SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIS)

Chlamydia

• Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or rectum

Gonorrhoea

• Unusual green or yellow discharge from the vagina
• Unusual green, yellow or white discharge from the tip of the penis

Trichomoniasis

• A frothy, yellow-green and/or fishy smelling vaginal discharge
• Thin, white discharge from the penis

Urethritis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one

• A white or cloudy discharge from the tip of the penis

Thrush (candidiasis)

This is not an STI but can be caused by one

• A vaginal discharge that has no smell but is either thick and white (a bit like cottage cheese) or thin and watery
• A cottage cheese-like discharge under the foreskin that may smell

Vaginitis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one.

• Unusual discharge

Chlamydia

• Burning and itching in the genital area in men

Genital herpes

• Stinging, tingling or itching in the genital or anal area

Trichomoniasis

• Itching, swelling and soreness of the penis in men
• Vaginal itching (as well as swelling and soreness
• Itching (together with swelling and soreness) of the penis
• Itchy inner thighs in women

Pubic lice (‘crabs’)

• Itching, irritation or inflammation in the affected areas (you may also be able to see the lice and their eggs)

Thrush (candidiasis)

This is not an STI but can be caused by one.

• Itching and soreness around the vagina entrance
• Stinging when you wee
• If the penis becomes sore, itchy and inflamed

Vaginitis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one.

• Irritation or itching of the vagina

Chlamydia

• Painful swelling of testicles

Gonorrhoea

• Painful swelling of testicles (this is rare)
• Painful swelling of the foreskin

Trichomoniasis

• Swelling and soreness of the penis

Urethritis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one.

• The tip of the penis feeling irritated or sore

Trichomoniasis

• Vaginal itching, swelling and soreness

Chlamydia

• Pain when weeing

Gonorrhoea

• A burning feeling when weeing

Trichomoniasis

• Pain while weeing (and having sex) in women
• Pain while weeing (and during ejaculation) in men
• Needing to wee more often in men

Cystitis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one

• A desperate and frequent need to wee but only passing small amounts
• Pain, burning or stinging when you wee
• Wee that is dark, cloudy or smelly or traces of blood when you wee

Vaginitis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one

• Pain when you wee

Urethritis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one.

• Pain, burning or stinging when weeing in men
• A frequent need to wee in men

Chlamydia

• This could be caused by chlamydia

Vaginitis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one.

• Light bleeding or spotting

Contraception

• Irregular bleeding pattern may also be due to contraception

Gonorrhoea

• Pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen

Chlamydia

• Pelvic and lower abdominal pain

Trichomoniasis

• Lower abdominal(tummy) pain in women

Cystitis

This is not an STI but can be caused by one.

• Pain directly above your pubic area, lower back or abdomen

Other reasons
Pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen could also be for other reasons such as ectopic pregnancy or ovulation

Chlamydia

• Abdominal pain in women during vaginal sex
• Bleeding during or after sex

Trichomoniasis

• Pain during sex (and while weeing) in women
• Pain during ejaculation (and while weeing) in men

Vaginitis

This is not an STI.

• Pain for women during sex

Vaginitis

This is not an STI.

• A strong, unpleasant smell from the vagina after sex can be a sign of vaginitis

Genital herpes

• Small fluid-filled blisters in the genital or anal area, buttocks or tops of the thighs which burst to leave small, red painful sores

Syphilis

• A small painless sore on the vagina, penis or anus could be the first stage of syphilis

Other reasons

• Blisters or sores could also be molluscum

Pubic lice (‘crabs’)

• Black powder in your underwear could be pubic lice (the powder is the droppings from the lice)

Pubic lice (‘crabs’)

• Brown eggs on pubic or other body hair could be pubic lice

Pubic lice (‘crabs’)

• Sky-blue spots or very tiny specks of blood on the skin could be pubic lice and is caused by lice bites

You’d be naive to fall into the trap of thinking “I don’t have any symptoms so I must be fine”. STIs don’t work like that unfortunately. Some people won’t ever experience any symptoms, and yet they’re still infected. For others, symptoms can take months to appear. For example:

Chlamydia

• 75% of women with chlamydia and 50% of men don’t have any obvious signs or symptoms

Gonorrhoea

• 10% of men and 50% of women with gonorrhoea experience no signs or symptoms

Genital herpes

• Many people may not get any visible signs or symptoms

HIV

• Around 80% of people with HIV will experience a short, two week illness soon after getting the virus but this could be confused with flu

Syphilis

• At first, the symptoms of syphilis are usually mild which may lead to some people ignoring them

Pubic lice (‘crabs’)

• Can take a few weeks to appear. Some people may not have any symptoms or notice them

Trichomoniasis

• 50% of men and women with trichomoniasis will not experience any symptoms

Genital warts

• Most people don’t have any visible symptoms and it can be months or even years before genital warts appear