If you're having sex, you can get a sexually transmissible infection – even if you practise safer sex most of the time.
It’s estimated around 1 in every 6 people will get an STI in their lifetime.
There are many different STIs and not all of them have obvious symptoms. So, there is a chance that you or your partner could have an STI without knowing it.
If left untreated, STIs can have long-term effects on your body and reproductive health.
The good news is, most STIs are curable, and all are treatable.
Sexual Health Week (4-10 September 2022) is a timely reminder for anyone who is sexually active to talk to your doctor, nurse or health worker about STI testing and treatment.
Talk. Test. Treat.
Look after everyone's sexual health and get tested.
Preventing STIs
Condoms reduce your risk of STIs
You can reduce your risk of most STIs by using barrier protection such as condoms.
Condoms come in two types – male or female and are recommended every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex.
However, condoms do not protect against all STIs – that’s why it is important to have regular STI tests.
Condoms are available from supermarkets, pharmacies (or chemists), sexual health clinics and family planning clinics.
Get tested
You can also reduce your risk of STIs by getting regular sexual health tests.
Types of sexually transmissible infections (STIs)
Where to get tested
Sexual health topics
Information in community languages
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