Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection transmitted during sexual intercourse through penetration of the penis into the mouth, vagina, or anus. It primarily affects young people aged 15 to 24 in Quebec, and it is common for a person 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 cases of oral-genital transmission
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Painful urination

Potential consequences of gonorrhea include fertility problems, pregnancy complications, and an increased risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.

Testing is done through urine, throat, or vaginal swabs, and a medical examination is required if symptoms are present. Treatment, which involves antibiotics, requires abstinence from sexual activity during this period or the use of condoms. Informing your partners if infected is essential to prevent the spread of the infection.

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through sexual intercourse with penetration of the penis into the mouth, vagina, or anus, and it mainly affects young people aged 15 to 24. Common in Quebec and around the world, this infection is often asymptomatic, which makes it easy to spread without the infected individuals even realizing it.

When it causes symptoms, these can include:

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

Complications from chlamydia can be serious and include risks of infertility, abdominal pain, difficulty conceiving, and complications during pregnancy. It also increases the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. Screening is simple: a urine test is often sufficient in the absence of symptoms, and a sample from the cervix or urethra is needed if symptoms are present.

Treatment with antibiotics can cure chlamydia, but it is essential to avoid sexual intercourse or properly use a condom during the treatment period to prevent transmission. For effective protection, using a condom from start to finish during sexual activity is crucial, and in the event of infection, it is important to notify partners so they can also get tested and treated.

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

For hepatitis B, the possible symptoms are:

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

For hepatitis C, the 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 infected individuals become carriers of the virus, although in some cases, the virus may clear up on its own.

Hepatitis B and C testing 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 available for chronic carriers and often leads to a cure.

Protection: The vaccine for hepatitis B (Engérix B) offers protection, but there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The use of a condom is recommended for every sexual encounter 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 inhalation equipment for drugs, and if consumption occurs, only use new equipment.

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

Genital herpes can cause:

• Small painful ulcers near the genitals, anus, thighs, buttocks, and inside the vagina

The consequences include the recurrence of ulcers throughout life, with intensity and frequency varying from person to person. The infection can also increase the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.

For screening, a test is only possible if visible lesions are present. So, if you have symptoms similar to those described, we strongly recommend getting tested quickly to confirm whether it is indeed herpes. The sample must be taken directly from the ulcer’s fluid to obtain reliable results. Without visible lesions, a diagnosis is not possible. Blood tests 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:

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

Protection: Consistent use of a condom during sexual intercourse is essential. The condom should be used from the beginning to the end of the sexual act for any contact of the penis with 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 about the infection, as transmission can occur even without visible lesions, despite using a condom.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse involving penile penetration 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 a higher risk of transmission during the first year following the infection.

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

• Shortly 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.
• In an advanced stage: flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, headache, aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting) and the appearance of redness or sores 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 activity until confirmation of cure through blood tests, which may take several months. If sexual activity is maintained, condom use is necessary.

Protection: If you think you may 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 maintained from the start to the end of the act. To minimize the risks of blood transmission.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the immune system, weakening the body’s defenses against infections and making the body more vulnerable to diseases. HIV can be transmitted in four main ways: during sexual intercourse with penetration (vaginal or anal), through sharing injection or inhalation drug equipment, during tattoos or piercings with contaminated equipment, and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. The virus can affect anyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and there is no treatment that completely cures HIV.

Symptoms of HIV are often absent at first, but if they 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

Consequences of HIV on health are severe: 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 serious complications, such as pneumonia or certain types of cancers. Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

For testing, a blood test is necessary. Although there is no curative treatment 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 rigorous medical follow-up is essential for anyone living with HIV.

Protection: During every sexual relationship, using a condom is essential to reduce the risk of transmission, and it must be used before any contact between the penis and the mouth, vagina, or anus, and from the start to the end of the act. To avoid transmission through blood, it is advised not to inject or inhale drugs, or to use only new equipment if that is the case. Anyone infected with HIV should inform their partners so they can also get tested and, if necessary, receive treatment.

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 common among young people aged 15 to 24, this infection is easily transmitted in the early years of sexual activity, making it one of the most frequent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Quebec.

When symptoms appear, they may include:

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

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

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

Regarding treatment, most lesions or condylomas caused by HPV disappear naturally within about 18 months, but this does not mean the infection is cured. To remove condylomas, several options are available, such as the application of chemical products, laser treatments, or cryotherapy. Treatments also exist 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 every sexual relationship, and it should be put in place before any contact between the penis and the mouth, vagina, or anus, and it must be used from start to finish of the act. However, transmission may still be possible 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 have a PAP TEST, according to INSPQ’s recommendations (the National Institute of Public Health), to detect any potential abnormalities.

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

The 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

However, many people infected with trichomoniasis show no 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 usually made through a laboratory test using a vaginal or urethral sample.

Regarding treatment, trichomoniasis is a curable infection with an appropriate antibiotic treatment, typically administered in the form of tablets. The treatment eliminates the parasite, but it is essential that both partners are treated simultaneously to prevent reinfection.

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