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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
What's
all this stuff obout STIs?
How do you know if you've got a sexually transmitted
infection?
How Can I Protect
Myself Against Getting an STI?
What infections
can I pick up when I have sex?
How can I protect
myself from other sexually transmitted infections?
How can I tell
if I've got a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
Are sexually transmitted
infections treatable?
How do they do
the tests to find out if you've got a sexually transmitted infection?
How do I get my
male partner to use a condom?
What are the safest
forms of sex?
What symptoms
does Chlamydia cause?
How can I protect
myself from Chlamydia?
How do I know
if I have herpes or HPV (genital warts)?
Wouldn't I know
if I had chlamydia or another STI?
When I have a
pelvic exam, will I get tested for all the different STIs and HIV?
Can I get an STI
from oral sex?
Can you get sexually
transmitted infections from sharing someone's towel or sex toys?
I've always used
a condom, so does this mean I can't have a sexually transmitted infection?
What's the average
size of the penis? What are the extremes?
Is penis size
important?
Can penis size
be increased?
How do I measure
my penis?
My penis bends
down (or left, or right). Is there something wrong with it?
What is circumcision
and why is it done?
What are blue
balls?
Why is the prostate
mentioned so often during discussions of anal sex?
What's
all this stuff obout STIs?
Sexually transmitted infections are diseases that can be transmitted
between people when they have vaginal, oral or anal sex. Other diseases
such as herpes can also be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact.
You can have an STI:
• At any age
• And not know about it for months even years as you may be
infected but have no symptoms
• And infect others without knowing it
• And become infertile if it remains untreated
• Even after the symptoms have been treated
• And, with the right treatment, often be completely cured.
If you have had sex and you start to experience the following symptoms
see your doctor or Family Planning Victoria.
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• A discharge (like snot) from the penis or vagina
• Sores, lumps or rashes around or on the penis, anus or vagina
• Burning feeling when you urinate
• Itching around the vagina, penis or anus.
Remember if you have had sex without a condom you may still be infected
with an STI even though you have no symptoms. So go and see a doctor
if you think you might be at risk.
It's no big deal - many STIs can be treated.
How do you know if you've got a sexually
transmitted infection?
Often you won't. Many sexually transmitted infections do not cause
any symptoms. If you feel you have been at risk of a sexually transmitted
infection then you should ask your doctor about a check up. Your doctor
will need to ask you some detailed questions about your sexual habits
(history) and will need to do some tests.
Some of these tests can be done on a urine specimen, and some need
swabs from the genital region or blood tests.
If you are uncomfortable talking to your own doctor about this, you
can contact Family Planning Victoria. We can give you advice, suggest
who you could see confidentially or we can arrange an appointment
to see you ourselves.
How Can I Protect Myself Against Getting
an STI?
Safe sex doesn't have to involve penetration either orally, vaginally
or anally. There are other ways to have satisfying sex that is safe.
Try the Three Ms
• Mutual masturbation
• Masturbation while talking about sex
• Massage.
But even if you avoid penetration or you use a condom, it is still
possible to pass on some infections such as genital warts just through
skin-to-skin contact and oral herpes can be transmitted through kissing.
If you think you might be at risk of having a sexually transmitted
infection see your doctor.
What infections can I pick up when I have
sex?
Chlamydia, genital warts, herpes and gonorrhea are the most common
sexually transmitted infections causing genital symptoms. Trichomonas
is a less common sexually transmitted infection and can also cause
genital symptoms in both men and women. Hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis
can also be transmitted sexually. Less commonly, Hepatitis A can be
sexually transmitted. This can occur with anal intercourse or when
there is other contact with the anus or faeces during sex. Hepatitis
C can occasionally be sexually transmitted though is more commonly
spread through blood products. In addition, pubic lice (crabs), scabies,
and other less common infections called molluscum contagiosum, donovanosis,
chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum can be sexually transmitted.
How can I protect myself from other sexually
transmitted infections?
The most risky forms of sex are penetrative anal intercourse and penetrative
vaginal intercourse with no condoms. You can reduce your chance of
infection greatly by using a condom.
It is important to make sure the condom is put on before any penetration
takes place, and to make sure the condom stays on until withdrawal
is complete. This means withdrawing before the erection is lost and
holding the condom in place during withdrawal. Condoms can sometimes
break, so it is important to check the condom is still intact after
sex.
Ensuring the condom is not out of date, and using a water based lubricant
when you feel dry may help prevent breakages. Oil based lubricants
(such as moisturiser or massage oils) can damage the latex of condoms
and so should be avoided. Other sexual activities put you at less
risk of sexually transmitted infections. These include mutual masturbation,
penetrative sex with condoms, massage, and oral sex with a condom.
