The Basics of STIs


What are sexually transmitted infections? (STIs)

STI stands for “sexually transmitted infections”. They are also called STDs or “sexually transmitted diseases”. You'll hear both terms but we use the term STIs because that's what Health Canada has started to do.


Types of Sexually Transmitted Infections

 

 

 

 

How do you get an STI?


STIs always come from another person. They live in semen, vaginal fluids, blood, breast milk and pre-come, and also sometimes on the skin. They need certain conditions - warm, dark, moist areas of the body - to survive and can’t live away from the human body.

STIs cannot be caught through casual social contact such as shaking hands, sharing eating utensils or using public washrooms. People get STIs from having unprotected sexual contact with other people such as sex without a condom.

They can also come from injection drug use, and contact with open sores. It is important to know that sexual contact includes unprotected oral sex (mouth-on-penis or vagina) and anal sex (penis-in-anus). People can catch some infections from kissing or touching an infected area or by sharing a sex toy with an infected partner.


How do I know if I have an STI?

Every STI can exist in the body without showing any symptoms. That's why the only way to know for sure if you have something and what it might be is to get tested. If you have an STI, your body may begin developing signs or symptoms of the infection, or it may not.

Some symptoms seem to go away on their own but they are not really gone. They remain in your body and can do more damage if they are not treated. Many STIs are completely curable with medicated lotions or antibiotics. Different STIs produce different possible symptoms (check out the links to information about each STI for details). If you are concerned about possibly having an STI here are some common warning signs to watch for:

• A discharge of fluid from your penis or vagina that is different from what you normally have, i.e. a different colour or funny smell;
• Burning pain when you pee;
• Itching and/or burning in and around the genital area;
• Sores or warts on or around the genitals;
• Pain in the lower abdomen for females and pain in the testicles for males.
• The most common symptom is no symptoms at all!

If you have had unprotected sex, or you think there's a risk you may have been infected, get tested. If it's possible it's a good idea to get tested before having sex with a new partner, and to ask them to get tested too. Making testing a regular part of caring for yourself.

It is important to know that while some people get symptoms from an STI, others don’t. Many people who have STIs do not develop any symptoms at all but they can still pass along the infection to their partner.





What is involved in STI testing?

There is not one test that will screen for all STIs. Some STIs are hard to test for if you do not have any symptoms. Most STIs can be detected through blood work, urine tests, saliva tests or by visual examination. Other STIs can only be detected by taking a sample of body fluid from the penis, vagina, rectum or an open sore around your genitals. When you go for testing, it is important to talk with the doctor or nurse about which STIs you are at risk for to determine which tests you should get. Doctors will not routinely give you STI tests unless you ask; it is not part of a regular check up even when you get a pap smear.


Where can I get an STI test?

You can request an STI test from your family doctor, a family planning or sexual health clinic, an STI clinic or at a walk-in clinic.

Here is a list of places you can go for free and confidential STI testing. If you are a teenager, none of these places will tell your parents. You don’t need your Alberta Health Care Card and you can even use a fake name (but make sure you remember what name you are using):

Alberta Health Services
The STD Clinic
Calgary Phone: 403-955-6700
TOLL free, 24 hour STD/AIDS Info Line: 1-800-772-2437
Location: Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, 5th Floor, 1214 – 4th Street SW
Hours: Monday through Wednesday – 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday – 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday – 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed on statutory holidays and holiday weekends.

Calgary Health Region- Family Planning Clinics



Family doctors accepting new patients
The following have lists of doctors in the Calgary area who are accepting new patients.

Calgary Health Region
Health Link, Find a Doctor
Calgary Phone: 403- 943-LINK (5465) or Toll-Free 1-866-408-LINK (5465)

Calgary Health Region Physician Directory
A list of physicians in the Calgary Health Region that allows you to search by specialty, location, languages spoken, privileges, etc.

College of Physicians and Surgeons
Find a Physician: CPSA Medical Directory
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-561-3899


How do I tell my partner(s)?

If you test positive for any STI, it is really important that you let any and all of your sexual partners know. Some STIs, like chlamydia, rarely show symptoms so your partner may have it and not know to seek help. Many STIs are easily cured but can do long-term damage if left untreated.


It is a drag to have to tell someone you care about that you may have given them an STI but it is a lot worse if they find out you knew and never said anything.

• Be honest with your partner.
• Be upfront about what the testing and treatment involves.
• Be supportive (you might even want to go with your partner when she or he gets tested)

How can I prevent a STI?

The best way to prevent getting STIs is to abstain or choose not to have sex.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• How do I feel about having sex?
• What are my beliefs about sex?
• Is this person the right partner for me
• How will this change our relationship?

If you have had sex before it doesn’t mean you have to continue having sex. You can decide that abstinence is for you at any time in your life.

If you choose to be intimate with a partner but still want to reduce your risks of getting STIs, you can also participate in risk free or low risk activities such as kissing, hugging, body massage and masturbation.

Once again, here are some questions for you to consider:

• Where do I like to be touched and what areas are off limits?
• Am I comfortable taking my clothes off? Some of them or all of them?
• How do I feel about oral sex (using your mouth on your partner’s genitals or visa versa)
• What will I do if my partner wants me to do something I don’t want to do?

It is your right to say “no” and your right to say “yes” to any sexual activity. It can be pretty tough to make these decisions in the heat of the moment so think about what you are comfortable with ahead of time and even practise what you will say to your partner. Even better, have a conversation with your partner about it. If the idea of talking about STIs and your sexual boundaries is WAY too much, then maybe you’re not ready for sex.

Also, avoid getting involved sexually if you are drunk or on drugs – your head may be ‘fuzzy’ and you might do things you normally wouldn’t do. You don’t want to wake up the next day with a hangover and some nasty STIs.

Another way to reduce the risks of STIs is to use condoms. Condoms are really the best defence against STIs and unplanned pregnancy. If you use condoms properly and every time you have sex, you will minimize your risks of getting most STIs. That being said, condoms cannot provide complete protection because some STIs may can be transmitted from areas of the genitals that are not covered by condoms.



        

Condoms don’t have to put an end to the fun; in fact, they can be part of it. Here are some tips to make condoms a part of your life:

• Keep them handy and close by. Carry them in your purse, briefcase, backpack or shirt pocket. Keep them in a drawer beside your bed, a cool box or basket beside the couch or anywhere else you are likely to have sex.
• Use condoms in your foreplay. Ask your partner to put it on for you.

Tip: Some people delay getting sexually involved until both people have been tested and know they are free from STIs, and have made the commitment to be with only each other (monogamous). If your partner won’t practise safer sex, then you have to say “no” and mean it. You are worth it.