Sexual Health

Pregnancy is not the only thing to be concerned about after having sex. STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are common. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Some can be cured. Some cannot. Many have lifelong effects.

HPV (human papillomavirus) is the primary cause of cervical cancer. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; therefore, most infected people are unaware they are infected, yet they can transmit the virus to a sex partner.

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the Australia. Any sexually active person can be infected with Chlamydia. The greater the number of sex partners, the greater the risk of infection. Because the cervix of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured, they are at particularly high risk for infection.

In women, symptoms of Gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Untreated Gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems.

While treatments for HIV/AIDS have improved since the disease appeared in Australia, HIV remains an incurable disease. An estimated 16,692 people were living with HIV in Australia at the end of 2007. From the start of the epidemic until the end of June 2007, there have been 23,360 diagnoses of HIV (after adjusting for multiple reports) and 10,097 diagnoses of AIDS. Australia has recorded 6,709 deaths of people with AIDS.

Sex is a big deal. Know the facts. Make informed decisions. Respect yourself.

National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research.
(Australian HIV Surveillance Report, Vol 23, No 4, October 2007)
National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia ( Annual Surveillance Reports 1997-2008)
National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Sydney, NSW; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra, ACT