How can I tell if I've got a sexually transmitted
infection (STI)?
People who have an STI sometimes get symptoms, which may include itching
in the genital area, unusual discharge, pain passing urine, or pain
during sex, but often there are no symptoms at all. The only way to
be sure is to have a test at a local Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM)
clinic.
Are sexually transmitted infections treatable?
Yes. Most sexually transmitted infections are treatable.
How do they do the tests to find out if you've
got a sexually transmitted infection?
There are different tests available. A full sexual health check includes
an examination of genitals, a urine sample, taking a swab from the
genital area and a blood sample. You may also be offered an HIV test
but this will only be done if you agree.
How do I get my male partner to use a condom?
Explain to your partner that it reduces your chance of infection.
If you are not able to persuade him, consider other forms of sex rather
than penetration or consider using a female condom yourself.
What are the safest forms of sex?
Sex doesn't have to involve penetration. There are numerous other
ways two people can have a satisfying sexual relationship such as
mutual masturbation and massage.
It is possible to pick up a sexually transmitted infection even if
you do not have intercourse:
• Some infections such as genital warts, crabs, scabies and
molluscum contagiosum can be passed by skin-to-skin contact during
sex without any penetration taking place
• Herpes can be passed on by kissing, oral sex or intercourse
(remember a lot of people who have herpes don't know they are infected).
There is less risk of infection if
• Both you and your partner have been tested for sexually transmitted
infections and are free of infection.
There is a risk of infection if
• You and your partner are having sex with other people
• You are unsure about whether you partner might be having sex
with other people.
What symptoms does Chlamydia cause?
In both men and women it is common for Chlamydia not to cause any
symptoms. This means that a lot of people who are infected with Chlamydia
are unaware of their infection. When it causes symptoms in women,
it may cause irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, pain when
passing urine, pain during sex or lower abdominal pain,. In men it
may cause pain when passing urine, discharge from the penis and pain
in the testicles and scrotal area.
If you have Chlamydia, it is important, that your sexual partners
are treated as well. If Chlamydia is not treated it can cause long
term problems, such as pelvic pain and infertility in women. In untreated
men, it may be associated with infection in the testicles and possibly
infertility.
If you feel you are at risk of infection, because you have symptoms
you are worried about, or because you have had a new sexual partner,
it is important to see a doctor to be tested for Chlamydia. Your doctor
will need to ask you some questions and do some tests. These tests
can be done on a urine specimen, but sometimes in men and women it
is also necessary to take swabs. Chlamydia can be easily treated with
antibiotics. Sometimes this can even be with a one-off single dose.
How can I protect myself from Chlamydia?
Using a condom when you have vaginal and anal intercourse will decrease
your chance of getting Chlamydia. It is possible to get Chlamydia
in the throat after oral sex. It is therefore a good idea to use a
condom when you have oral sex as well.
If you can, persuade your partner to be tested for Chlamydia. If you
are both free of Chlamydia at the start of a relationship, and neither
of you have sex with anyone else then you are safe.
How do I know if I have herpes or HPV (genital
warts)?
You can't always tell because sometimes you won't have any symptoms.
The only way to know for sure is to get a test and/or physical exam.
The most common symptom of genital herpes is a cluster of blistery
sores, usually on the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis or anus. Symptoms
may last several weeks, go away and then return in weeks, months or
years. A clinician can usually diagnose herpes at the time of your
exam. Further testing can be done if you want.
Genital warts caused by the HPV virus are usually painless but may
itch or cause sores and bleeding. Sometimes they grow in clusters,
but they can also grow in places you can't see. Only a clinician can
make a correct diagnosis of HPV.
Wouldn't I know if I had chlamydia or another
STI?
Unfortunately many people do not have symptoms. Up to 85% of women
and 40% of men with chlamydia have no symptoms. Many women discover
they have chlamydia only because their partners are found to be infected.
Other women discover that they have it when they are treated for infertility,
which can be caused by untreated chlamydia. Only a clinician can make
a correct diagnosis of chlamydia or other STIs. And remember, both
you and your partner must be treated to avoid re-infection. Planned
Parenthood offers confidential testing and treatment for most STIs.
When I have a pelvic exam, will I get tested
for all the different STIs and HIV?
A pelvic exam usually includes routine screening for chlamydia and
a Pap test that will screen for cervical cancer as well as other infections.
The exam does not routinely include tests for other STIs such as herpes,
gonorrhea or HPV infections, but if you think you may be at risk or
if you have any unusual symptoms, talk to the clinician about getting
tested
Can
I get an STI from oral sex?
