STIs do not always have obvious symptoms so it's important to use protection, know about STIs and get tested if you are worried.

Getting Tested

If you think you have an STI then you can go and get it checked out at a sexual health clinic (GUM or family planning, find your nearest at the fpa clinic search).

Don’t be worried or embarrassed. Workers in sexual health clinics are there to help, not to judge you. You have the right to confidential service from sexual health professionals- this means that they will keep what you discuss private. The only time when they will tell someone else is if they are concerned that you or someone else is in danger of being harmed.

To find out what happens when you visit a sexual health clinic check out our video at the bottom this page or go to our YouTube page.

You can also find about what happens at a sexual health clinic from Sexual Health Scotland.

Here are a few of the more common STIs that you should know about:

Chlamydia

Chlamydia has been on the increase amongst young people in the past few years. About  one in ten young people who get tested for chylamydia have it. It’s a very sneaky infection as there are often no symptoms so you may not know that you have it. Unfortunately it can cause fertility problems so it is important to get it treated, or even better, not to get it in the first place. If it’s caught early it can be treated with antibiotics.

If you do get any symptoms they can include pain when peeing and a white or cloudy discharge. Girls might have bleeding after sex and between periods and find sex painful, and guys might have swollen and/or painful testicles.

Genital Warts

Genital warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and are transmitted by skin to skin contact. They look like tiny lumps on your skin and are usually found under the foreskin, on the head of the penis, around the anus and around the opening and skin of the vagina.

There is no cure but you can get treatment to remove them and to try and help your body fight against the virus.

Herpes

There are different types of herpes virus but one can affect the genitals. You may not necessarily get any symptoms and if you do, they may not be very obvious. Symptoms include tingly or itchy skin, redness and small blisters on the skin, painful sores and pain when peeing. You might also feel like you have flu. Although it can’t be cured, you can get drugs to help with the symptoms. Some people get recurrences.

More...

Sexual Health Scotland- Find your nearest sexual service, and find out more about sexually transmitted infections here.

Brook-  Brook can give you sexual health and relationships info, advice and support.

Youthhealthtalk: Sexual Health- see videos of young people talking about sex, sexual health and contraception.

CK Sex Talk- This website has lots of information about sex and relationships for young people with learning difficulties.

The Family Planning Association- For information about contraception, you can also search for your local sexual health clinic.