STI Factsheets

​​​Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) fact sheets provide essential information about STIs including how they are transmitted, symptoms, prevention methods, when to get tested, and how to get treated. More infectious diseases fact sheets can be found on the NSW Health website.

• ​​Syphilis can be treated and cured with antibiotics. Symptoms can be different for everyone, and many people don’t notice them or they are easily missed. If not treated, syphilis can lead to serious health complications that affect the brain, spinal cord and other organs. The use of condoms and dental dams can help prevent transmission.
• You, your baby and syphilis If you have syphilis when pregnant, you can also pass the infection to your unborn baby (congenital syphilis). If not treated, syphilis can cause serious health problems for you and your baby.
• Chlamydia is a common STI that can lead to infertility, and other complications. Many people who have the infection will not have symptoms but can still spread the disease. Chlamydia can be treated and cured with antibiotics. The use of condoms and dental dams can help ​prevent transmission.
  
• Gonorrhoea is an STI that can lead to infertility, and other complications. Many people who have the infection will not have symptoms but can still spread the disease. Gonorrhoea can be treated and cured with antibiotics. The use of condoms and dental dams can prevent transmission.
• Hepatitis B can be transmitted during birth, during sex and through blood-to-blood contact. It is prevented by immunisation, safe sex and safe injecting. All children, young people, and adults at higher risk should be vaccinated.
• Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver. It is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. More than 95% of people with hepatitis C can be cured by taking oral tablets. Without treatment, people with hepatitis C can develop serious liver disease.
• Genital Herpes is a common STI. There is no cure but most people don’t have ongoing symptoms.  For those that do, symptoms can be managed with antiviral tablets. 
• HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. It is transmitted through body fluids. Free treatment is available for HIV infection (even without Medicare) so that people living with HIV can lead long and healthy lives and stop transmission of the virus to others. There is no vaccine and no cure. AIDS is the final and most serious stage of an HIV infection that can happen without treatment.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus spread through skin-to-skin contact that can affect different parts of the body and increase the risk of developing some cancers. There are different types of HPV. Some types have no visible symptoms or may only cause warts.
• Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a rare sexually transmissible infection. LGV can cause severe symptoms, however it can be successfully treated with antibiotics.​
• Mpox is an infection that mostly happens from direct skin to skin or sexual activity. Most people with mpox can manage symptoms at home by staying hydrated and taking over-the-counter pain medicine. There is a vaccine to protect against mpox called JYNNEOS.​
  
• Shigellos​is is a disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. It causes diarrhoea and is easily spread between people.​