The most common STIs
Do you want to have sex but don’t want to deal with a nasty STI afterwards? You should know that a condom is the only thing that protects you against STIs.
what is a STI
STI stands for sexual transmitted infection and according to Sense, each year around 100,000 people in the Netherlands contract an STI. You can contract it by doing any type of sexual activity, so whether you had some rough penetrative sex or gave your partner oral, you should be careful all the same. You contract most STIs without noticing. Have you been tipped off that you have an STI? Be careful: you can easily pass an STI on to someone else.
Get tested
Are you rather safe than sorry? Then the best thing to do is get yourself tested for an STI every once in a while. You can get yourself tested (for free) at the STI outpatient clinic of the GGD (public health service), although the waiting list can be rather long. At the GGD, both the visit to the outpatient clinic and the test are covered by government subsidies. But, please note: to get a free test you have to meet one of the following requirements:
you’re younger than 25.
you have been tipped off you have an STI.
you’re a sex worker.
you’re a man that has sex with other men.
you’re from a country where there are many STI cases. This is mainly in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Russia and parts of South and Central America. Or you had sex with someone from one of these countries.
“81% of the women who get the diagnosis chlamydia is younger than 25”
Is the idea of going to the GDD making you feel uncomfortable or do you not meet any requirements? That’s not a problem, you can also pay a visit to your GP. The only downside of going to your GP is that the tests aren’t free. The visit itself is covered by basic health insurance but the costs of the STI test goes from your deductible. This is because the GP sends the test to the lab, and they ask money to handle your test. The cost of the STI test depends on the number of STIs you're getting tested for. If you only get tested for chlamydia it will cost you around 40 euros. But if you’re getting a joint test for gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV the cost may vary between 110 and 200 euros.
You can also order a home test online, these cost around 30 euros to 100 euros. But be careful, you should do some proper research before ordering one because home tests are often unreliable, especially the ones which will give you the results immediately. Always use a test which collaborates with a laboratorium. Also keep in mind that your GP might not accept the results of a home test when you want to get an IUD. Check with your GP which home test results they do and don’t accept before ordering one.
Different types of STIs
There are two kinds of STIs, namely bacterial STIs and viral STIs. Both kinds can be treated very well if you catch it in time.
Bacterial STIs
chlamydia
By far the most common STI is chlamydia and it’s caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Of the 100,000 STI cases, no less than 60,000 of them are chlamydia. What’s more, 81% of women diagnosed with chlamydia are younger than 25. Yep, really. Luckily this STI is treatable, but it’s important you treat it early on.
What is it exactly?
Chlamydia is a bacteria that settles in the mucosa of the throat, nose or eyes, or in the mucosa of the genitals such as the vagina, penis and anus. This STI can cause an inflammation of the cervix, urethra and/or anus. If the inflammation is not treated (in time), it can move on to the fallopian tubes and abdominal cavity. An effective treatment with antibiotics can get rid of the inflammation in the fallopian tubes. But if the inflammation gets neglected, the fallopian tubes will get scarred and might even become blocked. Try to avoid this because it can cause an ectopic pregnancy or even make you infertile. If you contracted chlamydia, it’s possible - because in most cases patients don’t notice anything - that you’ll develop symptoms after one to three weeks. Women can experience excessive discharge in some cases, but another annoying symptom you might have to deal with is irritation when peeing. The infection can also spread to your anus without having had anal sex due to the short perineum space between your vagina and anus. When you have chlamydia in your anus, you might experience symptoms such as itchiness and pain when you poop.
symptoms in women (although usually there aren’t any)
abdominal pain.
pain during or after sex.
abnormal bleeding (between periods or after sex).
unusual discharge
Irritated anus and/or bloody poop or diarrhea.
Be careful! If you had sex with a penis owner and he has watery discharge from his urethra (especially in the morning) or a burning sensation when peeing, there’s a chance he’s infected with the chlamydia virus. That’s your sign to get tested, because chlamydia is transmissible in 50% of the cases. But we want to remind you that it doesn't mean you’ll automatically experience symptoms.
Two pills and you’re STI-free again
The treatment for this STI is a course of antibiotics that will be prescribed by the relevant doctor. This course consists of two pills, which you have to take at the same time. The STI should be gone after a week of taking the pills.
Be careful. Are you pregnant and do you have chlamydia or gonorrhea? Then there’s a chance you transfer this bacteria on to your baby. By choosing the right treatment during pregnancy, you ensure that your baby is not at risk of infection. Always consult a doctor in this case.
If you want to read more about Chlamydia and read a personal story, click here.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea, sometimes also referred to as ‘the clap’ or ‘the drip’, is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and, just like chlamydia, settles in the mucosa of the vagina, penis and anus. But the infection can also occur in the throat or eyes and is in that case caused by giving oral sex. Gonorrhea is an easily transmissible STI, but can also be easily treated if you catch it in time.
About 90% of penis owners who have gonorrhea experience symptoms, that’s why it’s also called ‘the drip’. The penis literally drips fluid. This percentage is much lower for women. Only 40% to 70% of all women experience symptoms of gonorrhea, but your vagina won’t start leaking. If you have contracted the STI in your throat or anus, then there’s only a 10% chance your body will let you know.
The most common symptoms of gonorrhea for women:
pain when peeing.
excessive discharge with an unpleasant odor and color (green or yellow pus).
In the case of an infection of the anus, the poop can be slimy, bloody or with pus.
This bacterial STI can be treated with an antibiotic pill or injection and you can go to your GP for both options. You should be cured of the STI after a week.
It’s also important to treat the bacteria if you contracted gonorrhea. If you don’t, there’s a risk that the STI spreads to the fallopian tubes. This can cause a fallopian tube infection that in turn can spread to the abdominal cavity, possibly resulting in infertility.
