STI FAQs

STIs are infections which are spread from person to person during sex – including oral sex and anal sex.

Injection drug use, tattooing or body piercing can also spread an infection if the needles and equipment aren’t clean. An STI can sometimes be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, at the time of delivery and through the process of breastfeeding.

STIs can infect you in many ways. They can be caused by bacteria. They can be viruses. They can even come in the form of parasites like pubic lice. STIs are found on the body, in blood and in body fluids like semen and vaginal fluids. Sometimes, STIs like genital warts and herpes can be spread through skin-to-skin contact.

Most STIs can be cured, but some will never go away and may require lifelong treatment.

Spots could be a reaction to shaving or waxing or a reaction to a change in soap, body wash, washing powder or even the material your underwear is made from. However, they could be genital warts or molluscum contagiosum.

The only way to be certain is to contact your local Umbrella service provider and get yourself checked out.

The most common STIs are probably chlamydia, as it often has no symptoms so people don’t know they have it, and human papilloma virus (HPV – the virus that causes genital warts). Many people have HPV but only about 13% will get warts.

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is very infectious (100 times more infectious than HIV) and very easily transmitted through unprotected sex or by sharing needles to inject drugs.

If you think you might have an STI, get it checked out as soon as possible.

You can see your family doctor or contact an Umbrella clinic in your area to find out exactly what you have and how you can treat it.

To be on the safe side, it’s best to avoid having sex until you’ve been tested.

It’s not always easy to recognise the signs of an STI in you or your partner. In fact, some STIs have no symptoms at all, so you may not even know you have one unless you get tested, which is why testing is so important.

There are certain symptoms which are closely linked with STIs. If you have any of these symptoms we’d like to see you in clinic. Find out more on our symptoms page.

Vaginal discharge is perfectly normal and naturally varies in consistency throughout your menstrual cycle – and you will naturally make more when you become sexually aroused.

It is a good practice idea to be aware of what is normal for you as you move through your cycle or at times of sexual arousal so that any changes that are unusual are spotted more easily.

If you have had unprotected sex recently you may have an infection.

Unlike the fake STI testing kits which can be bought online, our self-sampling kits are genuine, completely free and available to residents of Birmingham and Solihull aged 16 or over. We do not charge a fee for sending kits, we include a pre-paid envelope for users to return their samples, and we test samples and send results without any charge to the user. (Please remember that some other suppliers do sell genuine STI kits online.)

The Umbrella service is run by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), which supplies our kits.

Returned samples are tested in the laboratory at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, which is also part of UHB.

It is correct that chlamydia can lead to fertility problems. However, this is usually from having chlamydia that has been untreated for a long time.

One of the key issues with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia is that they often have no symptoms, or the symptoms go unnoticed. As a result, people often carry the infection for years without realising.

If you have been treated without any complications and have been given the all clear, it would be highly unlikely that you have been done any lasting damage if you had the infection for a short time. However, if you are experiencing continuing pain or symptoms you should contact an Umbrella service location to get checked over.

There may be a number of reasons why your period is late – including stress – but, to be safe, visit your local Umbrella service provider and ask to be tested for both STIs and pregnancy.

It’s important not to panic. Umbrella sexual health service staff are used to dealing with situations like yours and will help to put you at your ease. Speaking to our staff will also provide an opportunity to discuss and review your contraception choices.

It is unlikely that you are either pregnant or have contracted an STI if you used a condom. Occasionally, however, condoms can break. To be safe, it’s always advisable to use condoms along with a form of long-acting contraception such as the pill, implant or coil.

If you’re sexually active, it’s a good idea to get tested for STIs every year, even if you feel fine.

It’s good practice to go for testing if you’re about to start a new relationship, and for your partner to do the same.

Some STIs have no symptoms so you may not even know you have one unless you get tested.

The types of tests you’ll take will vary depending on your concerns. Our medical staff will explain what tests are going to be done and why. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

For more information on getting tested in clinic, please see our page on testing for STIs.

If you’re aged 16 or over and live in Birmingham or Solihull, you can request a free self-sampling kit. This allows you to take your own samples at home and have results sent to you for free.

Hepatitis B infection can be prevented by completing a course of the hepatitis B vaccination. Vaccination is done through a course of injections into the upper arm. In most people a full course of hepatitis B vaccination prevents infection.

Using condoms can protect against catching hepatitis B infection through having sex.

For details of who should be vaccinated against hepatitis B, please see our page on hepatitis B.

Yes. Being wet and warm, the mouth provides the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Infections such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia and herpes are examples of STIs which can be caught through oral sex.

Flavoured condoms and dental dams are designed to help prevent the transmission of STIs through oral sex.

If you suspect your partner may have had an infection or if you’ve developed a sore throat after oral sex, or if you have unusual mucus/discharge in your mouth, it’s worth visiting your local Umbrella clinic.

To be perfectly safe you should always use condoms and dental dams for oral sex.

Yes, certain STIs can cause infertility if left unchecked. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea especially can cause scarring and pelvic inflammatory disease. They often have no symptoms so many people do not realise that they have them.

If you are sexually active, you should consider being tested for STIs.