Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a diseases that infects the genitals and is one of the most common STI's. It is most commonly passed on through sex and sharing sex toys, although anal sex can pass it on. The symptoms include:
- discharge from the vargina or penis
- pain/burning when passing water
- bleeding between periods
- bleeding or pain after sex (women)
- abdomin pain (women)#
If untreated it can affect a woman's pregnancy in various ways, and it can effect the chance's of giving fertility in men and women.
It is easily treated with use of anti-biotics but the testing can be unconfortable, for women they use a clamp to take a speciman from the vagina and the men, they take a swob from the penis hole.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial disease also known as the clat. It can affect genitals, urethra, rectum and throat. You can catch it through vaginal, anal and oral sex, sharing sex toys, close bodily contact and at birth from mother to child.
The worrying statistic in 1 in 2 women and 1 in 10 men with Gonorrhoea actually have any symptoms. You must get yourself checked out regualary at a clinic as Gonorrhoea as if you leave this disease untreated, it can spread to your organs and course real damage. In females it can result in in fertility.
Treatment can be painful, the women needs a clamp to take a swob of the womb or penis, a genital exaxmination or/and a urinal test. If then the results come back as positive for Gonorrhoea then you will be given a course of drugs which spans 2 months.
The symptoms (if you have any) are similar to that of Chlamydia:
- discharge from the penis or vagina
- burning/pain when passing water
- irritation and/or discharge from the anus
- swollen testicles
- abdominal tenderness (women)
Thrush
Thrush is an infection that almost every woman will have to endure but they can pass it onto their partners during sexual intercourse. Thrush is caused by a natural yeast found on skin and genitals but when certain changes in the body happen, yeast levels increases too. The symptoms for Thrush are:
- sore and/or iritating around the genitals
- discharge form the genitals
- pain during sexual intercourse
- pain passing urine
- problems pulling back the penis's foreskin
Thrush can easily be treated with tablets (women) and cream (men). If need be to can check yourself at a clinic where the medical staff will take a swob etc but its pretty easy to identify and you can the medication without perscription from your chemist.
Syphilis
You may have thought that Syphilis died out 100 years ago. Well you would think wrong because it is still with us and you can easily get infected from it although the rates are very low. If you leave Syphilis untreated the consequences can be lethal but the treatment is simple either a single injection or a 2 week course of antibiotic pills. Testing for Syphilis can be unconfortable blooad and urine samples, swobs from infected areas, examinition of the genitals or an internal examination for women. Symptoms of Syphilis are in a number of stages:
- Painless sores appear on the genitals and/or for women, cervix and/or the uretha (tube where urine comes out of). 3 weeks after catching Syphilis.
- Sores may also appear around the mouth and/or anus which is very contageous. These may take up to a month and a half to heal.
- The secondary stages of Syphilis are a non itchy rash which covers the whole body with wart like growths.
- flu like illness
- hair loss
- Secondary Syphilis takes months to heal.
That was a few Sexually Transmitted diseases. More information on the others and the STI's mentioned are available online from a few trusted sites, otherwise visit your local doctor or GUM clinic available in most NHS hospitals.
Other Swinging Safety considerations are not just whether or not the person you want to swing with has a STI (always use a condom) but do you know the other swinger well enough. He/She could be a murderer, rapist and other bad things. Best thing is to get to know the other swinger well enough before you consider you and/or your partner engaging in sexual practice with him/her. Meet a couple of times talk on a common basis then maybe continue more of a intimate manner then if you decide to, swing away.
Just get to know the swinger(s) first and always where a condom is our swinging advice. Be wise. |
