STD's
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Symptoms...
As a sex worker you are probably quick to notice when
things aren't quite as they should be. To help you in
your self- diagnosis here's some info on STDs to
watch out for.
GENITAL HERPES
This is a painful STD caused by a virus. It is
Treatment is the same virus that causes mouth herpes,
the common cold sore.
Symptoms
The symptoms usually appear 4 or 5 days after
catching the bugs. The first attack is usually the
worst. Herpes attacks may happen again, usually
within a few months of each other. These are usually
not as bad as the first attack, lasting 4-5 days.
Each new attack of herpes is very easily passed on -
even before a blister is seen - although local
tingling or pain may be felt. Watch out for:
Tingling
or itching around your sex organs. Small
painful blisters which become ulcers. These
usually heal within a week or two.
Flu-like
symptoms such as head ache, fever, backache,
and leg pains, or constipation, but usually
only during the first attack.
Pain of
burning when peeing, sometimes very bad.
Difficulty
with emptying bladder. Pain in the back
passage with anal herpes.
Treatment
Treatment
will ease the pain, and shorten or help
prevent further attacks of herpes, although
there is no cure.
Pregnant
women must tell the STD clinic or doctor if
they have, or have had, genital herpes. The
bugs may come back when you are pregnant and
can sometimes hurt the baby.
If you
think you have genital herpes, your partner
must also be checked even if there are no
symptoms because they may be infected.
You must
get to your STD clinic as soon as possible as
you may have more than one STD.
CHLAMYDIA
Chlamydia are bugs
that cause the commonest of all STDs in New Zealand,
Chlamydia are very common in women (under 20) and men
(under 25) who do not use condoms when they have sex.
Chlamydia are really bad for both women ar men
because if left untreated the bugs car. lead to
infertility (inability to have a baby) in both sexes,
are can also cause swelling of the eyes, joints or
liver.
Symptoms
Women
Most women have no symptoms at all. But some women
may notice:
lower
tummy pain (like period pain),
a changed
discharge from the vagina,
pain when
peeing.
Men
Quite a few men have no symptoms at all. But some men
notice:
a thin
white or thick yellow drip from the penis
a burning,
stinging or mild pain when peeing
a really
bad pain, sometimes with swollen balls.
Getting
Treatment.
It is very
important to treat Chlamydia during pregnancy. You
might pass the bugs on to your baby and cause an eye
infection or pneumonia (a chest infection)
Treatment
If you have any symptoms you need a full
check up at your local STD clinic, a doctor or Family
Planning clinic. Even if you haven't got any
symptoms, but have sex without using a condom, it is
best to have a check up.
You will need to
be sure that both you and your partner's have
treatment at the same time - or the bugs will
"ping-pong" - meaning that you will catch
it again and be back to square one.
Men must not have
a pee for about 2-3 hours before seeing the STD
clinic or doctor. Tell the STD clinic or doctor if
you are pregnant, or might be pregnant, before
getting treatment. It is important to treat Chlamydia
during pregnancy as you can pass it on to your baby
where it can cause eye and chest infections.
Tell the STD
clinic or doctor if you are taking any medicine
(including the pill) or have any allergies or
previous bad reaction to medicines. Tell the doctor
if you have any medical conditions or have recently
been overseas.
You and your
partner must complete all treatment including taking
all medicines. You and your partner must return to
the STD clinic or doctor when asked to do so. Do not
have sex until the doctor says you can.
Counselling,
advice and information are available at the STD
clinic if you or your partner feel that you need it.
Condoms reduce the risk of catching STDs including
AIDS and hepatitis B.
GONORRHOEA
Gonorrhoea is a common STD that can cause a discharge
in men and women or low stomach pain in women.
Occasionally it can be present without any sign of
infection.
Usually a visit to the STD clinic and a simple course
of penicillin is enough to cure the problem.
Antibiotics to cure Gonorrhoea are only available from
an STD clinic and are not generally available at a
GP.
If you receive treatment for gonorrhoea at your GP
please check that it will cover penicillin resistant
strains.
