Download COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

STIs CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE!
The STD clinic at Public Health offers free, confidential testing
for STIs, treatment of STIs, counselling and HIV testing.
If You Choose To Have Sex, Make It Safer:
• When starting a new relationship, get tested with your partner for STIs
and HIV.
• Get tested if either you or your partner has sex with someone else.
• Use latex condoms or dental dams for all sexual activity.
• Avoid mixing alcohol or drugs with sexual activities. Drinking and sex
are as dangerous as drinking and driving.
• If you have had sex without a condom, get checked at the STD clinic or
your doctor’s office.
• DO NOT share needles.
GUIDELINES FOR STI TREATMENT
• If you think you have an STI or if you think your partner does, see a
doctor or go to the clinic right away.
• Follow the doctor’s instructions carefully. If a medication is ordered,
take ALL of it at the times prescribed.
Sexual Health Program
Sexual Health Clinic (Waterloo)
Region of Waterloo Public Health
99 Regina Street South, 2nd Floor
Waterloo, ON
Phone: 519-883-2267
Hours of Service
Monday - Friday
8:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Sexual Health Clinic (Cambridge)
Region of Waterloo Public Health
150 Main Street, 1st Floor
Cambridge, ON
Phone: 519-740-5781
Hours of Service
Monday - Friday
8:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Call to make an
appointment
Call to make an
appointment
AIDS/STD Program
STD Clinic (Waterloo)
Region of Waterloo Public Health
99 Regina Street South, 2nd Floor
Waterloo, ON
Phone: 519-883-2251
Hours of Service
Monday and Thursdays
2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
STD Clinic (Cambridge)
Region of Waterloo Public Health
150 Main Street, 1st Floor
Cambridge, ON
Phone: 519-883-2251
Hours of Service
Tuesdays
3 - 5 p.m.
Drop in clinic
Drop in clinic
• If you can not afford a medication, most can be received free by calling
the STD clinic.
• Don’t have sexual intercourse until seven days after you and your
partner have finished the medication.
• Inform your sexual partner(s) if you have an STI so they can be treated.
Nurses at Region of Waterloo Public Health’s STD Clinic can do this
for you, anonymously.
All clinical and counselling services are free and
confidential. No health card is required to receive
services.
www.region.waterloo.on.ca/ph
SEXUAL HEALTH
COMMON
SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED
INFECTIONS
(STIs)
Chlamydia
Syphilis
Genital Warts
Gonorrhea
Herpes
Hepatitis B
HIV/AIDS
ALL STI’S LISTED GREATLY INCREASE YOUR RISK OF GETTING OR TRANSMITTING HIV. BE TESTED FOR HIV IF YOU HAVE ANY STI.
INFECTION
CHLAMYDIA
FIRST SYMPTOMS
1-3 weeks
(NGU, NSU)
USUAL SYMPTOMS
Most women (80%) and about
half of men (50%) will not have
symptoms.
TRANSMISSIONS
DIAGNOSIS
TREATMENT
Passed through unprotected oral,
anal or vaginal sex.
Swab, culture or
urine.
Curable with antibiotics.
Women: If untreated, can lead to Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease (PID) - which can
cause sterility; pain during intercourse or
unusual bleeding.
Passed through unprotected oral,
anal or vaginal sex.
Swab, culture or
urine.
Curable with antibiotics.
Women: PID and sterility.
Men: Urethral narrowing, erection
problems, and sterility.
Babies: Serious eye infection, arthritis,
pneumonia.
Blood test.
Curable with antibiotics
if at an early stage.
Women and Men: Brain damage, paralysis,
heart disease, death.
Babies: Eye damage, dental and bone
deformities, blindness, brain damage or
death.
When symptoms occur:
White, yellow or clear discharge from
the penis or vagina, discomfort or
burning when urinating.
GONORRHEA
2-7 days
Most women (80%) do not have
symptoms. Most men (75-80%)
will have symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they may
include: white or yellow discharge
from your penis, vagina or anus, pain
or burning while urinating. Infections
in throat usually do not have symptoms.
