Symptoms and Treatment
EttieKits® provides tests for:
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Chlamydia
Symptoms and Treatment -
Gonorrhoea
Symptoms and Treatment -
Syphilis
Symptoms and Treatment -
Herpes-2
Symptoms and Treatment
When and How to Spot Symptoms.
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More than half of us will contract an STI at some point in our lives. STIs affect people of all ages and backgrounds and are passed from one person to another during sexual contact. They can affect the anus, genitals and mouth. Often people with an STI have no signs or symptoms so are unaware they’re infectious, that’s why regular testing is important for a happy, healthy sex life.
Chlamydia: The Silent Intruder
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Chlamydia is notorious for being symptom-free while quietly causing long term harm. Chlamydia is the most common STD in New Zealand with young women being the most at risk. Left untreated, chlamydia can cause infertility.
Regular testing is your secret weapon against this stealthy STI.
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Avoiding Chlamydia:
Chlamydia is spread when people have oral, vaginal, or anal sex. But you don't need to worry about getting it from things like kissing, hugging, or sharing towels – the bacteria don't live long outside the body. To really lower your risk of chlamydia, use condoms every time you have sex. They're a reliable way to protect yourself.
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Knowing About Symptoms:
Chlamydia can cause pain or discomfort while peeing, unusual discharge from your genitals, and sometimes pain in the lower belly. However, lots of people won't feel any symptoms at all.
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Testing Timing:
You can test as soon as two days after potential exposure, but tests are most accurate after about a week.
Treatment of Chlamydia:
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The Good News:
The good news is, chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics.
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Visit a Doctor:
If you get a positive test from an EttieKits® test, see a doctor. They'll determine the appropriate treatment based on the stage of the infection.
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Prescription Needed:
You'll need a prescription from a healthcare provider to get the right antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe the right medication, and it's important to take it exactly as instructed.
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Notify Partners:
If you're diagnosed with chlamydia, inform your sexual partner(s) so they can get tested and treated if necessary. This helps prevent further spread. If you’d like some help with knowing what to say, check out our conversation guide here.
Gonorrhoea: The Sneaky Intruder
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Are you feeling a burning sensation when you pee? Noticed some unusual discharge? These could be signs you’ve picked up a gonorrhoea infection.
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Avoiding Gonorrhoea:
Gonorrhoea is spread when people have oral, vaginal, or anal sex. You don't need to worry about getting it from things like kissing, hugging, or sharing towels – the bacteria don't live long outside the body.
To really lower your risk of gonorrhoea, use condoms every time you have sex. They're a reliable way to protect yourself.
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Knowing About Symptoms:
Gonorrhoea is an infection that can sometimes show no signs at all. But when it does, here's what to look out for:
If you have a penis:- Painful Peeing: A burning sensation or pain while urinating.
- Abnormal Discharge: Thick, white, yellow or green discharge from the penis.
- Pain or Swelling: Pain or swelling in the testicles, though this is less common.
If you have a vagina:- Painful Peeing: A burning sensation or pain while urinating.
- Increased Vaginal Discharge: An unusual increase in vaginal discharge that may be discoloured (yellow, green) and have an unpleasant odour.
- Pain or Discomfort: Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvic area.
- Bleeding Between Periods: Irregular bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods.
- Painful Intercourse: Pain during sexual intercourse.
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Testing Timing:
After you've had sex, it can take up to 2 weeks (which is 14 days) for a test to detect a gonorrhoea infection. So, if you get tested before this time, the results might not be accurate.
Treating Gonorrhoea:
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The Good News:
The good news is that gonorrhoea is treatable with the right medication. Usually, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection.
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Visit a Doctor:
If you get a positive test from EttieKits®, see a doctor. They'll determine the appropriate treatment based on the stage of the infection.
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Prescription Needed:
You'll need a prescription from a healthcare provider to get the right medication.
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Notify Partners:
If you're diagnosed with gonorrhoea, inform your sexual partner(s) so they can get tested and treated if necessary. This helps prevent further spread. If you’d like some help with knowing what to say, check out our conversation guide here.
