SEXUAL TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN MEN

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INTRODUCTION

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is where an infection is passed during some kind of sexual contact. The infection may be bacterial, viral or parasitic and can be passed on through unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex. Symptoms can vary, but will generally fall into one or more of the following:

Pain/discomfort during urination
Pain/discomfort during sex
Lumps, sores, rashes around or on penis, testicles, buttocks, mouth, thighs
Discharge from penis
Bleeding from penis
Painful testicles
Stomach/abdominal pain

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)1:

Worldwide there are more than 1 million new sexually transmitted infections

WHEN YOU ATTEND A CLINIC

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccinations

Papillomaviruses are small, icosahedral particles (this describes the shape of the virus). Some viruses contain an ‘envelope’ (a membrane surrounding the main particle) whilst others do not. Papillomaviruses do not contain one of these envelopes. The main component surrounding the viral genome is called a capsid which is made up of units called capsomeres. The HPV virus contains 72 capsomeres. These are proteins that are often referred to as antigens (material that the body will recognise as foreign).

The HPV virus has many versions and these can infect humans. Many do not cause harm to us, but some can lead to changes in the body. These can be split into ‘low risk’ types that cause warts, or ‘high risk’ types that can cause cancer.