Gonorrhea
Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacterium known as gonococcus. This disease has become more common all over the world of late. A significant increase in gonorrhoea cases has also been observed in Sweden in recent years. In most of the gonorrhoea cases reported in Sweden, people were infected in Sweden.
Infection routes
Gonococcus is a bacterium that can infect the vagina, urethra, throat and rectum. Gonococcus is a bacterium, so it’s easily transmitted. It doesn’t need to come into contact with sperm or vaginal secretions for the infection to be passed on. Gonorrhoea is most easily passed between people through unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex, but it can also be transmitted on the hands or sex toys.
Incubation period
The time between infection and symptoms appearing is short, between 3 and 7 days.
Symptoms
Discharge from the urethra, vagina and/or rectum, and a stinging sensation when urinating. Most people carrying the bacteria in the rectum or throat experience no symptoms but are still infectious.
Test samples
When testing, it’s important for samples to be taken from all the areas where the bacteria might be found; the vagina, rectum and throat. The urine can also be tested. Sometimes only one of these sites is infected with gonorrhoea.
Treatment
This disease is treated with antibiotics, usually in the form of an injection and sometimes in combination with tablets. Treating gonorrhoea incorrectly may result in the bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics and make the disease harder to treat. This is a growing problem all over the world. When treatment is complete, samples are taken to ensure that the infection is cured. Over time, untreated gonorrhoea may lead to fever, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, testicles and prostate, and sterility.
Gonorrhoea is covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means that tests and treatment are free. If you’re infected, staff are obliged to carry out an infection trace to identify where the infection has come from and who you might have infected before you knew you were infected.
Hepatitis B
This disease is commonly known as jaundice. The virus causes inflammation of the liver.
Infection routes
The virus is transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids.
Incubation period.
Two to six months after infection.
Symptoms
The disease often leads to fever, nausea, possibly vomiting and – eventually – yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Dark, port wine-coloured urine and light, putty-coloured stools may occur. Not everyone turns yellow, but most people are affected by fatigue and loss of appetite.
Test samples
A blood test is used to diagnose the disease.
Treatment
There’s no specific treatment, the disease often cures itself. Vaccination against hepatitis B is possible. Vaccination is recommended for men who have sex with other men.
Hepatitis is covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means that tests and treatment are free. If you’re infected, staff are obliged to carry out an infection trace to identify where the infection has come from and who you might have infected before you knew you were infected.
Herpes
The herpes virus, which causes small blisters, exists in two forms: oral herpes and genital herpes. It’s estimated that most of the population are carriers of the herpes virus. A third of carriers are entirely symptom-free.
Infection routes
Coming into contact with weeping blisters when kissing, having sex or using the fingers and mouth for other sexual stimulation. People can also be infected and have no symptoms at all: the virus can even be excreted by people who are symptom-free.
Symptoms
Initially an itchy area that turns into small blisters that crack and start to weep. The first outbreak after infection is obvious and can be very painful. Outbreaks then tend to happen less often and be less severe before disappearing completely.
Test samples
Test samples can be taken from the fluid-filled blisters, but herpes infection is often so typical that there’s no need to take samples.
Treatment
Herpes is incurable, but the symptoms can be significantly reduced with an anti-viral ointment that can be purchased from pharmacies without a prescription. Treatments on prescription are also available for more severe outbreaks.
Herpes is not covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means you have to pay for your own treatment. No infection trace is required.
HIV
HIV is a viral infection for which there is no cure as yet.
Infection routes
HIV can be transmitted through sexual activity, which causes the virus to enter the bloodstream in blood, sperm or vaginal secretions.
Incubation period
Around half the people contracting the infection fall ill with an acute (primary) HIV infection one to four weeks after being infected. This manifests itself in the form of a flu-like illness, with a fever and sore throat and a rash on the body.
Symptoms
HIV infection weakens the immune system, rendering the body susceptible to infection.
Test samples
An HIV test involves a blood test. You can be tested for HIV as early as six weeks after a sexual encounter. About half of all people infected with HIV test positive as early as two weeks after being infected.
