STIs and Safer Sex Practices

Any type of sexual contact or activity involves some risk. STIs can negatively affect your sexual and reproductive health. They are often spread by people who don’t even realize they have an STI. Safer sex practices can reduce your risk. Getting tested is an important way to protect your health and your partner’s health.

Learn more about the most commonly known STIs.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a serious bacterial infection that is spread through sexual contact and can be passed to a newborn during delivery. Chlamydia can also spread to reproductive organs causing serious complications. To learn more, see Chlamydia.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is an infection that can cause a discharge from the penis or vagina and a burning sensation during urination. Antibiotics are used to treat gonorrhea. To learn more, see Gonorrhea.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can cause sores near the genitals, in the mouth, or the rectum. Pregnant women can pass the infection to their unborn children and, if left untreated, can cause complications during and after birth. To learn more, see Syphilis.

Genital Herpes

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is an infection that results in one or more blisters around the genitals, rectum or mouth. While treatable, there is no cure and the risk to a baby is higher if the mother has an outbreak at the time of delivery. To learn more, see Herpes.

HPV

Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV) is the most common STI with over 100 different strains. While most are not harmful, HPV can cause genital warts and even certain types of cancer. A vaccine is now available for both men and women. To learn more, see HPV.

Trichomoniasis

Also known as Trich, this STI is caused by a parasite, most commonly found in the vagina in women and the urethra in men. Mothers with Trich often have babies early (preterm) at a low birth weight. To learn more, see Trichomoniasis.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by a virus that can be deadly. Hepatitis B can be passed on during childbirth. There is also a low risk of spread if breastfeeding with cracked or bleeding nipples. To learn more, see Hepatitis B.

HIV

HIV can spread through unprotected sex or through the sharing of infected needles. HIV weakens your ability to fend off infections and diseases and can lead to AIDS. To learn more, see HIV.

What is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)?

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection that’s passed on by sexual contact. This includes vaginal, anal or oral sex or intimate skin-to-skin contact without penetration.

For more info on STIs click here.

Abstinence (no intimate sexual activity) is the only behaviour that’s 100% risk free. You might be at risk if you’re having sex with multiple partners, you have a new sexual partner or your partner(s) have other sexual partners.

Using condoms, having fewer sexual partners, and knowing your partners’ sexual health history helps reduce your risk of getting an STI.

Some STIs (e.g., HPV) can increase a person’s risk of getting certain types of cancers. Having one STI can increase your risk of getting another, including HIV.

Regular testing is important. Click here for more information.

If you’re at risk, it’s a good idea to be tested every 3-6 months for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

STIs can have a negative effect on your health and fertility. Even if there are no symptoms, STIs can be passed on to partners. It’s important to talk to your partners, practice safer sex (e.g., use condoms) and get tested regularly so infections can be treated early.

If you have an STI, all partners must be tested and treated.

What are the most commonly known STIs?

There are many types of STIs; some are more common than others. Any time you have sexual contact with another person, you could be exposing yourself to an STI.

The following list outlines the most common STIs.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is caused by bacteria. While most people don’t have symptoms, it can cause symptoms such as pain when you urinate (pee), pain during sex or anal discharge. Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. To learn more, see Chlamydia.

Genital herpes

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It may cause blisters in the genitals, rectum or mouth. Because it’s caused by a virus, genital herpes can’t be cured. There is medicine that can help control it so that the outbreaks aren’t as serious or as often. To learn more, see Herpes.

Genital warts or genital human papillomavirus (HPV)

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It causes skin growths on or around the genitals or anus. The symptoms can vary greatly. Some people have only a few warts or other people have many warts. The warts may also continue to grow and spread or go away on their own. They often come back after treatment. You can help prevent HPV by getting immunized. To learn more, see HPV.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria. While most people don’t have symptoms, it can cause discharge from the penis, vagina, or anus or pain during sex or in the lower abdomen. Gonorrhea can also infect the throat, anus, pelvic organs and eyes. If not treated, gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), testicle infections and infertility. Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. To learn more, see Gonorrhea.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that causes liver infection that can be passed on through sexual contact, sharing needles or contact with blood. Some people with hepatitis B have no symptoms, while others may be very tired, have a mild fever or muscle aches. While most people recover, some develop chronic infections. It can lead to serious liver disease, liver cancer and death. You can prevent hepatitis B by getting immunized. To learn more, see Hepatitis B.

