Chlamydia is a common bacterial infection
How you get it:
Unprotected sex.
Symptoms:
Most of the time there are no symptoms, but sometimes pain when peeing (for men),or discharge from the vagina or penis.
Treatment:
A week’s course of antibiotics called Doxycyline for you and your regular sexual partner .
You can access treatment from your GP practice or from Lothian Sexual health. Your partner may have been given a voucher which will allow you to get treatment from a Pharmacy in Lothian.
If it’s not treated:
You may spread to future sexual partners.
Very rarely untreated infection can cause complications that may result in infertility (see information here
My sexual partner has chlamydia but I don’t have any symptoms – what should I do?
If this is a partner you had sex with in the past, we suggest that you get tested first to see if the infection is still present.
If your current partner has chlamydia you should be treated as well.
Gonorrhoea is a common bacterial infection
How you get it:
Unprotected sex.
Symptoms:
Often there are no symptoms. There may be discharge (from penis, vagina or anus), pain when peeing. If it is in the throat it usually cause no symptoms at all.
Treatment:
You need antibiotics.
If it’s not treated:
Occasionally people can get complications – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease for women and serious swelling and pain in the testicles for men.
What about my sexual partners?
Current sexual partners should attend for testing and treatment if required.
Previous contacts should also be notified – our staff will discuss with you how this can be done.
My sexual partner has gonorrhea – what should I do?
You should contact you local sexual health service to arrange a test and in some cases treatment – call Chalmers on 0131 536 2108 to arrange.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection
How you get it:
From all sexual contact including oral sex.
Signs and symptoms:
Not everyone will get symptoms. Some people will notice a single ulcer to start with and later a rash and flu-like symptoms.
Treatment:
Can be cured with antibiotics.
If it’s not treated:
If left untreated for many years syphilis can lead to damage of the heart, joint or nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves).
What about my sexual partners?
Current sexual partners should attend for testing and treatment if required.
Previous contacts should also be notified – our staff will discuss with you how this can be done.
My sexual partner has Syphilis – what should I do?
You should contact your local sexual health services to arrange an appointment.
Herpes – is a virus that can cause cold sores round the mouth or in the genital area
How you get it:
Unprotected sexual contact including oral sex and other genital skin to skin contact. Cold sores round the mouth can be passed to the partner’s genital area.
Symptoms:
Not everyone will get symptoms. A first attack may make you feel very unwell with flu-like symptoms with painful blisters around the genital area. It may be very painful to pee.
Treatment:
A course of tablets if symptoms are bad. Use painkillers such as paracetamol if you are sore.
The blisters may come back but the first outbreak is usually the worst. Often the blisters don’t come back at all.
Mild recurrent attacks do not need treatment – your own immune system will clear up the blisters in a few days and tablets will not speed this up.
My sexual partner has herpes – what should I do?
Herpes is easiest to diagnose during an attack. If you don’t have blisters there are no tests we can do to diagnose herpes.
If you are worried about the symptoms, make an appointment with your local sexual health clinic at the beginning of an attack.
If you don’t have significant discomfort or pain from herpes, no treatment is required.
