What are STIs?
An STI is a sexually transmitted infection. You can get infected during sex without noticing anything at all. Do you have an STI? Then you could pass it on to someone else. Many STIs are easy to treat. But remember this: you need to do something about it quickly!
What kind of infection?
Most STIs are caused by bacteria or a virus. But some are caused by tiny bugs called parasites.
Bacterial STIs
These STIs are caused by bacteria:
Parasites
These STIs are caused by a parasite:
Symptoms
If you have an STI, you may experience symptoms like these:
- Discharge or pus from the vagina, penis or anus (more than usual). The discharge may be watery, milky, yellowish or greenish and may smell different.
- A burning sensation, irritation or pain during or after having a pee. Or often needing to pass small amounts of urine.
- Sores, warts or blisters on the penis, vagina, anus or mouth.
- Itching in the pubic hair, or on the labia, anus or head of the penis.
- Swollen glands in the groin.
- Pain in one or both testicles or the epididymis at the back of the testicle.
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Pain during sex, or irregular or abnormal blood loss after sex or between 2 periods.
If you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have an STI. The symptom may be caused by something else.
Want to know more about STI testing?
Do you want to know how an STI test is done?
Make an appointment!
Do you have symptoms, or do you think you have an STI? Don’t ignore it! Make an appointment with your doctor.
No need for condoms because you trust each other?
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common STI among young people. What is chlamydia? What are the symptoms? How can chlamydia be treated? Read it here on Sense!
Genital warts
Genital warts grow in, on or around your genitals and your anus. What are the symptoms? And how are genital warts treated? Read it here on Sense!
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is like a cold sore but is found around the penis, vagina or anus. What are symptoms for genital herpes? And how is it treated? Read it here!
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhea, also know as the 'the drip' or ’the clap,’ is caused by bacteria. How do you tell you have it? And how is it treated? Read it here on Sense!
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious inflammation of the liver. What symptoms do you have with this STI? And how is hepatitis B treated? Read it here on Sense!
Syphilis
Syphilis is a less common but more serious STI caused by bacteria. What are the symptoms and treatment for syphilis? Read it here on Sense.info!
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
Bacterial vaginosis is caused by bacteria. What kind of symptoms do you get with bacterial vaginosis? And what about treatment? Read it here!
Thrush/candidiasis
Candidiasis, or thrush, is not an STI but a yeast infection. How do you get thrush? What are the symptoms? What can you do about it? Read it on Sense.info!
Scabies
Scabies is caused by the itch-mite. What is scabies exactly? What are the symptoms? And what should you do if you have scabies? Read it here!
Pubic lice
Pubic lice, or 'crabs', are annoying, but harmless. What kind of symptoms do crabs cause and what can you do about it? Read it here on Sense!
Trichomoniasis
A trichomoniasis infection is a less serious STI. How do you get infected? What are the symptoms? And how do you get rid of them? Read it on Sense.info!
HIV
What's the difference between HIV and AIDS? What are the risks of having sex? What are the symptoms? And how is it treated? Read the facts about HIV.