HIV

Health Impacts/Symptoms

When left untreated, HIV can weaken a person’s immune system, making it more likely that they will experience other infections which can lead to serious illness or even death.

Treatment

Antiretroviral medication in the form of a pill, taken every day for the remainder of someone’s life.

Results

There is no cure for HIV. However, when someone takes their medication as prescribed:

1) the virus typically doesn’t progress, allowing people living with HIV to lead long, healthy lives, and;

2) they will also likely achieve an undetectable viral load.

When someone’s viral load is undetectable, they cannot pass HIV onto others sexually. Undetectable = Untransmittable!

Next Steps

Your family doctor or nurse practitioner may take on your treatment or refer you to a specialist at an HIV Clinic. Your healthcare provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.

Hepatitis C

Health Impacts/Symptoms

A small percentage of people’s bodies will naturally eliminate Hepatitis C from their system and won’t experience any long-term impacts. Unfortunately, the majority of people who get Hepatitis C are unable to naturally eradicate the infection, resulting in chronic Hepatitis C. When left untreated, chronic Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure, and liver cancer.

Treatment

Antiviral medication in the form of a pill (or pills) taken for 12-24 weeks.

Results

With access to new direct-acting antiviral medications, 95% of people living with chronic Hepatitis C are cured within 12-24 weeks.

Next Steps

Your family doctor or nurse practitioner may take on your treatment or will refer you to a specialist. Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire Hep C more than once in your lifetime. Your healthcare provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.

Hepatitis B

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Most adults (90-95%) infected with hepatitis B will naturally eliminate the virus on their own without treatment. When people are unable to clear the virus on their own, it results in chronic Hepatitis B. When left untreated, chronic Hepatitis B can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and cancer.

Treatment

Antiviral medication in the form of a pill taken for life, and/or injections of interferon.

Results

Treatment for chronic hepatitis B does not cure the disease but instead helps suppress the virus and reduce its negative impacts on the body.

Next Steps

In Alberta, some people can access the Hepatitis B vaccines for free. You can find if you fit that criteria here: www.immunizealberta.ca. Your family or nurse practitioner may take on your treatment or refer you to a specialist. Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire Hepatitis B more than once in your lifetime. Your healthcare provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.

Hepatitis A

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Hepatitis A can cause jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and white parts of the eyes), vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue which can last for several months. In rare cases, people can experience lasting liver damage.

Treatment

Hepatitis A will usually resolve itself after a few months. Treatments are focused on symptom control (such as replacing fluids from vomiting and diarrhea).

Results

Most people recover from Hepatitis A on their own without any treatment.

Next Steps

There are vaccinations for Hepatitis A. In Alberta, some people can access this vaccine for free. You can find if you fit that criteria here: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/ Pages/Hepatitis-A-Vaccine.aspx. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner may take on your treatment or refer you to a specialist. Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire Hep A more than once in your lifetime. Your healthcare provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

Health Impacts/Symptoms

There are more than 100 types of HPV. In many cases, someone with a healthy immune system will clear the virus on their own within two years. Some types of HPV, however, can result in genital warts, abnormal cell growth, and cancer. Types of cancer associated with HPV include: cervical, anal, head and neck, penile, vaginal, and vulvar.

Treatment

There is no treatment specifically for HPV. Instead, treatment and monitoring focuses on the complications caused by the virus such as genital warts and cancer.

For genital warts, the treatment might include creams or removing the warts using chemicals, laser surgery, or freezing with liquid nitrogen.

For HPV-related cancers, treatment typically involves the removal of precancerous cells, different types of surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.

Results

Once infected, there is no cure for HPV. HPV-related complications can be monitored (i.e. through pap tests of the cervix or anus) and successfully treated. In some cases, even after successful treatments, genital warts, precancerous lesions, and cancers can return after several years.

Next Steps

There are vaccinations for HPV. In Alberta, some people can access this vaccine for free. You can find if you fit that criteria here: https://ourhealthyeg.ca/sexually- transmitted-infections.

HPV vaccination protects people against many of the most dangerous types of HPV. You can still get this vaccine even if you have been infected with certain strains of HPV.

Depending on the strain of HPV you have, you may be monitored by your family doctor, a nurse practitioner, or a specialist. Your Pap testing schedule may be altered.

If your HPV infection involves genital warts, there may be periods of time where you cannot have sexual activity. Your healthcare provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities. There may be lifestyle changes you can follow to prevent future outbreaks of genital warts.

 Herpes (HSV)

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Many people who have genital herpes (HSV) do not experience any symptoms. For others, it can cause irritating and painful blisters or sores in the genital area.

Some people also experience flu-like symptoms or an abnormal discharge and pain when they pee. Some people who get genital herpes only experience a handful of additional outbreaks throughout their lifetime while others can experience several different outbreaks per year.

Treatment

Antiviral medication can be taken daily to prevent outbreaks from occurring and/or during outbreaks to help control them and make them heal faster.

Results

There is no cure for genital herpes. Treatment works to prevent and control outbreaks and reduce the chance of passing it on to others.

Next Steps

Your healthcare provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.

Sexual contact during an active outbreak carries a high risk of transmission of herpes to partner(s), and it is not recommended.

There may be lifestyle changes you can follow to prevent future outbreaks of herpes.

Syphilis

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Syphilis occurs in stages and each stage is associated with unique symptoms, with periods of no symptoms at all. Some of these include:

• a small, painless sore called a chancre;

• hair loss;

• rashes;

• feeling unwell;

• and/or warts.

If left untreated, syphilis can cause severe neurological damage, cardiovascular damage, and even death.

