STIs and HIV, the key facts

የወሲብ በሽታዎች እና ኤችአይቪ ዋና ዋና መረጃዎች
ስለ የተለመዱ የወሲብ በሽታዎች፣ ስለ ምርመራ አካሄድ፣ ስለ መከላከል እና አብዛኞቹ እንደሚድኑ ኤችአይቪም በህክምና እንደሚቆጣጠር የሚገልጽ አጭር መረጃ ቅጽ።

STIs and HIV, the key facts

What STIs are

• STI means sexually transmitted infection (የወሲብ በሽታዎች). It passes through sexual contact.
• They're common. Many healthy people get one at some point. It's a health matter, not a judgement on anyone.

Common STIs, in plain terms

• Chlamydia and gonorrhoea: often no symptoms; can cause discharge from the vagina or penis, or burning when passing urine.
• Syphilis: can start with a painless sore, then other signs later.
• Trichomoniasis: can cause discharge or itching; often no symptoms.
• Herpes: can cause small blisters or tender sores that come and go.
• HPV: usually no symptoms; some types are linked to cervical cancer, and a vaccine can prevent them.
• HIV: affects the immune system; often no symptoms for a long time.

Signs are often silent

• Many STIs show no clear symptoms, especially early.
• Feeling fine doesn't confirm you're clear. Testing is the only way to know.

How testing works

• Usually a quick blood sample, urine sample, or gentle swab.
• HIV and syphilis are usually a blood sample, with rapid tests that can give a result in about twenty minutes. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are often a urine sample or swab.
• Simple, not painful, and handled with care.
• After a possible exposure there is a short waiting period before a test can detect HIV, so a doctor may suggest testing again about three months later.
• In Ethiopia, HIV testing is available at public health centres and hospitals, free, and kept confidential.

What to expect

• You give a small sample and get a clear result.
• A test doesn't cause a problem. It tells you what's already true so you can act early.
• Everything can be discussed privately.

Treatment

• Four common STIs are curable with the right prescribed medicine, usually antibiotics: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis (per WHO).
• Viral ones such as herpes and HIV aren't cured but are well managed with antiviral medicine.
• HIV today: with antiretroviral therapy (ART), people stay healthy and live full lives. When treatment keeps the virus undetectable, it isn't passed to a sexual partner. This is known as undetectable equals untransmittable, or U equals U.
• Medicine must be prescribed by a clinician; don't self-treat.

Prevention

• Condoms, used correctly and every time, lower the risk of most STIs and HIV. Protection is strong but not complete for sore-causing infections like syphilis and herpes.
• Test regularly, especially with a new partner, and make sure a partner is treated too so an infection doesn't return.
• The HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer and works best before someone is sexually active.
• Medicine can lower HIV risk: PrEP is taken before possible exposure, and PEP is started quickly after a possible exposure (within three days). Ask a doctor if either fits your situation and where they're available.

Talk to a doctor if

• You notice any unusual symptom.
• You've had sex without a condom and feel unsure.
• A partner tells you they have an infection.
• You simply want a routine check.

Our Letena doctors can help, for free and in private, usually within a few hours. WhatsApp https://wa.me/251908182838, Telegram https://t.me/LetenaEthBot, or write to https://letena.letena.et/ask/.