-to-child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. There are several types of STIs, some have distinctive symptoms, but some are asymptomatic, meaning you may not know you have it unless you do a test.
How common are STIs?
STIs are very common, particularly among younger people, with over 1 million new cases daily worldwide.1 Most infections show no symptoms, meaning you can unknowingly have and transmit an STI if sexually active. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 20 million new cases of STIs are reported each year in the United States, with approximately 10 million occurring in individuals aged 15 to 24.2 Globally, there are an estimated 374 million new infections annually with 1 of the 4 curable STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.3
What causes STIs?
STIs develop when bacteria, viruses or parasites enter your body through sexual contact. These microorganisms are present in bodily fluids such as blood, urine, semen and saliva. STIs can be transmitted through various sexual activities, including vaginal, oral and anal sex. It's important to note that penetrative sex is not necessary to contract an STI. Certain STIs, such as herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV), can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, even without sexual penetration.
What are the symptoms?
When present, common symptoms of STIs include:
- an unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
- pain when peeing
- lumps or skin growths around the genitals or bottom (anus)
- a rash
- unusual vaginal bleeding
- itchy genitals or anus
- blisters and sores around your genitals or anus
- warts around your genitals or anus
- warts in your mouth or throat, but this is very rare
Testing for STIs
Some STIs can be tested for from the comfort of your own home using rapid diagnostic tests or at-home blood sampling, which can be easily sent off to a lab for analysis. For other conditions, you may need to seek advice from a healthcare professional. If you have concerns, you should always contact a healthcare professional for advice. If you are sexually active, it’s important to test regularly, especially if you have more than one partner.
What treatments are available?
Effective treatments are currently available for several types of STIs. Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and parasitic STIs like trichomoniasis can generally be cured with antibiotics.
Viral STIs, including HIV, HSV (herpes simplex virus), and HTLV-1 (human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1) cannot be cured but can be managed with antiviral medications or anti-cancer drugs (in the case of HTLV-1) to control the progression of the disease.
How to you protect yourself from STIs?
Condoms are highly effective in preventing the transmission of most STIs from an infected partner to another. Although they are not 100% guaranteed, when used correctly, condoms provide significant protection. When possible, it is recommended to use a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. If you're worried because you think you've got an STI, make sure to get a check-up as soon as you can. If you’d like to find out more, here’s a helpful guide.
