While working on my next story titled "A Second Chance", one of my characters got infected with an STI, since I knew little or nothing about Sexually transmitted infections, I decided to carry out some research online, it was then I discovered that almost all of us MIGHT have one STI without even knowing.

Chlamydia

1. What is it?
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted
infections (STIs), particularly
amongst teenagers and young adults. It's caused by bacteria
and is spread by having unprotected sex -- vaginal, anal,
or oral -- with someone who is
infected, even though they may not have any symptoms.

2. How do I know if I have it?
You can have Chlamydia for a
long time before symptoms
show up. In fact, many people never have symptoms. 70% of
women and 50% of men who have Chlamydia may not show symptoms. So even if you don't
have any symptoms, you might be spreading it to others during unprotected oral, vaginal or anal
sex.

The symptoms in women are:
Increased vaginal discharge.
Vaginal itching.
Bleeding between periods.
Bleeding during or after sex.
Pain in your lower abdomen.
Burning feeling when you pee.

The symptoms in men are:
A watery discharge coming from your penis.
Burning or itching around the tip your penis.
Needing to pee a lot.
Burning feeling when you pee.
Pain in your testicles.

3. How do I get it?
By having unprotected vaginal sex (penis in vagina), anal sex,
or MouthAction (mouth to penis or vagina) with a person who
already has it.
It can also be spread by transferring the infection from the genitals to your fingers to your eyes.
Remember, having unprotected sex with someone is risky
because they can have Chlamydia and not even know it.

4. How do I get tested?
The only way to know for sure if you or your partner has Chlamydia or any STI is to get
tested. You can get tested at a Peel Public Health Healthy
Sexuality Clinic (by appointment
only), your local walk-in clinic, or
your family doctor.
The test for women involves taking a swab from the cervix
(the opening of the uterus.) For
men, the doctor or nurse will take a swab of the opening of the penis (the urethra), or they
may take a urine sample.

5. How is it treated?
Chlamydia is treated using specific antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. You should not have
any sex, including MouthAction, until you have finished all of the
treatment and have had a follow-
up test (test of cure) to make sure the infection is gone.
Your sexual partners need to be advised and get tested and
treated for Chlamydia, whether or not they have symptoms.
If left untreated, Chlamydia is
one of the main causes of infertility in men and women.
This means you may not be able to have children in the
future. Untreated Chlamydia
can also lead to Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease (PID)
in women.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

1. What is it?
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is a very
common vaginal infection. Small
amounts of bacteria in the vagina grow more than normal
which results in a strange smelling vaginal discharge.
(NOTE: BV is not often found in men.)
BV is not harmful but some of the symptoms can cause you discomfort.

2. How do I know if I have it?

For women the symptoms are:
White or grayish discharge from your vagina, sometimes
in large amounts; the
discharge has a fishy smell, especially after you have sex.

Pain, burning or itching in the
vagina - these symptoms are
less common.

For men:
BV is not often found in men.

3. How do I get it?
BV causes normal levels of bacteria in the vagina to grow
more than usual. A change in normal levels of bacteria can be caused by:
Stress
Having frequent sex
Certain antibiotics
Some forms of birth control BV is more common in young
women who are sexually active.

4. How do I get tested for it?

The only way to know for sure if you have BV or any STI is to get
tested. You can get tested at a Peel Public Health Healthy
Sexuality Clinic (by appointment
only), your local walk-in clinic, or your family doctor. They'll test for BV by taking swabs from the
vagina. Again, men aren't usually tested for BV.

5. How is it treated?
BV is treated by prescription
drugs or a special vaginal cream.

6. How do I prevent it?
Douching is NOT the answer. In fact it may make BV worse by
washing away the 'good' bacteria in the vagina. Try to
avoid using deodorant tampons
or pads, perfumed soaps, bath
oils, or feminine hygiene sprays.
A good idea is to wear cotton
underwear during the day! It's also better if you don't sleep in
your underwear either.
It's really better for you to NOT
wear a thong. In fact, loose-
fitting pants will help you to avoid getting BV.
Make sure to change out of your wet bathing suit or sweaty
exercise clothes as soon as you can.

REMEMBER: Using condoms every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an STI and HIV/AIDS.
Mazi, please, stop licking and sucking pussy.

