Sexually Transmitted Infections At a Glance and in Detail

All the information about STIs that maybe you were afraid to ask.

This page is a reference guide, but it does not replace a visit to the Sexual Health Clinic. I've tried to make it easy to use. First of all there's a table of the common STIs (Also known as STDs, and even, years ago as Venereal Diseases, or VD).

What you should do with this page is to print it off. It's a reference guide. There are lots of tables, and scrolling through it on the screen is a pain.

It isn't a total guide. By which I mean that this page is intended for men. Gay men. Women's symptoms aren't covered. Nor is vaginal sex. However, when considering penetrative sex, for the purposes of this page a man may contract broadly the same ailments from vaginal penetration or cunnilingus (oral sex) as from penetrating his male (or female) partner's anus, or analingus (rimming), and may infect his female partner in the same way as he can infect his male partner.

The first table also acts as in index to the tables lower in the page. So if you click on the item in the "possible infection" column, you'll get to the detailed table on that infection.

Chart of Symptoms

Where? What? Possible Infection
Throat Sore Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia
No Symptoms Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia
Penis Pus Gonorrhoea, NSU, Chlamydia
Itch Gonorrhoea, NSU, Chlamydia
Ulcer Herpes
Skin tag Genital Warts
Testicles/Scrotum Pain Gonorrhoea, NSU, Chlamydia
Itch Pubic Lice
Anus No Symptoms Gonorrhoea
Itch Gonorrhoea, Pubic Lice, (Note, also simple intestinal worm infestation)
Pus Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia
Pain Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Herpes
Skin tag Genital Warts
Other STI Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HIV, Syphilis

Chlamydia

Affects
  • Penis
  • Throat
  • Anus
Common Symptoms
  • Often none, or slow to develop
  • Pain or stinging on peeing
  • Discharge from penis or anus
  • Inflamed or painful anus
Description
  • Caused by a bacteria
Transmission
  • Usually passed by penetrative or oral sex
Treatment
  • Total success with correct antibiotics
  • Requires at least 2 visits to the clinic
Complications if left untreated
  • Ball pain
  • Can spread to the eyes
  • Increases risk of HIV transmission
Prevention
  • Condoms reduce the risk
  • Promptly inform partner(s) of possible infection
  • Have regular checkups

Genital Warts (also known as Warts, HPV)

Affects
  • Penis
  • Testicles/ scrotum
  • Anus
Common Symptoms
  • White or tiny cauliflower shaped lumps on the skin Itchy inside anus (Itching outside is more likely to be the result of a worm infestation)
Description
  • Caused by the human papiloma virus (HPV)
  • Very common and can reoccur
Transmission
  • Highly infectious, easily passed by close body contact
Treatment
  • Easily treated, but may require several visits to the clinic
Complications if left untreated
  • Highly infectious (your partner will become infected)
  • Will spread
Prevention
  • Condoms reduce the risk

Gonorrhoea (Clap, Drip)

Affects
  • Penis
  • Throat
  • Anus
Common Symptoms
  • Often no obvious symptoms
  • Sore Throat
  • Pain on defecation (shitting) or peeing
  • Yellowish discharge from penis or anus
  • Inflamed or painful anus
Description
  • Caused by a bacteria
Transmission
  • Usually passed by penetrative or oral sex
Treatment
  • Total success with correct antibiotics
  • Requires at least 2 visits to the clinic
Complications if left untreated
  • Can spread to the prostate and the testicles
  • Increases the risk of HIV transmission
Prevention
  • Condoms reduce the risk
  • Promptly inform partner(s) of possible infection
  • Have regular checkups

Hepatitis A (Infectious Hepatitis)

Affects
  • Liver
Common symptoms
  • Nausea and Tiredness
  • Yellow skin and eyes
  • Pale excrement, dark urine
Description
  • Caused by a virus (antibiotics do not work on a virus) Leaves you tired and unable to eat fatty food or drink alcohol for several months
Transmission
  • Poor hygiene
  • Intimate sexual contact
Treatment
  • NONE
  • Usually requires 2 to 3 months for full recovery
Complications
  • Can be fatal in rare cases
Prevention
  • Vaccination is the only reliable way of preventing infection
  • Promptly inform your partner

Hepatitis B (Viral Hepatitis)

