Women and STIs
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is an infection that is passed from person to person through sexual contact, either through infected body fluids or direct contact. Anyone who is sexually active may be at risk of STIs.
What are the common signs and symptoms of STIs?
In many women, STIs may not show any sign or symptom, but the infection is present and needs to be treated. However, symptoms may include:
• Change in vaginal discharge i.e. Becoming thicker, yellowish/greenish, blood stained, strong odour
• Vaginal / Vulval itching, swelling or redness
• Vaginal / Vulval pain, including during sex
• Pain when passing urine
• Broken skin or painful / painless ulcers at genital areas
• Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen
• Irregular periods or bleeding in between periods
• General unwell, skin rashes, swollen neck or arm pit glands, jaundice
If you have one or more of the above symptoms, and is sexually active or feel you’ve been exposed to an STI, please seek medical attention.
What are the common STIs?
- Gonorrhoea
- Chlamydia
- Trichomoniasis
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis B
- HIV
Other vaginal infections:
- Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) causes a thin, smelly discharge, occasionally with slight itching in the vagina and vulva. If untreated, there is a slight risk of pelvic infection and problems during pregnancy. It is treated with oral antibiotics.
- Vaginal Candidiasis (Thrush) causes vaginal itching, redness and swelling with thick yellow-white discharge. It is caused by a fungal infection and can be treated using anti-fungal medications.