Genital Herpes

1. What is it?
Genital Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted
infections (STIs), affecting about
one in five adults.
There are two types of Genital Herpes:

Type 1 - generally causes sores on or near the mouth (cold
sores).

Type 2 - usually causes sores on the genitals.
Once infected, a person becomes a carrier for life. There
is no known cure.

2. How do I know if I have it?

Both men and women can have one or more of these symptoms,
all of which are highly infectious
(easily passed onto others):
Small fluid-filled blisters in the
genital area (vaginal lips, vagina, cervix, head/shaft/ foreskin of the penis, scrotum,
buttocks, anus or thighs).
These blisters burst and leave small sores that can be very
painful.
Itching or tingling sensation in
the genital or anal area.
Flu-like illness, backaches, headaches, swollen glands or
fever.
Sometimes, you might feel a tingling sensation in the genital or anal area before a herpes
outbreak. Remember, herpes can
still be spread to others even if
you're not showing any symptoms.
The first outbreak of herpes is usually the worst and takes 2-3
weeks to heal properly. After
that, the outbreaks are usually milder; the sores are fewer,
smaller, and less painful and they
heal more quickly than the first
outbreak.

3. How do I get it?
You can get herpes by direct contact with an infected person by:
Kissing (mouth to mouth).
Having unprotected sex (penis
in vagina or anus).
Having MouthAction (from mouth to penis or vagina) without
using a condom or barrier.

Note that condoms won't give total protection against Genital Herpes as the virus can be on
other parts of the genitals or on
the skin around the genitals which isn't protected by the
condom.

4. How do I get tested?
The only way to know for sure if you or your partner has Genital
Herpes or any STI is to get tested.
You can get tested at a Peel Public Health Healthy Sexuality
Clinic (by appointment only), or go to your local walk-in clinic or
family doctor.
Testing for Genital Herpes for both men and women involves:
An examination of the genital area.
A swab of the fluid from the sores - this test should be done with 48 hours after the sores appear.
Women will also have an internal pelvic examination.
Genital Herpes is not detected during a routine Pap test or STI
test, unless the sores are visible.

5. How is it treated?
There is no cure for herpes. You'll
get a prescription drug that will
help to:
Speed up the healing of the sores.
Reduce the number of
outbreaks.
Reduce the chance of
spreading it to others during and between outbreaks.
It's important that you and your partner take care of yourselves
during a herpes outbreak. The
blisters and sores are very infectious and the virus can be
passed onto others by direct contact.
To protect yourself and others
you should avoid:
Kissing when you or your partner have cold sores around the mouth.
Having MouthAction when you or your partner have mouth or
genital sores.
Having any genital or anal contact, even with a condom,
when you or your partner have genital sores.
Sharing bath or face towels.
Using saliva to wet contact lenses if you have sores
around your mouth.

bia yemi2plus, yu wan park ya motor for al d space ni?, abeg shift ur hommer make i park my kekemarwa,
reserved.

Gonorrhea

1. What is it?
Gonorrhea is a common sexually
transmitted infection (STI). It's often called 'the clap.' Gonorrhea
is caused by bacteria and is
spread by having unprotected
sex -- vaginal, anal, or oral -- with
someone who is infected, even
though they may not have any
symptoms.

2. How do I know if I have it?
You can have Gonorrhea but
show no symptoms. Even if you
have no symptoms, it can be
spread to others during oral,
vaginal or anal sex without either
partner knowing it. In fact, 50%
of women and men who have
Gonorrhea may not show
symptoms. Men are far more
likely to notice the symptoms
than women because for
women, the symptoms are often
so mild that they can be mistaken
for something else.

The symptoms for women are:
Increased or strange vaginal
discharge.
Pain or a burning sensation
when you pee.
Itchy, red, or swollen vagina.
Pain or bleeding when you
have sex.
Pain in your lower abdomen.
Bleeding between periods.
Rectal pain.

The symptoms for men are:
A thick, white or yellow
discharge from your penis.
Pain when you pee.
Needing to pee a lot.
Burning or itching around the
tip of your penis.
Painful or swollen testicles.
Rectal pain.

3. How do I get it?
You can get Gonorrhea by having
unprotected vaginal sex, anal sex,
and MouthAction with a person who
already has it. Having
unprotected sex with someone is
risky because they may have
Gonorrhea and not even know it.

