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sexually transmitted diseases
Healthcare Hub:
Fast, reliable and anonymous testing
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis are common sexually transmitted infections. Many people have no symptoms at first, which is why testing is so important.
At the Sexual Health Clinic of the Healthcare Hub, you can get fast, reliable and anonymous testing in a safe and professional setting. You do not need a referral and everyone is welcome.
Worried about symptoms or possible exposure?
Do not wait and do not guess. Get clarity quickly and discreetly.
Chlamydia
What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a tiny bacterium. It can affect both men and women, often in the private parts, like the penis, vagina, or anus. You can get chlamydia through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person. The infection can also be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth. Research shows that most chlamydia infections clear up on their own, without lasting negative consequences for health and fertility. Testing and treating infections without symptoms therefore does not contribute to health. Unnecessary use of antibiotics also has a negative impact on the resistance of bacteria. If you do have symptoms, get tested. Use of condoms can help to reduce the risk of infection.
Symptoms
In women:
- Pain when urinating
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Pain in and blood from your vagina during or after sex
- Blood from your vagina when you don’t have your period
- More or different discharge/fluid from your vagina
- Itching at your butt/anus
- Blood or mucus in your poop
- Diarrhea
- Severe pain in your abdomen
- Fever
Symptoms
In men:
- Pain when urinating
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Fluid from your penis, especially in the morning
- Itching at your butt/anus
- Blood or mucus in your poop
- Diarrhea
- Pain in your balls
When should you get tested?
- If you have had sex and have complaints that may be due to chlamydia.
- If your regular sex partner has chlamydia and has been given medication for it.
Get tested 2 weeks after having sex without a condom if you develop symptoms. Use a condom until you have the results.
How is testing done?
The tests depend on the sex techniques and the symptoms. The tests can consist of a urine test, and/or swabs can be taken at different locations. The tests are sent to a certified laboratory. You usually get the results in a few days.
Treatment
With antibiotics.
It is essential that sexual partners are also tested and treated to prevent reinfection.
Prevention
Use a condom.
Gonnorrhea
Gonnorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD), caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It infects both men and women and can affect various parts of the body, including the urethra, cervix, throat, anus, and eyes.
Gonnorrhea is usually transmitted through unprotected sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral) with an infected person. It can also be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth, which can lead to eye infections in newborns.
Gonnorrhea can often occur without symptoms.
Symptoms
In women:
- Discharge from the vagina (which can change in color and odor).
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating.
Symptoms
In men:
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating.
- Discharge from the penis (usually yellow, green or white).
- Pain or swelling in the testicles (less common).
When should you get tested?
- If you have symptoms of gonorrhea
- If you have no symptoms, but have had sex without a condom
- If you have had sex with someone who has this STD
Get tested 2 weeks after having sex without a condom. Or if you develop symptoms. Use a condom until you have the results.
How is testing done
The tests depend on the sex techniques and the symptoms.
The tests can consist of a urine test, and/or swabs can be taken at different locations.
The tests are sent to a certified laboratory. You usually get the results in a few days.
Treatment
Gonnorrhea is treated with antibiotics, usually ceftriaxone (via injection) along with azithromycin (via tablet). Treatment should be completed, even if symptoms disappear. It is essential that sexual partners are also tested and treated to prevent reinfection.
Prevention
Use a condom.
Hepatitis B
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver, causing inflammation and potentially leading to liver damage or more severe conditions like cirrhosis or liver cancer. The disease is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is primarily spread through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person. This can occur through unprotected sex, sharing needles, or from mother to child during childbirth.
Symptoms
You usually have no complaints from hepatitis B. If you do have symptoms, they often appear 2 to 3 months after you were infected.
The symptoms can last up to 6 months. Afterwards you can remain tired for months.
The following symptoms can occur:
- Being tired
- Not feeling well, feeling nauseous, fever
- Pain in your muscles
- Pain or inflammation in your bones
- Spots on your skin
- Pain in your stomach
- Jaundice: the white part of your eye is yellow. You have yellow skin, dark brown pee and sometimes gray-white poop
When should you get tested?
