It’s funny, but we tend to think “It will never happen to me, those things only happen to other people”, until it does, indeed, happen to you. I’m talking about STIs or Sexually Transmitted Infections, and they are a lot more common than we think. Many people who carry STIs don’t even know it, they don’t show any obvious symptoms themselves, but they can pass them on to their sexual partners. For example, it was reported that one in twenty-five Australians between the ages of 15 to 29 were infected with chlamydia in the year 2021, but only one-third of them had been previously tested- and that’s just one of the possible diseases out there!
Even if you don’t think you have contracted an STI, but have had a risky or unprotected sexual encounter, you should get tested right away! Concerned healthcare providers want to help you, just stop into the sexual health clinic in Adelaide for confidential sexual health testing, saving yourself and your potential sex partners a lot of grief, and potentially serious physical harm!
So, we know why STIs happen, a person meets person, resulting in an attraction which leads to an intimate encounter, and we know how STIs happen, one or more parties don’t engage in precautions making the sex unsafe, so let’s focus now on what happens, to better inform us of the dangers and possible warning signs. The following are the most common sexually transmitted infections, beware!
Chlamydia – The good news is it’s curable (IF you get tested and treated!), the bad news is it’s the most common STI out there and it infects males and females equally! Watch out for white, yellow, or green (eww) discharge from the penis or vagina, and it does not feel good. Condoms can easily prevent this one, so pull one on fellas!
Gonorrhoea – also known as “The Clap”, it’s another very common STI. If you are infected you can look forward to a painful burning sensation when you urinate, and white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis or vagina, just like it’s pal Chlamydia! The bad news (there is no good news on this one) is that it has evolved to be antibiotic resistant, so drugs might not kill it, and you are stuck with it! Prevent, prevent, prevent!
Syphilis – Yes, this STI has been with us throughout human history, and it’s still making people’s lives miserable today! Infected people develop syphilis sores on the outside and inside of male and female sexual organs, as well as in the mouth and the rectum. They can be very painful but are known to go into remission and become hard to detect. The answer is, get tested!
So, are you scared yet? We only had time today for three of the many STIs afflicting people, but if that’s not enough for you, check this government site for more unpleasant info! STIs can be prevented, get tested today, and don’t let it happen to you!