Sexual Health

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common bacterial infection that is easily cured with medicine but can be dangerous if not treated.

Symptoms in the genitals may include:

• Abnormal discharge
• A burning feeling when peeing
• Pain and swelling in one or both testicles

You can also get chlamydia in your throat or anus. Symptoms may include:

• Sore throat
• Mouth sores
• Swollen tonsils or lymph nodes
• Pain, discharge or bleeding from the anus

Treatment: A medical provider will prescribe antibiotics. They may also give you prescriptions to give to sexual partners.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a common bacterial infection that is easily cured with medicine but can be dangerous if not treated.

Symptoms in the genitals may include:

• Abnormal discharge
• Painful or burning feeling when peeing
• Vaginal/front hole bleeding between periods
• Swelling or redness at the opening of the penis
• Swelling or pain in the testicles

You can also get gonorrhea in your throat or anus. Symptoms may include:

• Itchy or sore throat that doesn’t go away
• Pain, itching, soreness, discharge or bleeding from the anus or pain when you poop

Treatment: A medical provider will prescribe antibiotics. They may also give you prescriptions to give to sexual partners.

HIV & AIDS

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an infection that breaks down your immune system and can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Symptoms may include:

• Flu-like symptoms 2-4 weeks after infection for some people
• Otherwise, no symptoms in early stages

Treatment: There is no cure for HIV, but there are medications that can help you stay healthy and prevent you from spreading HIV to others. For almost everyone who starts taking their medication as prescribed, the amount of virus in the body will drop to an undetectable level in six months or less. This means they have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to their partner.

Prevention:

• Get tested frequently. If you test positive, get treatment!
• Talk to a healthcare provider and find out if pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medicine that reduces your chance of getting HIV, is a good option for you.
• If you may have been exposed to HIV, talk to a healthcare provider about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which can help prevent you from getting HIV after being exposed, as soon as possible.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is on the rise in Oregon. It’s easily cured with medicine but can be very dangerous if not treated. Syphilis infections happen in stages.

Primary syphilis is the first stage. Symptoms may include:

• One or more small, painless sores (chancres) where the bacteria entered your body, which is usually your genitals or anus and sometimes your lips or mouth.
• Swollen lymph nodes around the area where the bacteria entered the body (groin or neck)

Secondary syphilis is the second stage if primary syphilis is not treated. Symptoms may include:

• A red or brown rash, often on palms of hands and soles of feet
• Wart-like bumps on the genitals and areas where skin folds
• Hair loss, swollen lymph nodes and/or white or yellow patches in the mouth
• Fever, sore throat, muscle aches and/or headaches

Latent syphilis is the third stage and may not cause any signs or symptoms but can lead to serious health problems like vision or hearing loss, numbness and tingling in limbs, heart disease, memory loss, personality changes and dementia. If a person is pregnant, it can cause birth defects and death for the baby.

Treatment: A medical provider will prescribe antibiotics. More medicine is needed to treat someone who has had syphilis for more than a year.

Condoms and dental dams

When used correctly every time, condoms and dental dams (for oral sex) are very effective in preventing sexual transmission of HIV and reduce the risk for many other STIs. Always remember to use condom safe lubricant!

Testing

Getting regular testing and treatment, especially if you engage in higher risk sexual behaviors, will reduce the chance of getting and spreading STIs. Often, a person may have an STI and have no symptoms, so regular testing and getting treated right away will help stop the spread of STIs. 

Preventive medicine

Ask your healthcare provider if PrEP or DoxyPEP (a medication that helps prevent gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis infections) is right for you.

Communicate

Have an honest and open talk with a healthcare provider about ways you can reduce your risk.  It’s also important to speak openly with any sexual partner(s) about safer sex practices and about STIs.