Treatment

Syphilis is treated by antibiotics, most often through injections. Treatment will vary based on your “stage” or severity of infection.

Results

Once you have completed treatment, you should be cured of syphilis. Your provider may request retesting to confirm successful treatment.

Next Steps

Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire syphilis more than once in your lifetime.

You will require follow-up testing after your treatment.

It is not recommended to have sex until your treatment is completed, and/or until your doctor/nurse says it is okay.

Chlamydia

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Most people who have chlamydia experience no symptoms at all. Others can experience a range of symptoms which can include:

• genital discharge;

• swelling;

• itching, and pain;

• pain in the stomach or pelvis;

• burning or pain when peeing;

• pain during sex;

• irregular genital bleeding, especially after sex;

• and/or discharge, itching, or bleeding from the bum.

When Chlamydia is in the throat, it may cause:

• a sore throat;

• cough;

• fever;

• and/or swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment

In most cases, chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics taken as a single dose or several doses over the course of one week.

Results

Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of chlamydia.

Next Steps

You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities.

Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.

Gonorrhea

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Many people with gonorrhea have no symptoms. While most people with penises develop symptoms, most people with vaginas/front holes do not. When symptoms are present, they may include:

• genital discharge;

• swelling, or pain;

• burning or pain with urination;

• pain during sex;

• irregular genital bleeding;

• and/or genital itching.

When gonorrhea is in the throat, it may cause:

• a sore throat;

• cough;

• fever;

• and/or swollen lymph nodes.

When left untreated, it may cause:

• pelvic inflammatory disease;

• infection and inflammation of the testicles;

• rashes;

• sores;

• arthritis;

• infertility;

• and/or a severe infection of the blood.

Treatment

Gonorrhea can be treated with and cured with antibiotics. The treatment usually includes pills and a single injection.

This treatment is also effective for treating chlamydia as well.

Results

Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of gonorrhea.

Next Steps

You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities.

Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.

Trich (Trichomoniasis)

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Trich can affect people with vaginas/front holes. About 70% of people infected with trich do not experience any symptoms. When people do experience symptoms, they can often come and go. Symptoms may include:

• genital discharge;

• sore or itchy genitals;

• and/or pain during intercourse or while peeing.

Treatment

Trichomoniasis can be treated through antibiotics in a pill form.

Results

Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of Trich.

Next Steps

You cannot have sex until your treatment is completed and/or until your doctor/nurse says it is okay.

Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.

LGV (Lymphogranuloma Venereum)

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Many people with LGV experience no symptoms. When symptoms are experienced, they can include:

• fever;

• fatigue;

• painless sores;

• swelling of the lymph nodes in the genital area;

• genital abscesses;

• mucous discharge and bleeding from the anus (if you’ve had anal sex);

• rectal pain and abdominal cramping;

• and/or symptoms in the joints, lungs, and liver.

Treatment

LGV is typically treated over three weeks through antibiotics taken in pill form.

Results

Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of LGV.

Next Steps

You cannot have sex until your treatment is completed and/or until your doctor/nurse says it is okay.

Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) affects people with vaginas/front holes. Symptoms include:

• genital discharge and itching;

• burning when you pee;

• and a foul smelling, “fishy” odor to the genitals.

BV is not sexually transmitted, but is a common genital infection.

Treatment

Bacterial Vaginosis can be treated by oral medications (in pill form) or creams that can be inserted in or applied to the genitals.

Sometimes BV can be asymptomatic which does not always need to be treated.

Results

Once someone has completed treatment, they should either be free of symptoms or cured of BV.

Sometimes BV can reoccur within three to twelve months.

Next Steps

Your doctor/nurse may suggest lifestyle or hygiene changes to prevent future BV infections.

Your doctor/nurse may ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.

Yeast Infection

Health Impacts/Symptoms

People with yeast infections can experience:

• genital itching, irritation, pain, soreness, and redness/welling;

• a genital rash;

• genital discharge – which can be watery or be thick and white with a cottage cheese appearance;

• a burning sensation during sex or while peeing.

Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted, but are a common genital infection.

Treatment

Yeast infections are typically treated by antifungal medications, either in the form of creams, ointments, or tablets which are applied to or inserted into the genitals or taken orally in the form of a tablet.

For mild to moderate cases, treatment is typically completed within several days. More complicated cases might require treatment for several months.

Results

Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of their yeast infection.

Next Steps

Your doctor/nurse may suggest lifestyle or hygiene changes to prevent future yeast infections.

Your doctor/nurse may ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.

 Pubic Lice (crabs)

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Symptoms of pubic lice (or crabs) include:

• genital itching;

• small bugs or eggs in your pubic hair;

• dark spots where the lice are living;

• and/or feeling feverish or run-down.

Treatment

Pubic lice are typically treated by special liquids, foams, gels, and shampoos. You may also need to wash and dry clothes, towels, and bedding at hot settings and seal non-washable fabric items in an airtight plastic bag for several days.

Results

Upon completion of treatment, pubic lice should be successfully eliminated. In some cases, people may need to repeat treatments.

Next Steps

You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities.

Your doctor/nurse may ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.

Scabies

Health Impacts/Symptoms

Scabies is caused by mites that burrow into the skin. Symptoms of scabies include:

• severe itching that is generally worse at night;

• and/or a rash with tiny blisters or sores.

Treatment

Scabies is typically treated by lotions and creams.

You may also need to wash and dry clothes, towels, and bedding at hot settings and seal non-washable fabric items in an airtight plastic bag for several days.

Results

Upon completion of treatment, scabies should be successfully eliminated. In some cases, people may need to repeat treatments.

Next Steps

You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities. Your doctor/nurse may ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.