4. How do I get tested?
If you are being tested for
gonorrhea, you may require a
swab of the vagina, urethra
(penis), rectum (bum) or throat
depending on the type of sex
you have had. A swab is a cotton-
tipped stick that is used to collect
a sample from your body. You
may also be tested for gonorrhea
using urine (pee).
Your health care provider will
help you determine the best tests
to have

5. How is it treated?
Some types of gonorrhea are
more difficult to treat than
others. The best treatment for
gonorrhea is given as an
injection (needle) AND pills.
If you do not take the injection,
the gonorrhea may not be
completely gone. You may still be
able to spread the infection to
your sex partners.

1. What is it?
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a
common sexually transmitted
infection (STI) and is usually
referred to as genital warts.
These warts may grow on the
penis, anus and inside or outside
of the vagina.
2. How do I know if I have it?
HPV infection is different for each
person. In fact, some people with
HPV don't know they have it
because they never get visible
warts.
The symptoms of HPV are the
same for both men and women.
The warts may look like small,
hard spots or like cauliflower-
shaped lumps on or near your
genitals. They are painless, but
are usually itchy.
3. How do I get it?
You can get HPV from direct skin-
to-skin contact during vaginal
sex, MouthAction and anal sex.
Using condoms every time you
have sex can help reduce the
spread of HPV. HOWEVER, a
condom doesn't prevent the
spread completely because it
doesn't cover all the areas of the
skin around the genitals that
might be infected.
4. How do I get tested?
A doctor or nurse will be able to
tell if you have genital warts
simply by looking at them. You
can get tested at a Peel Public
Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic (by
appointment only), or go to
your local walk-in clinic or family
doctor.
If left untreated, HPV can change
new growing cells into abnormal
or pre-cancerous cells in the
cervix. A simple Pap test can
detect the changes in the cervix.
It's important for women to have
regular Pap tests, especially if
you're having sex.
There is no screening for
cancerous changes in men
related to HPV.
5. How is it treated?
There is no cure for HPV. If your
Pap test indicates a change in
your cervix, you'll be sent to a
specialist for further testing and
treatment options.
If you have genital warts, doctors
have several methods for their
removal:
Specific medications are
applied directly on the warts
on a weekly basis.
Freeze the warts using a form
of dry ice or nitrogen.
Burn the warts using laser
treatment.
Have them surgically removed.
Once you know you have HPV,
you need to tell your partner so
that he or she can be checked
out.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

1. What is it?
Lymphogranuloma Venereum, or
LGV, is a sexually transmitted
infection (STI) caused by a
specific type of Chlamydia.
Chlamydia is an STI that is very
common and easily spread.
While LGV occurs throughout the
world, it's been quite rare in
Canada - until recently. Since the
start of 2004, more than 20
cases of LGV have been found in
Canada.
2. How do I know if I have it?
The symptoms of LGV are similar
in men and women. It starts with
a small, painless sore on the
penis, vagina or rectum. This
sore could appear anywhere
from 3 to 30 days after being
infected; it might go away on its
own.
Next, you might experience
swollen, painful lymph nodes in
the groin area that could drain or
bleed. You may even have a
blood or mucous discharge from
the anus. These symptoms
appear 2 to 6 weeks after you've
been infected.
Some people with the LGV
infection will have "flu-like"
symptoms like fever, chills,
tiredness, aches and pains.
3. How do I get it?
Anyone who has unprotected
sex (vaginal, anal or MouthAction) is at
risk for LGV. However, the major
risk factor is unprotected anal
sex or other anal penetration like
anal "fisting."
4. How do I get tested?
A specific test is required to
detect LGV. The only way to know
for sure if you or your partner
has LGV or any STI is to get
tested. You can get tested at a
Peel Public Health Healthy
Sexuality Clinic (by appointment
only), or go to your local walk-in
clinic or family doctor.
5. How is it treated?
LGV can be treated with specific
antibiotics.
If left untreated, LGV can spread
to the lymph nodes and cause
genital and/or anal ulceration or
scarring. In severe cases, LGV can
lead to death.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

