What is an STI?

Did you know that STIs are on the rise here in WA? "What's an STI?" you might ask. It's a Sexually Transmitted Infection like Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, and Syphilis. They're really common, especially among young people having sex. STIs can be easily contracted if you're having sex without a condom. You can get STIs from oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, and even intimate skin-to-skin contact. "So, can they make you sick?" Some people may notice symptoms like discharge or pus, rash, itch, sores and lumps, and pain when peeing or during sex, or pain in the lower belly or testicles. But you can also have an STI and not even know it. They're serious because they can prevent you from being able to have a baby if they're not treated. If you are pregnant, they can harm your baby. So it's important that you go to the clinic for a check-up as soon as you know you're pregnant or if you're trying to have a baby. Without treatment, some STIs can affect other parts of the body, such as your heart and brain in years to come. More people are getting STIs, so we need to do more to stop STIs from harming us, our families, and our community. "How do we do that?" To stop them from spreading, you always need to use a condom and only use water-based lube. Never use Vaseline or petroleum-based lube. You can get them from the clinic, the chemist, or a supermarket. You should get tested regularly and get treated if you have an STI. And tell your recent sexual partners if you have an STI. If that sounds too hard to do, a nurse, doctor, or Aboriginal health worker can confidentially talk to your recent sexual partners without telling them your name. "Sounds a bit shameful." It doesn't need to be. You two need to talk about using condoms or having an STI. It's an important part of having a healthy relationship. There's no shame in looking after each other and keeping our community healthy and free of STIs. "How do I know if I have an STI?" You don't unless you get tested. Not all STIs have symptoms. It only takes having sex once without protection to get an STI, so get tested regularly if you're having sex. If you have a new partner, you should both get tested. If you're pregnant or thinking about it, it's really important to get tested before as well as early and throughout pregnancy to protect your baby. You can get a quick and easy test at your GP, local health clinic, Aboriginal medical service, or sexual health clinic. They'll tell you what test you need. You might be asked to pee in a cup, have a swab, or a blood test. It's pretty easy and usually, it's free. "What if I have an STI?" Most STIs are easy to treat with medication. The most important thing is to let all your recent sexual partners know. You can tell them or a health worker can do it for you. Or they can tell you other ways you can let them know. And they should get tested and treated too. It's about taking care of you and our whole community, and there's no shame in that. So what we need to do is use condoms and lube, get tested, get treated, and start talking. You got it right. And if you want to know more, talk to your local health worker. You can also check out some of these websites or call the sexual health helpline.