Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is transmitted during sexual intercourse, involving penetration of the penis into the mouth, vagina, or anus. It mainly affects young people aged 15 to 24 in Quebec, and it is common for someone infected with gonorrhea to also be infected with chlamydia.

It can cause various symptoms, including:

• Unusual discharge from the penis, anus, or vagina
• Lower abdominal or rectal pain
• Pharyngitis or sore throat in the case of oral-genital transmission
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Painful urination (when you urinate)

The potential consequences of gonorrhea include fertility issues, pregnancy complications, and an increased risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.

Testing is done through urine, throat, or vaginal samples, and a medical examination is required if symptoms are present. Treatment, which involves antibiotics, requires abstaining from sexual intercourse during this period or using a condom. Informing partners in case of infection is essential to prevent its spread.

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection transmitted through sexual intercourse involving the penetration of the penis into the mouth, vagina, or anus, primarily affecting individuals aged 15 to 24. Common in Quebec and worldwide, this infection is often asymptomatic, which makes it easier for people to spread it unknowingly.

When symptoms occur, they may include:

• Painful urination
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus
• Lower abdominal pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse

Complications from chlamydia can be serious, including risks of infertility, abdominal pain, difficulty conceiving, and pregnancy complications. It also increases the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. Testing is simple: a urine test is usually sufficient if no symptoms are present, while a swab from the uterus or urethra is needed if symptoms are present.

Treatment with antibiotics can cure chlamydia, but it is crucial to avoid sexual intercourse or use condoms correctly during the treatment period to prevent transmission. For effective protection, using a condom from start to finish during sexual activity is essential, and if infected, it is important to inform partners so they can also be tested and treated.

Hepatitis B and C are liver inflammations caused by a virus, primarily transmitted through blood contact and, for hepatitis B, through sexual relations. Hepatitis B can be transmitted during sexual intercourse with penetration of the penis into the mouth, vagina, or anus, by sharing injection or drug inhalation equipment, or during tattooing or piercing with contaminated equipment. Hepatitis C, on the other hand, is mostly transmitted through sharing injection or inhalation equipment and through unsafe tattooing or piercing practices.

For hepatitis B, possible symptoms are:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting
• Jaundice, in some cases

For hepatitis C, possible symptoms are:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Heartburn or abdominal pain
• Jaundice in some cases

Both infections can have serious health consequences, such as the development of cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Hepatitis B: Often, the virus disappears naturally, and the person becomes immune. However, if the virus remains in the body, the person becomes a “carrier” and can transmit the infection for life.

Hepatitis C: Most people infected become carriers of the virus, although in some cases, the virus can disappear on its own.

Hepatitis B and C screening is done through a blood test. Treatments for hepatitis B aim to limit the infection and, in some cases, cure the person. For hepatitis C, treatment is possible for chronic carriers and often leads to a cure.

Protection: The vaccine against hepatitis B (Engérix B) offers protection, but there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The use of a condom is recommended for every sexual relationship and for any contact involving the penis, mouth, vagina, or anus. To reduce the risk of transmission through blood, it is essential to avoid sharing injection or drug inhalation equipment and, if consumption occurs, to use only new equipment.

Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2. Type 1 mainly affects the area around the mouth (cold sores), but can also affect the genital organs. Type 2, on the other hand, primarily appears in the genital area and rarely in the mouth. Genital herpes, whether caused by type 1 or type 2, is transmitted through sexual intercourse, with or without penetration, or through intimate contact (skin-to-skin) with an infected person, whether they have visible lesions or not, making this infection highly contagious even in the absence of symptoms.

Genital herpes can cause:

• Small, painful sores near the genital organs, anus, thighs, buttocks, and inside the vagina

The consequences include recurring sores throughout life, with varying intensity and frequency depending on the individual. The infection can also increase the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.

For screening, a test can only be performed when visible lesions are present. Therefore, if you exhibit symptoms similar to those described, we strongly recommend that you get tested promptly to confirm that it is indeed herpes. The sample should be taken directly from the ulcer fluid for reliable results. In the absence of lesions, a diagnosis is not possible. Blood tests for herpes are available, but their results are not precise enough to be reliable, which is why we do not recommend them.

Regarding treatment, there is no definitive cure for herpes, but medications can help to:

• Relieve symptoms
• Reduce the duration and frequency of outbreaks
• Lower the risk of transmission

Protection: Consistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse is essential. The condom must be used from the beginning to the end of the sexual activity for any contact between the penis and the mouth, vagina, or anus. However, transmission is still possible in areas not covered by the condom, such as the thighs, buttocks, and testicles. Since herpes is incurable, it is important to inform your partners of the infection, as transmission can occur even without visible lesions, despite the use of a condom.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is primarily transmitted during sexual intercourse with penetration of the penis into the mouth, vagina, or anus, or through direct contact with a lesion during intimate contact (skin-to-skin). Once rare, syphilis has been on the rise in Quebec over the past 10 years, with an increased risk of transmission during the first year following infection.

