Sex Education

What is an STD?

An STD is a sexually transmitted disease. Many can go undetected, so it's really important to get tested if you have multiple partners or have a new partner.

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There is no shame surrounding STDs, sex is a fun part of life and sometimes STDs are a part of that. Getting one doesn't make you unclean. Most are easily treated and will leave no trace. Although they are generally easily treatable, it is really important to be treated as soon as possible because they can be serious if left. Treatment is available from your GP or local sexual health clinics.

Types of STDs

• Chlamydia ​

  • Symptoms include - pain when peeing, unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom, in women: pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods, in men: pain and swelling in the testicles

• Gonorrhoea

  • ​ Symptoms include - a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when peeing and, in women, bleeding between periods.​

• Trichomoniasis ​

  • Symptoms in women - ​abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour, producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell, soreness, swelling and itching around the vagina – sometimes the inner thighs also become itchy, pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex

  • Symptoms in men - pain when peeing or during ejaculation, needing to pee more frequently than usual, thin, white discharge from the penis, soreness, swelling and redness around the head of the penis or foreskin

• Genital warts​ ​​​​

  • Symptoms include - 1 or more painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus, itching or bleeding from your genitals or anus, a change to your normal flow of pee (for example, it's begun to flow sideways) that does not go away, 

• Genital herpes​

  • Symptoms include - ​small blisters that burst to leave red, open sores around your genitals, anus, thighs or bottom, tingling, burning or itching around your genitals, pain when you pee, in women, vaginal discharge that's not usual for you

• Pubic lice ​

  • Symptoms include - itching, which is usually worse at night, small red or blue spots on your skin (lice bites), white/yellow dots attached to your hair (lice eggs), dark red or brown spots in your underwear (lice poo), crusted or sticky eyelashes, if they're affected

• Scabies​

  • Symptoms include - intense itching, especially at night, a raised rash or spot

• Syphilis ​

  • Symptoms include - ​small sores (ulcers) on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom (anus) – these are usually painless and you may only have one of them, sores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottom, white or grey warty growths most commonly on your penis, vagina or around your anus, a rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your body – this is not usually itchy, white patches in your mouth, flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness, swollen glands, patchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrows

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)​​​​

  • HPV does not usually cause any symptoms, but sometimes the virus can cause painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus (genital warts).​

• HIV/AIDS ​

  • Symptoms include - a short flu-like illness 2 to 6 weeks after HIV infection, which lasts for a week or 2

  • After these symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause any symptoms for many years, although the virus continues to damage your immune system.

  • This means many people with HIV do not know they're infected.

  • There is no cure for HIV, but there are treatments available to help manage and enable most people with the virus to live long and healthy lives

  • It is really important to be honest with your partner if you think/know you have HIV/AIDS and you should always use protection

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