Running a blog and Twitter page about STIs is something I find super rewarding. Call me weird, but it feels good to be able to help people and answer their questions about sexual health.
If I can offer even just a handful of people some information they didn’t already know, I’m a happy chappie! Here are some of the most common questions I get asked by you lads in the Twitterverse.
“How do I know if I have an STI”?
Frustratingly, many STIs don’t have present any symptoms, in fact, 50% of people who get an STI don’t experience any symptoms. Of course, this does depend on the type of STI you contract, as there are some like genital warts and gonorrhoea which do present symptoms more often.
“Can I catch chlamydia more than once”?
Unfortunately yes. Chlamydia is a bit of a belligerent STI – it’s not like chickenpox where you get it the once and that’s that! If only, especially since it’s the most common STI in the UK.
“What are the tell signs that could indicate I have an STI”?
As mentioned above, a lot of STIs don’t have symptoms. However, any of the below is definitely a sign you should book yourself in at the clinic.
- Yellow discharge from your penis
- Swollen or tender testicles
- Irritation of your penis
- Pain when urinating
“I’ve only given or received oral sex – can I still get an STI”?
Yes! Performing oral sex on a person who has genital herpes, for example, will result in you being very likely to contract it yourself. Receiving oral sex from someone who has it can equally, be a way it’s contracted.
Gonorrhoea can also be passed on through oral sex, with the infection becoming present in your throat. STIs can even find their way into your eye and this can happen through oral sex… we’ll let you fill in the blanks there!
“Will washing my genitals after sex reduce my chances of getting an STI”?
General hygiene is obviously good practice – the bare minimum you can ask for in a partner is that they are clean! However, there isn’t any evidence to suggest maintaining good general genital hygiene will protect you from an STI.
Feel free to fire over any questions you have & remember to keep up with my blog, which sheds light on all things STI!