From Safer Sex Guide
Viral STI basics
Hepatitis A (Hep A) affects the liver and interferes with usual liver functions. When symptoms (such as fatigue
and loss of appetite) occur, they can take two to six weeks to appear. Most adults with Hep A have some
symptoms. Hep A can be passed sexually when there is oral contact with infected feces (poo), for example, during
rimming or anilingus. Most people recover from Hep A and their bodies are able to fight off the infection without
treatment. There is a vaccine to prevent Hep A infection.
Hepatitis B (Hep B) affects the liver and interferes with usual liver functions. Hep B often has no symptoms. If
symptoms (such as fatigue and loss of appetite) do occur, they can take two to three months to appear. Hep B can
be passed sexually through blood, semen (cum) and vaginal fluids carrying the virus. If left untreated, it can cause
liver damage. Most people recover from Hep B and their bodies are able to fight off the infection without treatment.
There is a vaccine to prevent Hep B infection and treatment keeps the virus under control.
Hepatitis C (Hep C) attacks the liver. Many people who have Hep C show no symptoms in the beginning and may
have the virus for a long time before any symptoms show up. Hep C passes from person to person when the blood
of a person with Hep C comes in contact with someone else’s bloodstream. In Canada, Hep C is most commonly
passed through sharing equipment to inject drugs. Hep C can also be passed if people share equipment when using
recreational drugs during sex (party and play). Read about using drugs while having sex.
Until recently, it was not thought that Hep C was commonly passed through sex. However, we now know that it is
possible to pass Hep C through sex. The risk increases with condomless anal sex where blood, HIV and other STIs
are present.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV): There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Herpes is one of the
most common STIs. Most people don’t have symptoms, but if a person does have symptoms they include a tingling
or burning feeling in the skin or an outbreak of sores/blisters in the genital area or on the mouth and lips (cold
sores). When symptoms do occur, they can take anywhere from two to 21 days to appear. HSV-1 is most often
found around the mouth and lips (causing cold sores), but it can also be passed to the genitals through oral sex
(mouth to penis, vagina or anus) and genital-to-genital contact. HSV-2 most often shows up on the genitals and is
usually passed through genital-to-genital contact. People can pass HSV even if they do not have outbreaks. There is
no vaccine to prevent herpes and no cure for herpes but medication can help reduce the number and severity of
outbreaks.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common viral infection that usually has no symptoms. If symptoms do occur,
they can take months or years to appear. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts and some strains of HPV can
eventually lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, penis or throat. Most cases of HPV clear on their own within two
years. Genital warts can be treated by freezing or putting medication on the skin, but the warts may come back.
There are vaccines to prevent HPV and they are best taken before a person becomes sexually active. Vaccines can
also offer protection to people who are already sexually active because they may not have been exposed to all the
strains of the virus covered by the vaccines.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens the body’s immune system (the body’s built-in
defence against disease). Some people develop flu-like symptoms when they fist get HIV, but many people have no
symptoms. It is possible to live for many years without symptoms. HIV can be passed through sex or sharing
equipment for injecting drugs. There is no cure for HIV, but there is highly effective treatment that can reduce the
amount of virus in the body and help people live long, healthy lives. Without HIV treatment, the immune system
becomes too weak to fight off serious illness. Reducing the amount of virus in the body also reduces the chances of
passing HIV.
Having an STI may increase the chances of passing HIV to sex partners. Having an STI may also make it more likely
to get HIV. It is important to make testing for HIV and STIs a regular part of your health care.
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Disclaimer
Decisions about particular medical treatments should always be made in consultation with a qualified medical
practitioner knowledgeable about HIV- and hepatitis C-related illness and the treatments in question.
CATIE provides information resources to help people living with HIV and/or hepatitis C who wish to manage their own
health care in partnership with their care providers. Information accessed through or published or provided by
CATIE, however, is not to be considered medical advice. We do not recommend or advocate particular treatments
and we urge users to consult as broad a range of sources as possible. We strongly urge users to consult with a
qualified medical practitioner prior to undertaking any decision, use or action of a medical nature.
CATIE endeavours to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information at the time of publication. However,
information changes and users are encouraged to ensure they have the most current information. Users relying
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Information on safer drug use is presented as a public health service to help people make healthier choices to
reduce the spread of HIV, viral hepatitis and other infections. It is not intended to encourage or promote the use or
possession of illegal drugs.
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