1. What is it?
Pubic lice, also known as "Crabs,"
are a form of lice. They are flat-
backed, wingless, and greyish-
white or reddish-brown in
colour.
Crabs are usually found in the
pubic area where they attach to
the short, coarse pubic hair. They
may also be found in the
underarms, moustaches, beards,
eyebrows and eyelashes.
2. How do I know if I have it?
The most common sign in both
men and women is itching in the
genital area. You might find tiny
dark specks in your underwear,
bed sheets and on your skin.
These specks are in fact waste
material from the crab. You
might be able to see the lice, or
you could see tiny red spots
where they have bitten you.
Pubic lice looks like dandruff
flakes at the base of your pubic
hair, but those are actually crab
nits (eggs).
3. How do I get it?
You can get crabs when you
have sex with a person who has
crabs or by sharing bedding,
towels or clothing with a person
who has it.
4. How do I get tested?
A doctor or nurse will be able to
tell if you have pubic lice simply
by doing a visual check of your
genitals. You can get tested at a
Peel Public Health Healthy
Sexuality Clinic (by appointment
only), or go to your local walk-in
clinic or family doctor.
5. How is it treated?
Pubic lice are treated with a
special lotion that you can buy at
any pharmacy without a
prescription. You should speak to
the pharmacist so he or she can
help you decide which lotion is
best for you. If you're pregnant
or breastfeeding, talk to a
doctor or pharmacist before
starting any treatment.
You'll probably only need one
treatment. But if you continue to
have symptoms after your
treatment is finished, talk to your
doctor or pharmacist.
Your sexual partner(s) or anyone
who has shared your bed, towels
or clothing should be treated at
the same time.
While you're being treated for
pubic lice, you should:
Put on freshly washed, clean
clothing after the treatment
and again after showering the
lotion off.
Wash your clothing, bedding
and towels in hot water and
then place them in the dryer
on the hottest cycle for 20
minutes.
Dry-clean anything that can't
be washed, or pack them
loosely in a sealed plastic bag
for 2 weeks.
Exposing clothes, bed sheets,
towels, and blankets that have
come in contact with pubic
lice to freezing temperatures
will kill the lice.
Vacuum your mattresses and
pillows then spray them with a
household disinfectant.
Vacuum rugs and furniture as
well.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

1. What is it?
Scabies is a very itchy rash
caused by tiny insects (itch mites)
that burrow or dig under the
skin.
2. How do I know if I have it?
The rash looks like curvy white
threads, tiny red bumps,
scratches or tiny blisters. It's
extremely itchy, especially at
night.
The rash appears in both men
and women between the fingers
and around wrists and elbows.
The scabies rash can also be
found in the armpits, under the
breasts, along the belt line and
navel, on the inner thighs, the
buttocks and genitals.
3. How do I get it?
You get scabies by skin-to-skin
contact, such as shaking hands,
dancing, sharing clothes,
bedding or towels and sexual
contact with an infected person.
The myth that scabies only
happens to people who are dirty
or don't keep their house very
clean is just that, a myth. Scabies
can affect anyone.
4. How do I get tested?
Since there are so many skin
conditions that can cause a rash
and itching, it's best to get
checked by a doctor if you
suspect you might be infected
with scabies. You can get tested
at a Peel Public Health Healthy
Sexuality Clinic (by appointment
only), or go to your local walk-in
clinic or family doctor.
5. How is it treated?
Scabies is treated with a special
lotion that you can buy at any
pharmacy without a prescription.
You should speak to the
pharmacist so he or she can help
you decide which lotion is best
for you. If you're pregnant or
breastfeeding, talk to a doctor
or pharmacist before starting
any treatment.
Your sexual partner(s) or anyone
who has shared your bed, towels
or clothing should be treated at
the same time.
While you're being treated for
Scabies, you should:
Wash your clothing, bedding
and towels in hot water and
then place them in the dryer
on the hottest cycle for 20
minutes.
Dry-clean anything that can't
be washed, or pack them
loosely in a sealed plastic bag
for 5-7 days.
Itching might last for a few
weeks after treatment, but it will
go away in time. There is a
chance you may need a second
treatment.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