Tests are available that give fast results (quick tests), and these need to take place eight weeks after potential infection. About half of all people infected with HIV test positive four weeks after infection.
Treatment
So far, it’s proved impossible to eradicate HIV from the human body. In other words, taking antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV won’t cure the disease. That said, they do reduce the progress of the virus in the body while also preventing the damage it may cause. The chances of passing on the infection are nil, as long as beneficial and efficient treatment is being administered.
HIV is covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means that tests and treatment are free. If you’re infected, staff are obliged to carry out an infection trace to identify where the infection has come from and who you might have infected before you knew you were infected.
HPV
Human papilloma virus, HPV, causes several common sexually transmitted infections. They are not normally noticed at all and they cure themselves, but they can also cause genital warts and/or cellular changes resulting in cancer of the penis, anus and throat. There’s been a sharp increase in mouth and throat cancers over the last 50 years, and the number of people testing positive for HPV has increased dramatically.
HPV is highly infectious, and most people contract one or more different types of the virus at some time in their lives. HPV is transmitted by direct contact with skin and mucous membranes. The incubation period from infection until the warts appear can be anything from one to two months to many years. There is now a vaccine against the common types of the virus that can cause warts and cancer.
Vaccination is primarily recommended for people who haven’t yet had sex with a partner. Women between the ages of 13 and 26 are offered subsidised vaccination as part of the school vaccination programme, but pressure is growing for this to be available to young men as well.
HPV vaccination isn’t just something young adults should consider. By way of comparison, homosexual and bisexual men in the United Kingdom are offered the HPV vaccination up to 45 years of age as this group is exposed to greater risk than others. Here in Sweden, you have to pay for your own vaccination.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common STI in Sweden. It’s passed on easily as many people display no symptoms. More than half of men infected have no idea that they’ve caught chlamydia, and about 70% of women with chlamydia show no symptoms. But the risk of complications and infecting other people are still as great.
Infection routes
Chlamydia is a bacterium that’s passed on easily, and it doesn’t need to come into contact with sperm or vaginal secretions for the infection to be passed on. The bacteria are easily passed between people through unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex, but they can also be transmitted on the hands or sex toys.
Incubation period
The time between infection and symptoms appearing is short: symptoms may appear from a couple of days to a week later.
Symptoms
Discharge and/or a stinging sensation in the urethra and/or rectum. Chlamydia can also cause throat irritation. Most of the people infected have no symptoms.
Test samples
Men provide a urine sample, while women provide a urine sample and a vaginal swab. Samples can also be taken from the throat and rectum. Testing should be carried out no earlier than a week after you think you may have contracted the infection.
Treatment
Antibiotic tablets are used to treat chlamydia. Failing to treat the infection may lead to urinary tract problems and inflammation of the genitals. In women, chlamydia may cause inflammation of the fallopian tubes and potential infertility.
Chlamydia is covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means that tests and treatment are free. If you’re infected, staff are obliged to carry out an infection trace to identify where the infection has come from and who you might have infected before you knew you were infected.
Genital warts
Genital warts are small warts caused by a virus. They can grow on and around the genitals and anus. These warts are pinky white or skin-coloured. They may have bulbous surfaces and often grow in small clusters.
Infection routes
The wart virus is passed on through contact with skin and mucous membranes where genital warts are present. It can be passed on even if no warts are visible.
Incubation period
It can take several months to several years for warts to become visible after the infection is contracted. This means it’s often impossible to determine where the infection came from.
Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms of infection. Warts may cause itching and discomfort during frottage and vaginal or anal intercourse.
Test samples
A diagnosis is made by having the suspected warts inspected by a doctor.
Treatment
The warts go away by themselves, but this can take several years. This is why a number of methods are available for removing the visible warts. Warts can be removed with a cream or solution that’s painted onto the warts. They can also be burnt or frozen off.
Genital warts are not covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means you have to pay for your own treatment. No infection trace is required.
LGV
LGV, lymphogranuloma venereum, is a very rare STI in Sweden. In the few cases diagnosed in Sweden, all infections were contracted abroad. Several of the people infected have been homosexual men.