- If you have symptoms of hepatitis B
- If you are more likely to have hepatitis B:
- You are a man and have sex with men
- You use drugs with a syringe
- You or someone you have sex with comes from a country where many people have hepatitis B
- If you have had sex with someone who has this STD
Depending on the situation, you can be tested immediately or after 3 months.
How is testing done?
- The nurse takes blood from you with a needle
- This blood is examined in a certified laboratory
You usually get the results after a few days.
Treatment
Hepatitis B usually clears up within 6 months. Sometimes the disease does not go away on its own. You can then receive medication to ensure that the disease causes less damage.
Do you have hepatitis B? Then it’s good that the people you have sex with frequently, and your housemates get vaccinated. Then they can’t get infected.
Prevention
- Use a condom
- There is a vaccine available to protect against hepatitis B, and it is given in a series of 3 shots
HIV
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that weakens your body’s immune system, which is the system that helps fight off infections and illnesses.
If someone has HIV and doesn’t get treatment, their body becomes more vulnerable to sickness, and over time, it can lead to a condition called AIDS. As a result, the body can’t fight infections anymore.
HIV spreads through contact with certain body fluids like blood, semen, and breast milk.
There’s no cure for HIV yet, but with proper treatment, people can live long and healthy lives. The treatment helps control the virus and keeps it from damaging the immune system too much.
How can you get HIV?
- Unprotected sex. If you have sex with someone who has HIV, the virus can be passed through bodily fluids, especially if the person is not on medication. The risk is higher with anal sex than with vaginal sex. The risk is very low with oral sex, but it is still possible, especially if semen is swallowed.
- Blood-to-blood contact. HIV can also be transmitted if the blood of a person with HIV comes into contact with your blood. This can happen if you:
- Inject drugs with needles that have been used by someone else.
- Get a tattoo in a country where the needles are not properly cleaned.
- Receive a blood transfusion in a country where blood is not always tested for HIV.
- Mother to baby. In rare cases, a mother can pass HIV to her baby through breast milk. In the Netherlands, all pregnant women are tested for HIV, so the risk is very low. However, this still happens in some other countries.
If someone with HIV is on medication, the risk of passing HIV during sex is much lower, even without a condom.
Who is more at risk?
People who are at higher risk for HIV are those who are more likely to be in contact with the virus. Here are a few examples of groups who are more at risk:
- People with multiple sexual partners – The more sexual partners someone has, the higher the risk, especially if those partners are not tested for HIV or if protection isn’t used.
- People who share needles – Using needles or syringes that are shared with someone else (like for drug use) is a big risk for getting HIV because blood can easily spread the virus.
- Men who have sex with men – HIV is more common among men who have sex with other men, though anyone can get it.
- People who are at higher risk because of their sexual or drug-use behavior – For example, someone who might not always know their partner’s HIV status or who might be in a relationship with someone who has a higher chance of being HIV-positive.
- People who are originally from a country where more people have HIV. Especially in Asia, Africa, parts of South and Central America, Eastern Europe and Russia.
- People who have sex with someone who comes from a country where more people have HIV. Especially in Asia, Africa, parts of South and Central America, Eastern Europe and Russia.
Symptoms
If you have just been diagnosed with HIV, you may have symptoms that resemble the flu or glandular fever. You usually get these symptoms 1 to 6 weeks after you have been diagnosed with HIV:
- Rash (spots on your skin)
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
Your doctor may not immediately think of HIV. Have you had a chance of getting HIV? Tell them. You can then take an HIV test.
.
When should you get tested?
- If you have had sex without a condom with someone who (may) have HIV, and you are not using PrEP.
- If you have symptoms of HIV.
- If you have an increased risk of HIV and want certainty.
Get tested as soon as possible after having sex without a condom. If the test result shows that you do not have HIV, take another test 3 months later. Only then will the test be completely reliable, and will you know for sure whether or not you have HIV.
How is testing done?
- The nurse takes blood from you with a needle
- This blood is examined in a certified laboratory
You usually get the results after a few days.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with HIV, you get medication from your doctor in the hospital. The sooner you start with that, the better. You won’t get sick. And you can’t pass HIV on to others. You can’t be cured of HIV. But if you use medication, you can live a healthy life with it. Medicines against HIV are called HIV inhibitors.