Syphilis
Syphilis is - especially compared to chlamydia and gonorrhea - an extremely rare STI for women and is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It causes infections in almost all organs, including the brain. This bacterial STI is easily treated with a high dose of antibiotics in injection form, but you have to start treatment in time.
You get infected with this bacteria when the mucosa of your mouth, anus, penis or vagina comes into contact with the sores or blisters of the person you had sex with that has syphilis. If you’re infected with HIV, you’re also more likely to get infected with the syphilis bacteria.
The symptoms of syphilis can be divided into different phases:
Phase 1: An ulcer develops around the anus, vagina, penis or mouth. After a while, the sore disappears, but the bacteria spreads through the blood.
Phase 2: You get a skin rash - often not itchy - on your torso, arms and legs or bumps appear around the penis or vagina. Syphilis patients also experience fever, muscle aches or hair loss. In a few cases there’s liver and kidney impairment or cranial nerve damage.
Phase 3: The symptoms disappear after a while. This can be tricky, because you could still walk around with this infection for years, with the risk of serious brain (neurosyphilis) or heart damage.
Syphilis also requires a high dose of antibiotics to fight off the bacteria. The antibiotics will always be injected.
Pregnant women with a syphilis bacteria can infect their baby during pregnancy or delivery and this can result in serious complications. For example, a birth defect, premature birth or - in the worst case - a stillborn child. That’s why pregnant women are tested for syphilis at the beginning of their pregnancy. If this concerns you, always consult a doctor!
Mycoplasma Genitalium
Mycoplasma genitalium is a still relatively unknown bacterial STI.
The most prevalent symptoms are:
pain during or after sex or when peeing.
abnormal bleeding (between periods or after sex).
unusual discharge.
In some cases the infection can cause inflammation of the urthera, cervix, cervical mucus and the fallopian tubes.
The treatment of the STI is a five day course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.
Do you want to know why you aren’t normally tested for this STI? Read this article where we tell you all about this STI.
Viral STIs:
Genital herpes
The STI genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of the virus. Type 1 is the cold sore (or fever blister), type 2 is herpes down there. Genital herpes starts with a blister that resembles a cold sore that appears around the penis, vagina, or anus. The blister dries up after a while and disappears. But that doesn't mean it’s gone. It will reappear when your resistance is low.
You contract the virus during sex, and that means both penetrative and oral sex. So receiving a blow job or letting someone with a cold sore go down on you isn’t the best idea. You often don’t realise you contracted herpes. You might still be infected even though you don’t have any sores or blisters. So, in turn, it’s also possible that the person who infected you doesn’t even know they’re infected themselves.
If you do have symptoms, you’ll most likely experience:
Watery discharge
Pain when peeing
painful, burning blisters filled with fluid
Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area
There’s no cure for the herpes simplex virus. That means that the virus is always present in the body. But luckily there is medication you can take to treat the symptoms. These drugs, valacyclovir or famciclovir, are available from pharmacies by prescription.
Genital warts
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This is a pesky, but harmless virus. The STI causes warts that resemble little cauliflower heads to appear on and around the anus, vagina or penis. You contract the STI - well, the word STI says it all - by having sex.
Usually the grey-white or red-pink warts are noticeable, but it may be that they grow deep inside the vagina or anus and you can’t see them.
The warts can cause the following symptoms, especially in women:
Pain during sex
Pain during pregnancy
Itching feeling around the vagina and/or anus
If you experience symptoms of your genital warts, you should get it treated. You can use ointments or liquids such as: Camellia Sinensis, Aldara Imiquimod or Wartiox, but when there are a lot of warts, it’s best to have them removed by a doctor. This is done under local anesthetics and the warts are then frozen and cut or burned away.
Want to know more about HPV? Click here and read more about it.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis b virus during sex. The hepatitis B virus is found in blood, semen, pre-cum and vaginal fluid. In 90% of patients the virus disappears on its own, but in 10% of the cases an infection can lead to a chronic infection. You’ll then be a ‘carrier’ of the virus for the rest of your life, this is also known as chronic hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B causes the following symptoms, which usually only start appearing a few months after infection:
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes and poop)
Fatigue
Stomach problems
Nausea
Joint pain
Lack of appetite
Having anal sex increases the risk of hepatitis B. It’s possible to get vaccinated against hepatitis B. It’s often not necessary to get treatment for Hepatitis B because in most cases your body heals itself. Patients who have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B are advised to take plenty of rest and to follow a diet without fat, alcohol or drugs. Are you a ‘carrier’? Then you can be treated for the virus at the hospital.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens our immune system. If you neglect and don’t treat an HIV infection, you run a serious risk of getting AIDS. When you have AIDS, your body is no longer able to fight off other diseases. The HIV infection can be properly treated, but the virus will remain in your body for the rest of your life.
HIV increases in a very short time
HIV can be found in semen, vaginal discharge, and blood. The virus can enter your body through the mucosa of the vagina, penis, anus or mouth, or through a wound on your skin. Did you get infected with HIV? It’s important to know that the virus in your body spreads and increases in a short period of time.
The symptoms you can experience with an HIV infection are:
A fever
Swollen lymph nodes
possible skin rash
fatigue
Note: not everyone experiences these symptoms. If you often have anal sex, it’s wise to have yourself checked HIV infection every so often. There’s still no medicine that can cure HIV, but HIV-inhibiting drugs that can suppress the virus are available. This medication ensures that you can no longer infect anyone and that the HIV infection won’t develop into AIDS.
Do you have an STI or do you think you might have an STI? Then you should always pay a visit to your GP or the GGD.
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