Syphilis cases have increased dramatically among people living with HIV/AIDS in Australia, a group of health educators, clinicians and HIV activists heard in Sydney at a meeting in November.

PL's resident medical expert, Dr Nick Medland, answers readers' letters about missing doses, starting treatments and sexually-transmitted infections.

Although safe sex may decrease the risk of transmission of some STIs, there are other significant ways in which STIs can be transmitted. Herpes and HPV (the virus associated with genital warts) can be transmitted even if condoms are used. Hepatitis A, gut and bowel infections, and the virus that is thought to be associated with Kaposi’s Sarcoma can be passed on through rimming.