Syphilis

Syphilis is caused by bacteria. If the person is going to have symptoms, the average time between infection and symptoms is 21 days. Early symptoms may include painless sores in the genitals, mouth and rectum or a painless rash on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or the whole body. If syphilis isn’t treated early, it can lead to serious health problems like blindness, or problems with the nervous system or the heart. Syphilis is treated with antibiotics. To learn more, see Syphilis.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis (also called “trich”) is caused by a parasite. Not everyone has symptoms. The symptoms can include pain when urinating (peeing), discharge from the penis or vagina, itching in the penis or vagina and pain during sex. Trichomoniasis is treated with antibiotics. To learn more, see Trichomoniasis.

HIV

HIV is caused by a virus. HIV can be passed on through sexual contact, sharing needles or contact with body fluids. HIV attacks the immune system (the body’s defence system against illness and infection). Without a strong immune system, the body can’t fight infection or disease. If it’s not treated, someone with HIV can develop acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). While there’s no cure, treatments are getting better and people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives. To learn more, see HIV.

If I think I might have symptoms of an STI, what should I do?

If you think you may have an STI, talk to your health care provider.

Make sure to avoid all sexual contact until you’ve been tested and treated.

Treatment

When you’re being treated for an STI, it’s important to follow your health care provider’s advice. For bacterial infections, have no sexual contact with anyone while you’re being treated, and for 7 days after you finish the treatment. Even if you’ve been treated for an STI before, you can still get the same infection again. If you have an STI that’s caused by a virus, talk to your health care provider about ways to help prevent spreading the infection.

To learn about STI testing, see When Should I Get Tested?

How could an STI affect my sexual and reproductive health?

Some STIs don’t have any symptoms or their symptoms go away. Regular testing finds infections early and helps prevent them from being passed to partners. Treating infections early can prevent serious harm to your reproductive health.

STIs can cause serious infections of the uterus, fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the egg to the uterus), urethra and prostate.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one example of an infection from an STI. PID may create scar tissue in the fallopian tubes that could cause infertility and other sexual and reproductive health concerns.

STIs can damage the tissue in the tubes that carry the sperm from the testicles (vas deferens). If sperm can’t flow through this tube, the semen might not have enough sperm in it. Fewer sperm mean it is less likely one will reach the egg, and your partner is less likely to get pregnant.

What is safer sex? How can I practice safer sex?

Any type of sexual contact or activity involves some risk. These risks could be physical, social, or emotional. Some sexual practices can reduce your risks; these are safer sex practices.

Practicing safer sex can reduce the chance of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or having an unplanned pregnancy.

To make sexual activity as safe as possible, plan ahead by:

getting and giving consent for every sexual activity
using condoms and dental dams (a thin square of latex that can be used to prevent the spread of STIs during oral sex) correctly to prevent pregnancy, STIs and HIV
getting tested and treated for STIs and HIV
talking to your partner about their past sexual relationships and their history of STI testing and treatment
reducing the chance of getting an STI by limiting your sexual partners

To learn more about how to talk to a sexual partner about having an STI, see Talking to Your Partners.

What is consent?

Consent means agreeing to sexual activity. This agreement is voluntary and can be done in words or actions.

Consent isn’t based on past sexual experience with your partner or not saying anything. Most people have heard “no means no”. Saying no always means consent isn’t being given.

However, there are other ways to make it clear that sexual activity isn’t wanted.

Getting Consent

The only way to know for sure that your partner is giving consent is to ask. Consider these questions:

Do you want to?
Are you happy with this?
Do you want to stop?

Also think about non-verbal behaviour. Your partner may turn away, their muscles may tense up, or they might cross their arms over their body. If you get some of these non-verbal cues, stop what you’re doing and talk to your partner.

Giving Consent

There are many ways to let your partner know that you’re giving consent. Consent can be given by words or actions. You have the right to change your mind about sexual activity and consent. Even once you’ve started, you can stop sexual activity.

How can drugs or alcohol affect safer sex practices?

It’s important to think about activities that can increase sexual risk. Using drugs and alcohol can lead to unsafe sexual decisions because:

drugs and alcohol make you less inhibited, which affects decision-making
people who have sex while using alcohol or drugs are less likely to use condoms
people may forget to use their birth control method or not use it correctly (e.g., forget to take their birth control pill)

Where can I get help?

For more information:

talk to your health care provider
visit the AHS Sexual and Reproductive Health page to learn about local resources and supports
call Health Link at 811

To learn how to lower your risk of STIs, see Minimize Your Risk on sexgerms.com.

Download the

Reproductive Life Plan

STIs and Safer Sex Practices

Learn more about the most commonly known STIs.

Chlamydia

Genital herpes

Genital warts or genital human papillomavirus (HPV)

Gonorrhea

Hepatitis B

Syphilis

Trichomoniasis

HIV

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