Symptoms of syphilis can vary depending on the stage of the infection and are often absent. When they appear, symptoms include:

• Soon after infection: painless ulcers located on the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat. These ulcers disappear on their own within a few weeks, but the infection persists.
• At an advanced stage: flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, headache, pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting) and the appearance of redness or bumps on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or elsewhere on the body. These symptoms also disappear after a few months, but the infection remains.

The consequences of untreated syphilis can be severe, with damage to the heart, brain, bones, and liver, and an increased risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.

Screening is done through a blood test.

Treatment involves antibiotics, but it is essential to abstain from sexual intercourse until healing is confirmed through blood tests, which may take several months. If sexual intercourse is maintained, the use of a condom is necessary.

Protection: If you think you have contracted syphilis, using a condom is crucial for every sexual encounter, and it should be in place before any contact between the penis and the mouth, vagina, or anus, and remain on throughout the entire act. To minimize the risk of transmission through blood.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the immune system, weakening the body’s defenses against infections and making it more vulnerable to diseases. HIV can be transmitted in four main ways: during penetrative sex (vaginal or anal), by sharing injection or drug inhalation equipment, through tattoos or piercings with contaminated tools, and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. The virus can affect anyone, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, or ethnic background, and there is no cure for HIV.

Symptoms of HIV are often absent at first, but if they do appear, they may include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache or sore throat
• Muscle or joint pain
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin
• Significant weight loss
• Diarrhea

The consequences of HIV on health are serious: the infection weakens the immune system, making the person vulnerable to infections that would not pose risks to healthy individuals, such as the flu, and increasing the risk of severe complications, such as pneumonia or certain types of cancer. Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

For screening, a blood test is required. While there is no cure for HIV or AIDS, current medications can limit the damage caused by the infection. This medication must be taken for life to remain effective, and strict medical follow-up is essential for anyone living with HIV.

Protection: During every sexual encounter, the use of a condom is crucial to reduce the risk of transmission, and it must be used before any contact of the penis with the mouth, vagina, or anus, and throughout the entire act. To prevent transmission through blood, it is advisable not to inject or inhale drugs or to use only new equipment if necessary. Anyone infected with HIV should inform their partners so they can also be tested and, if needed, receive treatment.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common viral infection, often transmitted during sexual intercourse, with or without penetration, or through intimate contact (skin to skin) with an infected person, whether they have visible lesions or not. Particularly frequent among young people aged 15 to 24, this infection spreads easily in the early years of sexual activity, making it one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Quebec.

When they appear, the symptoms may include:

• Small bumps resembling warts (condylomas) on the genitals, around the anus, and less commonly, in the mouth
• Itching and irritation
• Lesions not visible to the naked eye, which may develop on the cervix

Some of these lesions can become cancerous if not detected and treated in time.

For screening, there is no test to detect HPV in the absence of visible lesions. If lesions are visible, a medical examination can diagnose the infection. Pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions on the cervix can be detected by PAP TEST during a gynecological exam, which helps prevent the development of cancers.

Regarding treatment, most lesions or condylomas caused by HPV naturally disappear within about 18 months, but this does not mean the infection is cured. To eliminate condylomas, several options are available, such as the application of chemical products, laser treatments, or liquid nitrogen. Treatments are also available to prevent the progression to cancer.

Protection: The HPV vaccine protects against certain types of HPV, although it does not protect against other STIs. The use of a condom is also recommended for each sexual encounter, and it should be in place before any contact of the penis with the mouth, vagina, or anus, and must be used from start to finish of the act. However, transmission can still occur in areas not covered by the condom, such as the thighs, buttocks, and testicles. Since symptoms may take time to appear, it is essential for young women to regularly perform a PAP TEST, according to the recommendations of INSPQ (the National Institute of Public Health), to detect any potential abnormalities.

Trichomoniasis is a common parasitic infection primarily transmitted during unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. Although it can affect anyone, it is particularly common among sexually active individuals.

Symptoms of trichomoniasis may include:

• Itching and irritation in the genital area
• Unusual vaginal discharge, often yellowish or greenish, in women
• Burning sensation or discomfort during urination (when you urinate)

However, many infected individuals may not show symptoms, making detection difficult without screening. In women, the infection can affect the vagina and, in some cases, cause complications if left untreated.

For screening: The diagnosis of trichomoniasis is generally made through a laboratory test using a vaginal or urethral sample.

Regarding treatment, trichomoniasis is a curable infection with an appropriate antibiotic treatment, typically given in pill form. The treatment eliminates the parasite, but it is essential for partners to be treated simultaneously to avoid reinfection.

Protection: The use of condoms is recommended to reduce the risk of trichomoniasis transmission during sexual intercourse. Since symptoms can sometimes take time to appear, regular screening is advised, especially for individuals with multiple partners.