Infection routes
LGV is passed on through oral, anal and vaginal sex and is caused by a variant of the same bacterium that causes chlamydia.
Incubation period
The incubation period is often long, up to several months, before swelling occurs in the lymph glands. Genital sores appear much earlier.
Symptoms
LGV is normally seen as sores on the genitals, throat and rectum. In the later stages, swollen lymph glands and/or bleeding from the rectum and anus, symptoms in the stomach and intestines and a general feeling of illness, fever and joint pain may be experienced. Carriers of this disease may be symptom-free but still infectious.
Test samples
The infection is confirmed from the symptoms, and/or in conjunction with test results indicating chlamydia. Samples are taken from the sore and/or rectum.
Treatment
Usually treated by means of a 3-week course of antibiotics.
LGV is covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means that tests and treatment are free. If you’re infected, staff are obliged to carry out an infection trace to identify where the infection has come from and who you might have infected before you knew you were infected.
Mycoplasma
Genital mycoplasma is a relatively unknown STI that resembles chlamydia in many ways and is passed on through unprotected sex.
Infection routes
The infection is carried in the mucous membranes, primarily in the urethra and vagina. The bacteria are easily passed between people through unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex, but they can also be transmitted on the hands or sex toys.
Incubation time
The time between infection and symptoms appearing is usually 10 to 14 days.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually involve a burning/itching sensation in the urethra. The infection may cause painful vaginal discharge. Just as with chlamydia, many people don’t even notice they have the disease because they’re often symptom-free.
Test samples
Usually a urine sample and/or vaginal swab. Samples can also be taken from the throat and rectum. Testing should be carried out no earlier than ten days after you think you may have contracted the infection.
Treatment
The infection is treated with antibiotics. In rare cases, this infection may also cause complications in the form of inflammation of the fallopian tubes or epididymis.
Mycoplasma infection is not covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means you have to pay for your own treatment. No infection trace is required.
Syphilis
Syphilis used to be a very common STI, but it’s rare in Sweden nowadays. The number of people infected with syphilis has been growing for a number of years, and the disease primarily affects men who have sex with other men. This disease is common throughout much of the world.
Infection routes
Syphilis is transmitted through contact with syphilis sores and rashes.
Incubation period
The time from infection to outbreak of the disease is two to four weeks.
Symptoms
Syphilis often starts with one or more hard, rough, weeping sores at the point where the bacteria entered the body. The sore may be difficult to detect if it’s in the vagina or rectum. The sore heals up after two to four weeks, but the bacteria remain in the body. After a while, a skin rash appears. Fever, nausea, fatigue, joint pain and hair loss are other symptoms. Not everyone experiences these symptoms, and some people don’t experience any of them. If left untreated, syphilis may lead to serious damage to the brain and heart after several years.
Test samples
Samples for syphilis can be taken from the fluid from the sores, or a blood test can be carried out several weeks after the suspected infection.
Treatment
Syphilis is treated by means of penicillin injections once a week for two or three weeks. Regular checks have to be carried out after treatment.
Syphilis is covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means that tests and treatment are free. If you’re infected, staff are obliged to carry out an infection trace to identify where the infection has come from and who you might have infected before you knew you were infected.
Trichomonas
Trichomoniasis is a rare STI in Sweden. Three-quarters of men and half of women infected never experience any symptoms.
Infection routes
This disease is caused by a parasite that lives in the vagina and is passed on during intercourse and other unprotected sexual contact.
Incubation period
The time from infection until outbreak of the disease can be as little as a couple of days, but it may take longer – up to several weeks.
Symptoms
Symptoms include a stinging and/or itching sensation in the urethra, or a vaginal discharge that may be yellowy-green and sometimes smell unpleasant. Most of the people infected have no symptoms.
Test samples
Diagnosis after vaginal swab in women. Men give a urine sample.
Treatment
The infection is treated with antibiotics.
Trichomoniasis is not covered by the Communicable Diseases Act. This means you have to pay for your own treatment. No infection trace is required.