Some people don't think of oral sex as "real" sex, but you
can get infections from unprotected oral, anal or vaginal sex. You
can get gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts and other STIs in your
mouth and throat. You can also pass the herpes virus from a cold sore
to someone's genitals. But don't let embarrassment become a health
risk! Even if it's difficult, talk to your partner about STIs and
take good care of yourself by practicing safer sex and getting regular
sexual health check-ups. If you have any unusual symptoms - abnormal
discharge, sores, blisters, itches etc. - check with a clinician immediately.
I had unprotected sex over a year ago and I've never had any symptoms,
so it's not likely I've got a sexually transmitted infection, is it?
Sometimes there are no symptoms or they may not appear for months
or may disappear when there is still an infection. The only way to
be sure is to have a test at a GUM clinic.
Can you get sexually transmitted infections
from sharing someone's towel or sex toys?
It is possible to transmit some infections through sharing towels
and sex toys, but as different infections are spread in different
ways, we would suggest that you seek specialist advice from a health
adviser.
I've always used a condom, so does this
mean I can't have a sexually transmitted infection?
Using condoms reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
However, different infections are spread in different ways, for instance
condoms may not prevent the transmission of genital warts if other
infected areas come into contact. We would suggest that you seek specialist
advice from a health adviser at a GUM clinic.
What's the average size of the penis? What are the
extremes?
According to the
book Mandens Krop (which is translated from English, but does not
give the original title) the average is 15cm and 90% are between 13
and 18cm.The records for a fully functional penis are 1.5cm and 30cm.
Is penis size important?
This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions on alternate
sexuality, and that's a shame, because it's really a pointless question.
Penis size is important if and only if you think it is. If you have
sex with men and you desire a large penis, then penis size is important
to you, and only to you. If you feel your penis should be larger,
then penis size is important to you, and only to you.Many
women report that too many men are hung up on the size of their penises.
The vagina is only eight
to thirteen centimeters long, and even a small penis can touch every
square centimeter within the vagina.
Can penis size be increased?
Yes. There are two surgical procedures to increase penis size-- the
Bihari procedure, and Fat Injection. The
Bihari Procedure consists of cutting the ligament that secures the
base of the penis to the body. This gives between one-half and two
inches of increased length to the penis; however, because the penis
is no longer anchored to the body an erection no longer points 'up.'
Fat Injection is the process
of removing fat from the back of the thighs and injecting it into
the body of the penis to make the penis thicker. Because the body
rejects a significant portion of the injection this procedure may
need to be repeated several times and each operation carries with
it a severe risk of infection.
How
do I measure my penis?
According to the doctors the procedure most commonly used is:
First, while standing, get an
erection.Now gently angle your penis down until it is parallel to
the floor. Set your ruler against your pubic bone just above the base
of the penis, and measure to the tip. this
is the correct way to measure the length of your penis.
My penis bends down (or left, or right). Is there
something wrong with it?
One-quarter of all penises bend in some direction and some bend downward
even when erect. Unless the bend is severe or causes you pain, there
is nothing wrong or abnormal about your penis. It should not interfere
with sexual intercourse. Some people report that a downward-bending
penis is easier to fellate. In
rare cases a condition called Peyrone's Syndrome can arise from childhood
diseases. This condition is caused by scarring on one of the two corpora
cavernosa within the penis, stunting its effectiveness during erection
and causing the penis to bend almost 90 degrees in that direction.
If you feel this may be the case, consult a urologist.
What
is circumcision and why is it done?
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the
penis. When performed in a hospital, it is usually done shortly after
birth by a doctor or midwife. Circumcisions are also given to Jewish
boys by a mohel in a ceremony eight days after birth. Some Islamic
boys are circumcised when they are older, around age 12. The majority
of American boys are circumcised. Common reasons for circumcision
include: better hygiene, "normal" or "better"
appearance.
What are blue balls?
Blue Balls is a real condition! The "correct" term for blue
balls is epididymitis, which is an inflammation of the epididymis.
In simple terms blue balls occurs when the epididymis get blocked
up with sperm that have left the testis but not the penis. The vas
deferns are the conduit for the sperm from the testis to the urethra.
When they get blocked you get pain. Why blue balls and not "swollen
balls," well maybe the connotation is that you balls have the
"blues", or maybe its because with all that swelling some
of the blood flow is restricted enough to cause some blueing of the
area because of pooling blood.
Why is the prostate mentioned so often during discussions
of anal sex?
The prostate is about the size of a walnut in a normal man, and is
immediately behind the rectal wall about three centimeters inside
the anus. It can be felt by placing one finger within the anus and
feeling along the anterior wall for a round bulb. For some men, touching
or rubbing this spot is extremely pleasurable; rare few can even orgasm
through this technique. Others report that the touch is painful or
makes them feel as if they need to urinate.
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