SYPHILIS
HERPES
1st stage
(primary)
3 weeks (10-90 days)
1st stage – Painless blister or sore
(chancre) on penis, anus, vagina, or
mouth.
2nd stage
(secondary)
3 months to 2 years
2nd stage – patchy rash on
hands/feet, hair loss, sore throat,
fever, headaches.
4 days to 3 weeks
Many will not have symptoms.
(Herpes Simplex)
Can return throughout
life
When symptoms do occur, they may
include: clusters of blisters/ pimples
on genital area, swelling and itching,
pain while urinating, swollen glands,
and fever.
COMPLICATIONS
Can also be passed to an infant at
birth if mother is infected.
Direct contact with infectious sores,
rashes, mucous patch or blood.
Late stage complications
cannot be reversed.
Usually through direct contact with
blisters or open sores, but can also
be spread when no sores are
present.
Culture taken when
sores are present.
No cure. Anti-viral
medications may reduce
pain and duration of
sores. Medications may
also be taken to prevent
outbreaks.
Women and Men: Blisters often come back
and are triggered by stress, sunlight, other
illnesses, and drug/alcohol use. Infection
may increase risk for getting another STIs.
Babies: The virus can cause life-threatening
infections.
Can also be passed to an infant at
birth if mother is infected.
From as soon as 3 weeks
up to years
An HPV infection, alone, has no
symptoms. But when HPV leads to
genital warts, these look like flat or
rough, raised bumps on genitals, anus,
vagina, throat, or cervix. They may be
itchy or irritated and may be in clusters.
This infection that causes genital
warts, HPV, can be passed through
skin to skin contact involving the
penis, scrotum, vagina, vulva, or
anus, as well as the oral cavity.
Visual exam.
Genital warts are treated
with a medical solution
applied to warts or through
medication. Multiple
treatments are often
necessary and recurrence
is common.
Women and Men: The immune system will
eventually get rid of genital warts. Other
types of HPV (not associated with genital
warts) are linked to cervical, anal, vaginal,
vulvar, penile, oral, and laryngeal cancers.
HEPATITIS B
6 weeks to 6 months
Many will not have symptoms.
When they occur, symptoms may
include: yellowing of the skin/eyes,
fever, swollen glands, fatigue, weakness,
grey stool, dark urine, tenderness in
liver area.
Contact with blood or body fluids (sexual
intercourse), sharing needles, razors,
toothbrushes, etc. of an infected person.
A pregnant woman can pass the virus
to her child. Prevent Hepatitis B by
getting vaccinated.
Blood test.
No cure. Get lots of rest,
eat healthy food, and
avoid alcohol.
Women and Men: Most recover in 4-6 months
with immunity for life. 1-2% die quickly from
fatal liver damage. 10% become carriers;
infectious for life. Long term liver damage
may include scarring, cirrhosis & cancer.
HIV
From less than 1 year
to 8 – 11 years
Many will not have symptoms. When
they occur, symptoms can include
brief flu/viral-like symptoms, fatigue,
swollen glands, night sweats, fever,
weight loss, persistent cough, diarrhea.
Sexual contact with infected blood,
semen, vaginal secretions; sharing
needles.
Blood test.
Note: HIV may not
show up on a test for
14 weeks or longer
after exposure to HIV.
No cure. Healthy lifestyle
of rest, nutrition and
support. Early treatment
with antiviral drugs or
combinations to stabilize
condition.
Women and Men: AIDS is a life-threatening
illness that leads to brain infections, memory
loss, wasting, cancers and rare pneumonia.
Pregnant woman: diagnosed with HIV,
treatment will be started at 4 months.
Newborns will be treated at birth and will be
followed closely.
GENITAL WARTS
Caused by HPV
(Human Papilloma Virus)
(Human
Immunodeficiency Virus)
Mother to infant during pregnancy,
delivery or breastfeeding.