STIs
Sexually transmissible infections
A STI is a sexually transmissible infection that you can get from any form of sexual activity, including vaginal, anal and oral sex, sharing sex toys, or close sexual contact.
Many STIs have no symptoms. Some STIs appear to go away on their own but stay active in the body and can be passed between sexual partners.
Types of STIs
These websites have more information on some common STIs:
- Chlamydia (Stop the Rise website)
- Gonorrhoea (Stop the Rise website)
- Syphilis (Stop the Rise website)
- Herpes (Stop the Rise website)
- Genital warts/HPV (Stop the Rise website)
- HIV (Stop the Rise website)
- Hepatitis C (Queensland Health)
- Hepatitis B (Queensland Health)
- Bacterial Vaginosis (healthdirect)
- Thrush (healthdirect)
FAQs
Not necessarily as many STIs have no symptoms. Some STIs appear to go away on their own but stay active in the body and can be passed between sexual partners.
Some STIs can be treated and will go away, while other STIs and blood-borne viruses cannot be cured (but there are effective treatment options available to help with symptoms). Using condoms with water-based lubricant can reduce the risk of getting some STIs, though STIs that spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes, genital warts and syphilis can still be passed despite using protection.
Using a condom is the only method of contraception that helps to protect against both STIs and pregnancy. They are available free at our service and other community-based organisations (such as Queensland Positive People & Queensland AIDS Council), and can also be purchased at supermarkets, chemists, servos.
Some infections can take 1 – 2 weeks to show in a test, while others may take up to 3 months. This is called the window period and if you have no symptoms, it is recommended you wait to test after these periods. Please contact the service if you have questions around window periods.
Contact tracing is essential as it helps reduces transmission, prevents re-infection and allows for early treatment. You can tell your partner(s) that they are a STI contact in person, over the phone, by text message or anonymously. For more complex situations please speak to our service for advice and support.
If you don’t have any signs of an STI, it is recommended that you have a sexual health check every 3 months. These can be at our service, another sexual health clinic, community testing services or a GP.
There are vaccines available for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and HPV (genital warts). You may have had some vaccinations as a child or in school. You can check your health record to find out.