Affects
  • Liver
Common Symptoms
  • Nausea and Tiredness
  • Yellow skin and eyes
  • Pale excrement, dark urine
Description
  • Caused by a virus (antibiotics do not work on a virus)
  • A serious disease of the liver
  • Leaves you tired and unable to eat fatty food or drink alcohol for several months
Transmission
  • Penetrative oral or anal sex
  • Needle Sharing
Treatment
  • Hospitalisation Requires months for recovery
Complications
  • Chronic ("long term") infection can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and cancer of the liver
Prevention
  • Vaccination is the only reliable way of preventing infection
  • Condoms reduce risk of infection
  • Promptly inform your partner

Herpes (Cold sores, HSV1, HSV2)

Affects
  • Penis
  • Mouth
  • Anus
  • Testicles/ Scrotum
Common Symptoms
  • Clusters of small painful blisters which eventually turn into scabs
  • Pain on defecation or peeing
  • Often no symptoms
Description
  • Caused by herpes simplex viruses
  • A common infectious disease
  • Highly infectious during outbreaks
  • First outbreak usually the most severe
Transmission
  • Passed on by penetrative oral and anal sex
Treatment
  • Cannot be cured
  • Antiviral drugs speed up healing and reduce discomfort
Complications if left untreated
  • Medical advice is needed if the outbreak is severe or they are frequent
Prevention
  • Condoms reduce risk of infection
  • Promptly inform your partner

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Affects
  • Immune System
Common Symptoms
  • Usually no obvious symptoms at time of infection
  • May cause a flu like illness soon after infection
  • Opportunistic infections appear years later
Description
  • HIV is the virus which either causes AIDS or allows AIDS to invade the body
  • AIDS may develop quite soon, or may take many years to develop. So far 30 years is the longest proven (or assumed) development period
Transmission
  • Primarily passed on by penetrative sex
  • Needle sharing
  • Body fluids form an infected person entering your bloodstream
  • HIV infective agents may be absorbed through the rectal wall without any damage to the tissues. The rectal wall is specialised tissue and allows many things to pass through. This is by design.
Treatment
  • There is no cure. Combination drug treatments are improving the health and longevity of many people with the HIV infection
Complications if left untreated
  • Faster progression to AIDS related illnesses
Prevention
  • Condoms are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV
  • Have regular checkups

NSU (Non Specific Urethritis)

Affects
  • Penis
Common Symptoms
  • Sometimes no obvious symptoms
  • Discharge from penis
  • Pain when peeing
  • Desire to pee more often
  • Inflammation round genital area
Description
  • Usually caused by a bacteria
  • A common infectious disease
Transmission
  • Penetrative oral or anal sex
Treatment
  • Successfully treated with correct antibiotics
  • Requires at least 2 visits to the clinic
Complications if left untreated
  • May lead to inflammation of the testicles and be extremely painful during sex
  • Increases risk of HIV transmission
Prevention
  • Condoms reduce the risk
  • Promptly inform partner(s) of possible infection
  • Have regular checkups

Public Lice and Scabies (Crabs)

Affects
  • Pubic Hair
  • Anus
  • Anal cleavage
  • Skin
Common Symptoms
  • Itching in genital and anal areas (pubic lice)
  • Red and itchy skin (Scabies)
Description
  • Small crab like mites visible in pubic region (pubic lice)
Transmission
  • Close bodily contact
Treatment
  • Special lotions plus laundering of clothes and bedding
Complications if left untreated
  • Can be very irritating
  • Easily passed on
Prevention
  • Avoid close contact with people who show signs of infestation

Syphilis (VD, Pox)

Affects
  • Penis
  • Mouth
  • Anus
Common Symptoms
  • Often no obvious symptoms
  • Painless sore in region of contact which eventually heals
Description
  • A highly infectious disease
  • Appears to go away if left untreated after initial infection - lulls you into a false sense of security
  • Usually diagnosed by a blood test
Treatment
  • Successfully treated by correct antibiotics in the early stages - Act early
  • May require repeated clinic visits
Complications if left untreated
  • Causes serious illness or death if not treated correctly in the early stages - Act early
  • Increases risk of HIV transmission
Prevention
  • Condoms reduce the risk
  • Promptly inform partner(s) of possible infection
  • Have regular checkups