1. What is it?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted
infection (STI) caused by bacteria
that gets into the blood stream
through the eyes, mouth, vagina,
anus or broken skin. If left
untreated, Syphilis can cause
serious health problems.
2. How do I know if I have it?
It usually takes 10 days to 3
months for the symptoms to
present. In some cases, people
don't have any noticeable
symptoms. Someone infected
with Syphilis can spread it to
others during sexual intercourse,
even if they have no signs or
symptoms of the infection.
The symptoms appear in 3
stages:
Primary: A painless sore called a
chancre (pronounced "sh-an-
ker" that is found on the penis,
anus, labia, vagina, cervix, throat
or lips. It's easy to miss this sign
as it will heal and go away in 1-5
weeks, even if it's not treated.
Secondary: About 2 to 12 weeks
after the first symptoms, you
might get a rash all over your
body, including the palms of your
hands and the bottoms of your
feet or sores in your mouth and
genital area. You might feel like
you have the flu. These
symptoms also go away - even
untreated - but you still have the
infection. You might get the rash
again over the next 1-2 years.
Note that this is a very
contagious time!
Latent: If left untreated, Syphilis
spreads to all parts of the body
and can lead to heart, joint and
central nervous system damage.
You may not show any
symptoms, but you'll still be very
sick.
3. How do I get it?
You can get Syphilis by having
oral, vaginal or anal sex with
someone who is infected. Some
people with Syphilis might not
have any sores or a rash, but can
still pass on the infection. A
pregnant woman with Syphilis
can pass it onto her baby before
it is born.
4. How do I get tested?
If you have sores present, the
doctor will swab them. You will
also have a blood test as Syphilis
shows up in blood about a
month after the sores or
chancres appear.
Once infected with Syphilis, it will
show up in your blood test for
the rest of your life.
5. How is it treated?
If Syphilis is treated early, it can
be cured with specific antibiotics.
The treatment will cure Syphilis,
but will not reverse any
damage already done to your
internal organs.
If left untreated, Syphilis can
cause serious damage to the
heart, liver and brain.
You should tell all your sexual
partners that you have Syphilis,
as they will need to be tested and
treated as well.
You'll need to get follow-up
testing to make sure the
infection is gone.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

Trichomoniasis

1. What is it?
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a very small parasite called trichomonas vaginalis.

2. How do I know if I have it?

The symptoms of Trichomoniasis
in women are:
a. A frothy, green vaginal discharge.
b. An unpleasant odour.
c. Intense vaginal itching.
d. Redness and pain in vaginal area.
e. Frequent passing of urine.

Note that some women show
no symptoms at all.

Men don't usually present any
symptoms. Those that do might have:
a. Discharge from the penis.
b. Burning when passing urine.
c. Irritation around tip of the penis.

3. How do I get it?
You can get Trichomoniasis
mainly through vaginal sex with
someone who has it.

4. How do I get tested?
The only way to know for sure if you or your partner has
Trichomoniasis or any STI is to get tested. You can get tested at
a Peel Public Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic (by appointment
only), or go to your local walk-in
clinic or family doctor.
The Trichomoniasis test for women involves a swab of the
vaginal discharge. The infection will often show up on a routine
Pap test.
For men, the doctor will take a swab from the tip of the penis.
Regardless of test results, both
partners should be treated when
one partner has Trichomoniasis.

5. How is it treated?
Your doctor will prescribe special
antibiotics or creams to treat your condition. You should not have sex until both you and your
partner have finished the treatment.
If left untreated, Trichomoniasis
can lead to pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID) in women, which
can cause infertility.
Is follow-up important? If you
still have symptoms, return to your doctor for further testing or
treatment.
REMEMBER: Using condoms every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an STI and HIV/AIDS.

