Why should we worry?

There are some STIs that can cause serious long-term health problems if they aren't treated. Syphilis, for example, can damage the heart and brain. And, as with HIV, there are other STIs that will stay with us forever. 

Having another STI can make it much easier for us to pass on HIV. It increases our viral load meaning that we're more infectious. And STIs that cause sores, blisters and inflammation make it easier for HIV to enter the bloodstream. 

What STIs are there?

There are lots of infections that can be caught during sex. The most common infections among gay men are non-specific urethritis (NSU), gonorrhoea, warts, chlamydia and herpes. Syphilis is also on the increase.  

STIs are mainly passed on through anal and oral sex without condoms. But some can be also spread through skin to skin contact and other types of sexual contact.

How do I know if I’ve got an STI?

Some of the most common symptoms of STIs include:

  • discharge from your cock or arsehole
  • pain when you piss or shit
  • sores or blisters on your dick and/or arse, mouth and throat
  • itching around your cock and genitals and/or arsehole
  • lumps or growths on your cock and genitals and/or arsehole.

But some STIs don’t have any symptoms or may not cause symptoms for a long time. This is why regular sexual health checkups are a good idea.

Sexual health check ups

Even if we’ve been wearing condoms every time we have sex, condoms won’t totally prevent those STIs that are passed on through skin to skin contact, such as herpes or genital warts. 

Because of the damage STIs can do to our health, and because some STIs don’t have obvious symptoms, it’s really important that we get regular sexual health check ups. Once diagnosed, most STIs can be cured with treatment. Some, such as herpes, can be controlled by drugs, but not cured.

Many of us get tested for all STIs every six months or so. This depends on how many partners we've had. This can sometimes be done via an HIV clinic. Otherwise you’ll have to go to your local genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic.