Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs)

Sexually transmissible infections like Chlamydia, gonorrhoea or syphilis may affect any woman. HIV can affect the severity and course of some infections, and ongoing infection can be a burden on the immune system, so it is important to be tested and treated if necessary, then re-tested if you change sexual partner.
This section will not cover every possible STI in detail, but will address the STIs [1][Sexually Transmissible (or Transmitted) Infection] Infections spread by the transfer of organisms from person to person during sexual contact. Also called venereal disease (VD) (an older public health term) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). that are of particular concern in Australia for women with HIV due to their prevalence (the frequency with which people in Australia have the infections) and/or the way these infections interact with HIV.

Symptoms

Not everyone who has an STI has any signs or symptoms, but if you have any of the following you should have an STI check-up:

• Unusual discharge from the vagina;
• Pain or burning when you pass urine;
• Itches, rashes, lumps or blisters around the genitals or anus;
• Pain and/or bleeding during sex;
• Bleeding between periods (including women who are using hormonal contraception);
• Bleeding after sex.

Sometimes symptoms can disappear, or appear and disappear sporadically but this does not mean that the infection is gone if you have not had it treated.

Prevention

Using condoms and lubricant when you have sex is an excellent preventive measure, although condoms don’t provide complete protection from every transmissible infection. Women who have sex with other women can also transmit STIs to each other, so STI screening has a role regardless of sexuality for any women who are, or have been, sexually active regardless of sexual orientation.