1. What is it?
Yeast is a very common fungus
that lives in small amounts inside
a woman's vagina. If too much
yeast grows, it can cause itching,
burning, a white discharge and
painful sex. Men don't always
have symptoms but may develop
the infection as well.
2. How do I know if I have it?
For women, the symptoms
include:
White, thick 'cottage cheese-
like' discharge from the
vagina.
A sore, red labia (vaginal lips).
Pain when you have sex.
Note that sometimes women
don't experience any
symptoms.
For men, the symptoms include:
Itching, swelling, redness or
dry flakey skin at the tip of the
penis or under the foreskin.
Pain when you pee.
Usually, there are no
symptoms.
3. How do I get it?
You don't have to have sex to get
a yeast infection. It can be
caused by:
Antibiotics
Douching
Birth control pills
Menstruation
Pregnancy
If you are a diabetic or
overweight, you could get yeast
infections more often than other
women due to your higher blood
sugar levels.
4. How do I get tested?
The only way to know for sure if
you have a yeast infection or any
STI is to get tested. You can get
tested at a Peel Public Health
Healthy Sexuality Clinic (by
appointment only), or go to
your local walk-in clinic or family
doctor.
The yeast infection test for
women involves a vaginal swab.
The infection will often show up
on a routine Pap test.
Men aren't usually tested for
yeast infections unless they show
symptoms.
5. How is it treated?
Yeast infections are treated with
special creams that you can buy
at any pharmacy without a
prescription. You should speak to
the pharmacist so they can help
you decide which cream is best
for you.
If these creams do not work,
you'll need to get a prescription
for a one-dose oral pill from your
doctor or Healthy Sexuality Clinic.
The same creams can be used by
your male partner if they're
experiencing any of the
symptoms.
6. How do I prevent Yeast
Infections?
A good idea is to wear cotton
underwear! Try to avoid nylon
underwear, pantyhose, and tight
jeans because they keep
moisture trapped in the genital
area.
The key to prevention is keeping
your genital area clean and dry.
Do not use bubble baths, oils or
hygiene sprays. It's best to wash
with plain water or a mild soap
and rinse well. Douching can
irritate the vaginal lining and is
not recommended.
Diet plays a part in prevention
too. Eat balanced meals and try to
stay away from foods high in
sugar.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

1. What is it?
Hepatitis B is a virus that can
cause a serious infection of the
liver. Some people who get
Hepatitis B don't know they have
it because they never feel sick.
2. How do I know if I have it?
There are some people infected
with Hepatitis B who don't know
it because they don't have any
symptoms. The danger is that
you can still pass the infection on
to someone else without
knowing you have it.
Infected men and women might
display these symptoms:
Flu-like symptoms, like fatigue
(being very tired) and nausea.
Abdominal pain.
Urine or stool (feces) is
strange colour.
Skin or eyes appear yellowish.
3. How do I get it?
Hepatitis B is spread to others by
contact with infected blood or
body fluids -- semen, vaginal
fluids and saliva. The infected
blood or fluid has to enter a
break in the skin or be absorbed
through a mucous membrane
like the eyes, mouth, vagina and
anus in order to be passed onto
another person.
Sharing toothbrushes, razors,
nail files or other personal items
that may have tiny amounts of
blood on them can also spread
the infection. In fact, the virus
can live in dry blood for up to
seven days !
Sharing needles and syringes
that may have tiny amounts of
blood in them can spread the
virus to others. Which also means
that tattooing or ear/body
piercing can be a source of Hep B
if the equipment is not new or
not sterilized.
A pregnant woman who has
Hepatitis B can pass it on to her
baby before it's born so it's
critical that all pregnant women
be screened for Hepatitis B as
part of their prenatal care.
Hepatitis B is not spread by
water, food, kissing, sneezing or
coughing.
4. How do I get tested?
The only way to know for sure if
you or your partner has Hepatitis
B or any STI is to get tested. You
can get tested at a Peel Public
Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic (by
appointment only), or go to
your local walk-in clinic or family
doctor.
There's a specific blood test that
is performed to detect the
Hepatitis B virus.
5. How is it treated?
There's no cure for the Hepatitis
B virus. Most people with
Hepatitis B do get better and are
protected from future infection
by their own natural immunity.
They won't pass the virus on to
others.
If you have Hepatitis B, you'll
probably have to change the way
you eat; you'll be advised to stop
drinking and smoking as well.
Some people become carriers of
Hepatitis B and require on-going
medical treatment. A Hepatitis B
carrier is a person who carries
the virus in their blood and body
fluids for the rest of their life. In
some cases, carriers can develop
cirrhosis (scarring) or cancer of
the liver later in life.
6. How do I prevent it?
Get the Hepatitis B vaccine. Peel
Public Health provides a free
vaccine to:
Household and sexual contacts
of an infected person.
Babies of chronic carriers.
Grade 7 students.
Depending on your age, the
vaccine is given in either a 2-
dose or 3-dose series.
Other ways to protect yourself:
Use a condom or latex barrier
(dental dam) every time you
have sex.
Never share needles and
syringes.
Never share toothbrushes,
razors, nail files or other
personal items that may have
tiny amounts of blood on
them. The virus can live in dry
blood for up to seven days.
For activities that cut/break
the skin, such as tattooing or
ear/body piercing, be sure the
equipment is brand new or
sterilized.
Dispose of blood stained
articles (tampons, dental floss,
and bandages) by putting
them in a tied plastic bag.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

