Sex happens. Diseases are around and we feel it is important that you have some knowledge to help you or others. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are passed from one person to another through unprotected sex or genital contact.

You can be tested for STIs at several clinics in Jakarta. It can be expensive to have all the tests (3 million rupiah or more) and prevention is obviously a cheaper and a more healthy solution. Safe sex helps! Safe sex usually involves proper use of a condom. Let us start with an overview of the different STIs.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STI and is easily passed on during sex. Most people don’t have any symptoms, so they do not know they’re infected.

In women, chlamydia can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, a vaginal discharge, pain in the lower abdomen during or after sex, and bleeding during or after sex. It can also cause heavy periods or bleeding in between periods.

In men, chlamydia can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, discharge from the penis, and pain or tenderness in the testicles.

It’s also possible to have a chlamydia infection in your rectum (bottom), throat or eyes. Diagnosing chlamydia is done with a urine test, swab or by taking bloods in Indonesia. The antibodies in the blood can only tell if you with certainty you had chlamydia in the past and can cause false positive results. The infection is easily treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated it can cause serious problems including infertility.

Genital warts

Genital warts are small fleshy growths or skin changes that appear on or around your genital or anal area. They’re caused by the human papilloma virus and are a common STI.

The warts are usually painless, but you may notice some itching or redness. Occasionally, they can cause bleeding.

HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact. No penetrative sex is needed to spread the warts.

Several treatments are available for genital warts, including creams and freezing the warts.

Genital herpes

Genital herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is the same virus that causes cold sores.

Some people develop symptoms of HSV a few days after coming into contact with the virus. Small, painful blisters or sores usually develop, which may cause itching or tingling, or make it painful to urinate.

After you’ve been infected, the virus remains inactive most of the time. However, certain triggers can reactivate the virus, causing the blisters to develop again, although they’re usually smaller and less painful.

It’s easier to test for HSV if you have symptoms. Although there’s no cure for genital herpes, the symptoms can usually be controlled using antiviral medicines.

A vaccination against HPV can protect against against warts, but only to warts of caused by the same type of HPV the vaccine protects against.

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI easily passed on during sex. A lot of women and  men don’t experience any symptoms and are unaware they’re infected.

In women, gonorrhoea can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, a vaginal discharge, pain in the lower abdomen during or after sex, and bleeding during or after sex or between periods, sometimes causing heavy periods.

In men, gonorrhoea can cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, a white, discharge from the penis, and pain or tenderness in the testicles.

It’s also possible to have a gonorrhoea infection in your rectum, throat or eyes.

Gonorrhoea is diagnosed in Jakarta by taking a swab of the affected area. The infection is easily treated with antibiotics, but can lead to serious long-term health problems if left untreated, including infertility.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that in the early stages causes a painless, but highly infectious, sore on your genitals or around the mouth. The sore can last up to six weeks before disappearing.

Secondary symptoms such as a rash, flu-like illness or patchy hair loss may then develop. These may disappear within a few weeks, after which you’ll have a symptom-free phase.

The late or tertiary stage of syphilis usually occurs after many years, and can cause serious conditions such as heart problems, paralysis and blindness.

A blood test can usually be used to diagnose syphilis at any stage. The condition can be treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin injections. When syphilis is treated properly, the later stages can be prevented.

HIV

HIV is most commonly passed on through unprotected sex. It can also be transmitted by coming into contact with infected blood – for example, sharing needles to inject steroids or drugs.

The HIV virus attacks and weakens the immune system, making it less able to fight infections and disease. There’s no cure for HIV, but there are treatments that allow most people to live a long and otherwise healthy life.

AIDS is the final stage of an HIV infection, when your body can no longer fight life-threatening infections.

Most people with HIV look and feel healthy and have no symptoms. When you first develop HIV, you may experience a flu-like illness with a fever, sore throat or rash. This is called a seroconversion illness.

A simple blood test is usually used to test for an HIV infection.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a tiny parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It can be easily passed on through sex and most people don’t know they’re infected.

In women, trichomoniasis can cause a frothy yellow or watery vaginal discharge that has an unpleasant smell, soreness or itching around the vagina, and pain when passing urine.

In men, trichomoniasis rarely causes symptoms. You may experience pain or burning after passing urine, a whitish discharge, or an inflamed foreskin.

Trichomoniasis can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. You may need a swab test. It can be treated with antibiotics.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is spread by blood and body fluids. It is a virus that affects the liver.

It often doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms in adults and typically passes in a few months without treatment.

A hepatitis B vaccine is available for people at high risk of the condition.

Pubic lice

Pubic lice are easily passed to others through close genital contact. They’re usually found in pubic hair, but can live in underarm hair, body hair, beards and occasionally eyebrows or eyelashes.

The lice crawl from hair to hair but don’t jump or fly from person to person. It may take several weeks for you to notice any symptoms. Most people experience itching, and you may notice the lice or eggs on the hairs.

Pubic lice can usually be successfully treated with special creams or shampoos. You don’t need to shave off your pubic hair or body hair.

Scabies

Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. It can be passed on through close body or sexual contact, or from infected clothing, bedding or towels.

It causes intense itching that’s worse at night. The itching can be in your genital area, but it also often occurs between your fingers, on wrists and ankles, under your arms, or on your body and breasts.

You may have a rash or tiny spots. Scabies can usually be successfully treated using special creams. The itching can sometimes continue for a short period, even after effective treatment.

If you have any concerns we advise you to speak to your trusted medical practitioner. You may also contact us via info@goodpractice.co.id or 021 7183140