What is an STI?
An STI is any kind of bacterial or viral infection that can be
spread through sexual contact. This doesn't just mean unprotected
sex. Some STIs can be passed on through oral sex (kissing, licking
or sucking someone's genitals), and some can be passed through
sexual touching and skin-to-skin contact.
How are STIs passed on?
Sexually transmitted infections (sometimes called STIs or STDs) can
be caught, or passed on, when you have sex or when you have close
sexual contact with another person.
STIs in Jersey
STIs are a lot more common than you might think and in Jersey they
are most common amongst young people under 25. So, you need to know
about them and how to protect yourself against them. Even if you're
not having sex right now you should make sure you know how you can
protect yourself against infection if and when you decide to have
sex.
How do I know if I've got an STI?
Most people can tell if they've got an STI a few days after
unprotected sex. Symptoms can include unusual or smelly discharge
from the penis or vagina, a stinging feeling when you urinate,
blisters or sores around the genital area, sore genitals or pain
during sex.
However some STIs can have no symptoms. Some can show signs a
few days after unprotected sex. Others can go unnoticed for a long
time, and some never show any symptoms at all. So it's really
important that if you've had unprotected sex you go to a clinic and
get tested as you may have an STI and not know it.
Are they easy to get rid of?
Most STIs are pretty easy to sort out, however STIs that are left
untreated can cause serious long term health problems, so it's much
better to get tested and get help than ignore symptoms and hope
they might just go away!
Where can I get tested?
Always make sure if you think you have any symptoms that you get
down to the Genito Urinary Medicine (G.U.M) clinic at the general
Hospital for a full check up. In fact, if you're worried
at all or have ever had unprotected sex it might be a good idea to
have a check-up anyway just to be sure you're in the
clear.
Your doctor and Brook can offer testing and treatment for some
STIs but not all of them, so it's best to go to the G.U.M clinic
and get tested for everything at once. The service is free and
confidential and they run separate clinics for males and
females.
What about confidentiality? I don't want my mum finding
out!
Although the G.U.M clinic is based in the hospital the clinic
records are kept separately to the hospital patient records which
means if you do end up in the hospital for a broken leg or
something like that in the future the doctors and nurses won't be
able to see that you ever went to the G.U.M clinic on your normal
hospital notes. And if you're that concerned about confidentiality
you can even give them a false name (just remember what it was in
case you have to go back a second time!)
How can I protect myself against getting an
STI?
People normally get STIs by having sex with an infected person. The
best way to protect yourself is to use a condom every time
you have sex!
Even if you're using other kinds of contraception to prevent
pregnancy, like the pill, you should still use a condom as well.
Using a condom every time you have sex is the only way to protect
yourself from STIs as well as pregnancy.
However some infections can be passed on in other ways as well
such as through oral sex (licking, kissing or sucking another
persons genitals) anal sex and even through sexual touching and
skin to skin contact. Using a condom when you have sex is the most
effective way to reduce your risk of picking up or passing on an
STI, including HIV.
What is a condom?
There are two different types of condoms: male condoms and female
condoms. Male condoms are the most common type of condom. They fit
over the penis and act as a barrier to stop body fluids from mixing
during vaginal, oral or anal sex. You can get lots of different
types of male condoms such as ribbed or flavoured and they come in
different shapes and sizes.
What is a female condom?
A female condom works in the same way but it fits inside the vagina
instead of over the penis. You should use a condom for vaginal sex,
anal sex and oral sex.
What is a dental dam?
You can also use a dental dam during oral sex to protect yourself
against infection. Dental dams are small squares of latex which
work well as a barrier during sex involving contact between the
mouth and the vagina, or mouth and the anus.
Where can I get free condoms?
You can get free condoms and dental dams from all kinds of places
in Jersey including:
Brook (under 21s only)
The Community Contraception Clinic
The G.U.M Clinic
The Yes Project
Check out 'services' for their opening hours, clinic times and
directions.
Or you can buy condoms from:
Chemists
Petrol stations
Machines in public toilets, bars and clubs
Don't use out of date condoms
Remember to check the date on it. Never use condoms or dental dams
that are out of date. And also bear in mind that not all condoms
are safe. Condoms should have a kite mark or a CE mark on them to
show they have been tested and are safe to use. The condoms you can
get free in Jersey from the sites listed above are all safe to use.
Double check condoms you buy from anywhere else by checking the
date on them and making sure they have either a kite mark or a CE
mark.
Different Types of STIs