1. What is it?
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of
several viruses that cause
Hepatitis. It can lead to chronic
liver disease like cirrhosis
(scarring) of the liver, liver cancer
and liver failure.
2. How do I know if I have it?
Many people who have the
Hepatitis C virus don't even know
it and can spread it to others
without realizing it.
The symptoms can appear 2-
weeks to 6-months after
exposure to the virus.
Both men and women can
present these symptoms:
Feeling very tired most of the
time.
Loss of appetite.
Nausea and vomiting.
A yellowish tinge to the skin or
eyes.
Weight loss.
Joint and muscle aches.
3. How do I get it?
HCV is spread when people share
blood or body fluids containing
the virus during such activities
like:
1. Sharing needles, spoons,
straws and other drug
related equipment.
2. Getting tattoos or body
parts pierced with used or
non-sterile needles.
If you received a blood
transfusion or blood products
before 1992, you may also have
been infected. A pregnant
woman who has HCV can pass it
on to her baby before or at the
time of birth.
Although HCV is not usually
spread by sexual intercourse,
there's still a risk of being
infected if you have open sores
on your genitals or through
contact with an infected
woman's menstrual blood.
4. How do I get tested?
The only way to know for sure if
you or your partner has Hepatitis
C or any STI is to get tested. You
can get tested at a Peel Public
Health Healthy Sexuality Clinic (by
appointment only), or go to
your local walk-in clinic or family
doctor.
You'll need to have a special
blood test to detect the Hepatitis
C virus.
5. How is it treated?
There is no cure or vaccine for
Hepatitis C. If you have it, your
doctor will refer you to a
specialist for more tests and
treatment options.
6. How to prevent the spread of
HCV
Don't share any equipment for
drug use (needles, spoons etc)
, tattooing, body or ear
piercing.
Don't donate blood or organs
for transplants if you have HCV.
Use a condom or latex barrier
(dental dam) every time you
have sex.
REMEMBER: Using condoms
every time you have sex can
lower your chances of getting an
STI and HIV/AIDS.

reserved for comment

Credit/source:
All the information above was copied from www.intheknowpeel.com/stiaids/list

Derailers wither thee....this thread is crying out for attention

Yemi what the fvck is this?

Deiok: Yemi what the fvck is this?

I'm disappointed in you for this single comment. You of all people should know that I'm typing with a mobile phone, I need to copy, paste and edit before posting. I reserved those space above cause I don't want people to post between them. Please, check the first reserved post and read what I just posted. You might even have it, who knows?

The mods of this section should please edit the posts to make it easy for people to read. Seun, why did you censored almost all the words that has to do with sex? How will people understand what they're reading? Which one stil be behindbase?

I'm done.

You should try and visit any good hospital for test even if you don't have any of the signs mentioned above.
The fact that you're a virgin don't mean you are free. Have you ever kissed a guy/girl? If you ever treated a person's sores? Do you've boils in any part of your body that heal without applying any cream? If your answer is Yes, then, you might have one of the listed STI.
Running an STI test will cost you less than five thousand naira and your result will be out in the next two days.

Are you shy of showing your private parts to a doctor? Hmmm, I laugh at you. You see my dear, doctors have seen everything in the human body: the good, the bad, the worwor, the big, the small and even the average. Don't be shy, all they will take from you is a "swab". Don't die in silence.

The picture below is what a swab looks like, it's about 3-4inches long, it'll be inserted into your penis to collect the sample that will be use for the test. It will cause a painful or burning feeling during the process but will stop within 24hours.

Front page material!
Too many diseases. I pity the medical workers that come in contact with human fluids often. Its well.

Sterile swab stick

No HIV?

Afam4eva: No HIV?

HIV can be gotten through other means, not just sex alone.

yemi2plus:
HIV can be gotten through other means, not just sex alone.

Does that stop it from being an STD?

Afam4eva:
Does that stop it from being an STD?

No. I only posted infections that can be contacted through sex.

Is Staphylococcus also an STD? I'm totally confused about this one.

yemi2plus:
No. I only posted infections that can be contacted ONLY through sex.

CORRECTED.