You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
Skip to content
Contact us
Emergency information
Print Page
Increase Font Size
Decrease Font Size
Menu
NSW Health
Search Keywords
Search
Menu
COVID-19
COVID-19 in NSW
NSW Government - COVID-19
Guidelines and fact sheets
Register a positive rapid antigen test
Statistics and surveillance
Information for people with disability
COVID-19 vaccination in NSW
Information for the NSW community
Information for community pharmacists
Information for NSW Health immunisation providers
Public
Helpful information
Find information by health topic
Find a hospital / health service
Emergency department waiting times
Patient care
Mental health
Aboriginal health
Aged care
Disability
Transport for health
Children and families
Kids and families
Pregnancy options
Assisted reproductive technology
Save the date to vaccinate
Violence, abuse and neglect
Healthy living
Awareness and prevention
Immunisation
Oral health
Emergency preparedness
Sexual health
Ending HIV
Community sharps management
Improving your health
Healthy eating active living
Quitting smoking
Environmental health
Hepatitis B and C
Women's health
Your Room - Information about alcohol and other drugs
Professionals
For general practitioners
Infectious diseases
Immunisation
Tobacco and smoking cessation
Control guidelines
Disease notification
Child weight management resources
For health professionals
Alcohol and other drugs
Outpatient referral criteria
Nursing and midwifery
Pharmaceuticals
Private health facilities
Public health legislation
Preconception, maternity, and child and family health
Interpreting/translating and multicultural health services
Clinical ethics
Research
Open data
Search open data site
Search via topics
Medical research
NSW Health and Medical Research
Healthcare innovation portal
New health technologies
Human tissue
Population health
Epidemiology and evidence
NSW population health surveys
HealthStats NSW
Careers
For jobseekers
Search for a job
Recruitment initiatives
Training programs
Aboriginal workforce - Stepping Up
Imagine Rural
For students
Scholarships and training programs
Clinical placements
Map My Health Career
Workforce and employment
Workforce planning and culture
Remuneration and conditions
Recruitment and employment policies
Human resources - e-compendium
Medical career planning
Senior executives
Publications
Publications and resources
Fact sheets
Publications
Multilingual resources
Reports
Safety alerts
RSS feeds
Policies and procedures
Policy and procedure manuals
Policy directives, guidelines and information bulletins
Media
Media releases
NSW Health
The Hon. Ryan Park, MP
The Hon. Rose Jackson, MLC
The Hon. David Harris, MP
Social media
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
About
NSW Health
Our structure
Our organisation chart
Local health districts
Government priorities
Value based healthcare
Climate risk and net zero
Regional health
Diversity Inclusion Belonging
Engaging with NSW Health
History of medical administration in NSW
Ministry of Health
Our structure
Our organisation chart
Our people
Working at the Ministry of Health
Government Information Public Access Act (GIPA)
Contact us
Ministers
The Hon. Ryan Park, MP
Profile
Media releases
The Hon. Rose Jackson, MLC
Profile
Media releases
The Hon. David Harris, MP
Profile
Media releases
Home
Sexual health
Sexually transmissible infections
Sexual health
Currently selected
HIV
Hepatitis B and C
STI & BBV related community links
STI and BBV related policies and guidelines
NSW Sexual Health Infolink
STI & BBV Related Professional Organisations
STI & BBV related research and surveillance
STI & BBV Related Campaigns and Resources
STI and BBV related services
STI & BBV related health issues
Sexually transmissible infections
Content 1
In the past sexually transmissible infections (STI) have been called sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) or venereal disease (VD). They are terms that are now less commonly used.
An STI is any infection which is passed from one person to another person during sexual activity. Sexual activity can include oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Some STIs can also be passed through non-sexual contact. For example, scabies can be passed during sex but a housemate who might share a towel, bed or clothing of a person who has scabies can also catch them.
STIs can cause a variety of physical symptoms, from itching and sores, to discharge and pain when urinating. If you have any symptoms it is important that you see a doctor.
You can have an STI and not know it. Even if you don't notice any physical symptoms it can still cause damage to your health. Even if there are no symptoms you can still pass the infection to your partners.
If you have or think you have an STI don't have sex until you have spoken to your doctor. Your doctor can talk to you about options for treatments and preventing its spread to other people.
Signs and symptoms of sexually transmissible infections
Remember you can have an STI and not know it. Even if you don't notice any physical symptoms it can still cause damage to your health. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.
If you have one of the symptoms listed below you might have an STI. If you think you have an STI please seek professional advice. Most STIs can be very easily and effectively treated.
If you have a symptom listed below it may not necessarily be an STI. It could be caused by something other than a sexually transmitted infection or it may be 'normal' genital function. For example itchy rashes in the groin can be quite common but are often due to a fungal infection rather than an STI.
a discharge from the penis
a discharge from the vagina
itching, bumps, lumps and blisters
pain passing urine
What is normal?
Sometimes 'normal' genital function can get mistaken for an STI. If you are unsure it is always better to get it checked out by your doctor.
Bleeding
Periods vary a lot from woman to woman. Bleeding can last between one to seven days and occur between every 22 to 35 days.
Signs of abnormal bleeding can include irregular or unpredictable bleeding, bleeding between periods and bleeding after sex.
For more information about periods, visit
FPA Health
Genital sores and rashes
Often men and women can experience sores and rashes in the genital region. This is normally because of recent trauma and often trauma caused during sex (for example excessive rubbing or pulling). Such sores and rashes normally heal within a couple of days.
Bumps, lumps and blisters
Often small white coloured bumps on the penis are mistaken for genital warts. They are called "pearly penile papules" and are not sexually transmitted. They are normal growths in many men. However, if you are uncertain get it checked out by your doctor.
Discharge from the vagina
It is normal for women to experience some discharge from the vagina. The amount will vary from woman to woman and can increase at certain stages such as just before or after the period, or midway between periods. Pregnancy can also cause an increase in discharge.
Normal discharge is often white-yellow and should have little odour and cause no irritation.
Discharge from the penis
Except for urine and semen, there are no other normal discharges from the penis. If you are experiencing a discharge you need to get it checked as it is normally a sign of infection.
For more information check the NSW Health
infectious diseases fact sheet page
.
Content 2
Current as at: Monday 16 January 2017
Contact page owner:
Centre for Population Health