Doing It BetterIf you are having sex then you should be having regular sexual health checks. Not all STIs show symptoms and therefore it’s possible to be infected or to pass on the infection without knowing it! Sexual health checks are easy, confidential and are available from your local sexual health clinic or General Practitioner (GP). Tests are recommended every 12 months. If you are having sex with more than 1 partner, or you have recently had sex without a condom or the condom broke then you should be testing on a more regular basis. There are sexual health clinics in most major centres in Queensland and it’s a confidential and free service. Sexual health checks detect Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs). The health professional will begin by assessing your sexual history to determine what tests to perform so it’s important to be honest. And remember, sexual health checks are confidential! An examination is performed to detect any signs of an STI. Not all STIs show symptoms so you may be asked at give a urine sample or swabs may be taken from inside your anus and/or throat. You may need to specifically ask for a blood test to detect HIV, syphilis and hepatitis A, B or C. For more information on talking to your GP see the “Talking to your GP” section. If you find you have an STI you will need treatment and you should suggest to all the people you have recently had sex with that they get tested too. If you need help to do this you should talk to your GP or phone your local QAHC worker for help and advice. Some STIs are easily treated, requiring nothing more than a course of antibiotics. HOWEVER, not all STIs are treatable and the presence of some may increase the risk of HIV transmission.
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