Syphilis: The Great Imitator
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Syphilis can masquerade as other infections or even go unnoticed. It’s a master of disguise! The bacterial infection can spread through vaginal, oral or anal sex. It moves through three stages. In the first two stages, syphilis is treatable with a simple course of antibiotics. But if you let syphilis go untreated for over a year, it becomes latent. This means the bacteria stays in your body, but you might not show symptoms for a long time. Regular testing is your armour against this tricky opponent.
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Avoiding Syphilis:
Syphilis is spread when people have oral, vaginal, or anal sex. You don't need to worry about getting it from things like kissing, hugging, or sharing towels – the bacteria don't live long outside the body.To really lower your risk of syphilis, use condoms every time you have sex. They're a reliable way to protect yourself.
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Knowing About Symptoms:
The symptoms are different depending on what stage the infection is at.
1. Primary Stage: In this stage, you might get a sore and your lymph nodes (those little bumps in your neck and other places) could swell up. Look out for small sores or rashes, especially on your genitals, mouth, or body. The sores can be contagious, but oddly, they are not usually painful. They’ll eventually go away by themselves, even if you don't treat them.
2. Secondary Stage: You could get a rash on your body, especially on your belly, the palms of your hands, or the soles of your feet. Your lymph nodes might swell again too.
3. Late Stage: This stage can happen 7 to 30 years after you first became infected. It can affect your bones, skin, heart, and main nervous system. Late Stage Syphilis is really serious and can be life-threatening. -
Testing Timing:
After you've been in contact with syphilis, it usually takes about 3 weeks to 3 months (that's around 21 to 90 days) for the infection to show up in a test. This period is often called the "window period." If you get tested too soon after exposure, the test might not pick up the infection accurately.
Treating Syphilis:
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Treating syphilis involves antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare professional. The type and duration of treatment depend on the stage of the infection. It's crucial to follow medical advice and complete the entire course of antibiotics.
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Visit a Doctor:
If you get a positive test from EttieKits® see a doctor. They'll determine the appropriate treatment based on the stage of the infection.
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Prescription Needed:
You'll need a prescription from a healthcare provider to get the right antibiotics.Syphilis is usually treated with antibiotics, mainly penicillin. Other antibiotics might be used for those allergic to penicillin.
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Follow Instructions:
Take the antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Even if you start feeling better, finish the entire course. This ensures the infection is completely cleared.
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Notify Partners:
If you're diagnosed with syphilis, inform your sexual partner(s) so they can get tested and treated if necessary. This helps prevent further spread. If you’d like some help with knowing what to say, check out our conversation guide here.
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Follow-Up:
After treatment, your doctor might recommend follow-up tests to ensure the infection is fully gone
Herpes: The Unwelcome Overstayer
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Herpes-2 may pop up when you least expect it, with painful sores and flu-like symptoms. But sometimes it decides to play hide and seek and some people don’t experience any symptoms at all.
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Knowing About Symptoms:
Herpes can cause painful sores on your mouth or genital area. These sores might itch, burn, or tingle before they appear. They usually turn into scabs and heal on their own, but the virus stays in your body.
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Testing Timing:
Herpes-2 can be detected through a test at any time, but getting tested during an outbreak gives more accurate results. Please note, if you're not showing symptoms, then a test might not be as reliable.
Treatment of Herpes:
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Visit a Doctor:
If you get a positive test from EttieKits®, see a doctor. They'll determine the appropriate treatment based on the stage of the infection.
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Prescription Needed:
You'll need a prescription from a healthcare provider to get the right antibiotics. While herpes has no cure, antiviral medications can help manage symptoms and reduce outbreaks' frequency and severity. These medications can also lower the risk of passing the virus to others. A doctor can suggest the right treatment plan for you.
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Notify Partners:
If you're diagnosed with herpes, inform your sexual partner(s) so they can get tested and treated if necessary. This helps prevent further spread. If you’d like some help with knowing what to say, check out our conversation guide here.
EttieKits STI Rapid Tests have a high clinical accuracy (greater than 99%), but should be considered a preliminary test result. Please consult a medical professional for a conclusive result through further clinical and laboratory findings.