Have you had unsafe sex, with somebody who is more at risk (see above: “who is more at risk”) then call your doctor, GGD or the emergency department of the hospital immediately. The doctor will check whether you need PEP. These are medicines that ensure that you do not get HIV. Start PEP as soon as possible after having sex. In any case within 72 hours. Come back after the PEP treatment to get tested for HIV.
Prevention
This is how you make sure you don’t get or pass on HIV:
- Use a condom*.
- Use PrEP* before having sex.
This is a pill that ensures you don’t get HIV. You take PrEP before or around the time you have sex. You can get a prescription from the GGD or your GP. - Use PEP after unsafe sex with somebody who is more at risk (see above “Treatment”).
You will only get PEP if you have had a high risk of HIV. For example, if you have had sex without a condom or PrEP with someone who may have HIV. You can get PEP via the GGD or the emergency room. You must use it as soon as possible, but always within 72 hours. - Regular STD tests are advised for people who are sexually active. Especially if you have multiple partners or have unprotected sex, with persons who don’t use PrEP.
*Do you find it difficult to talk about condoms when you have sex with someone? On the website sense.info you will find tips for talking about condoms.
*On the website mantotman.nl you can read more about PEP/PrEP
Syphilis
What is Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is usually transmitted through direct sexual contact but can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy which can lead to congenital syphilis. Syphilis is known for its phases, as symptoms can change over time depending on the stage of infection. If left untreated, syphilis can cause serious complications, such as damage to organs (such as the heart, brain, and liver).
Symptoms and stages of syphilis
- Primary syphilis: The first sign of syphilis is usually a painless ulcer (also called “chancre”), which appears at the site of infection, usually around the genitals, anus, or mouth. This ulcer usually disappears on its own within 3 to 6 weeks, but the bacteria remain in the body.
- Secondary syphilis: About 3 to 6 weeks after the resolution of the first ulcer, symptoms of the secondary phase may appear. This includes rashes (often on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet), fever, fatigue, muscle aches, hair loss, and enlarged lymph nodes. In this phase, too, the symptoms may disappear on their own, but the infection remains in the body.
- Latent syphilis: In this phase, the person has no visible symptoms, but the bacteria remain present in the body. This phase can last for years. Syphilis is still contagious in the early latent phase (within the first year), but after that the risk of transmission is much lower.
- Tertiary syphilis (third stage): If syphilis is not treated, it can lead to serious complications in the tertiary phase years later. This can cause serious damage to organs, such as the heart, brain, liver, eyes, and bones. Tertiary syphilis can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as neurosyphilis (syphilis in the brain) or cardiovascular syphilis (damage to the heart and blood vessels).
When should you get tested?
- If you have symptoms of syphilis
- If you are at increased risk of syphilis
- You are a man and have sex with men
- You or someone you have sex with comes from a country where many people have syphilis
- If you have had sex with someone who has this STD
How is testing done?
- The nurse takes blood from you with a needle
- This blood is examined in a certified laboratory
You usually get the results after a few days.
Get tested as soon as possible after having sex without a condom. If the test result shows that you do not have Syphilis, take another test 3 months later. Only then will the test be completely reliable, and will you know for sure whether or not you have Syphilis.
Treatment
Syphilis can be effectively treated with antibiotics, most commonly penicillin, at all stages. It is important to complete the entire course, even if the symptoms disappear.
Early stages (primary, secondary, and latent syphilis): Treated with one injection of penicillin. Tertiary syphilis or neurosyphilis: This may require additional treatments, such as multiple doses of penicillin. It is also important that sexual partners of an infected person are tested and treated to prevent reinfection.
Prevention
- Use a condom
- Regular STD tests for people who are sexually active, especially if you have multiple partners or have unprotected sex.
Healthcare Hub:
Fast, reliable and anonymous testing
You can find more reliable info about STIs, when you should take a test and reducing your chances of getting STIs through this weblink: www.soaaids.nl/en
Healthcare Hub is a collaboration with vaccinatiecentrum.nl
and located in the same building.