A vasectomy is a permanent form of contraception. It involves a simple surgical procedure that prevents sperm from traveling from the testicles to the semen ejaculated from the penis. After vasectomy, your semen is the same, but it has no sperm in it. Vasectomy is a safe, effective, and permanent form of contraception. How effective is vasectomy? A vasectomy is over 99% effective. However, while it is rare, a vasectomy may fail, and you may stay fertile or become fertile again. This can happen if the tubes are not entirely blocked off, grow back together, or if a third vas deferens tube exists....

What is chlamydia? Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmissible infection (STI) which is caused by a bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most common bacterial STI in young people under 30 in Australia.  Chlamydia is easy to catch, easy to test, and easy to treat. It can cause infection of the cervix, anus, throat, urethra(penis), and occasionally the eyes. How do you get chlamydia? You get chlamydia by having sex without a condom with a person who has the infection. Chlamydia is sometimes also transmitted through oral sex.  Is a chlamydia infection serious? If chlamydia...

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the body’s immune system, and if it untreated, it can lead to AIDS. The virus that causes HIV is called a retrovirus. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome and is a late stage of untreated HIV. This is where the body’s immune system is damaged by the HIV virus making the infected person vulnerable to diseases and infections. With the HIV treatments that are now available in Australia, AIDS is extremely rare. How do you get HIV? HIV can be found in blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal secretions, and breast milk. You can get HIV through: Sex...

Unplanned pregnancy is common, and it is estimated that approximately 150,00 to 200,000 unplanned pregnancies occur in Australia every year. There are three choices available when you have an unplanned pregnancy:  Continue the pregnancy and parent. Continue the pregnancy and place the child for adoption. Have an abortion. What to do first if you think you might be pregnant?  If you think you are pregnant the first step is to find out if you definitely are. To do this you need to have a pregnancy test. Finding out if you are pregnant is important so that you can get the right care early...

WHAT I GONORRHOEA? Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) which is caused by a bacterium called neisseria gonorrhoeae.  It can infect the urethra, throat, cervix, anus, and (rarely) the eyes. HOW DO YOU CATCH GONORRHOEA? Gonorrhoea is passed on during oral, vaginal, or anal sex without condoms. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Symptoms will depend on where the infection is.  Up to 80% of people with a vaginal infection will have no symptoms at all.  In people with an infection in the penis most will have symptoms, only about 10-15% will not have symptoms.  Symptoms are very uncommon...

WHAT IS VULVAR LICHEN SCLEROSUS? Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a common long-term inflammatory skin condition that affects the genitals. Lichen sclerosus can ccur anywhere on the body, but most often affects the vulva. It can occur at any age but usually starts around menopause and affects around 1 in 20 women who have gone through menopause. It can occasionally affect men and children. If lichen sclerosus is left untreated for a long time, there can be an increased risk of skin cancer in the vulva. Lichen sclerosus does not affect the vagina which is different tissue to the vulva. WHAT CAUSES...

Are you thinking about taking PrEP and would like to know more? PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It is a prescription medication which is a combination of two different HIV drugs taken by HIV negative people to prevent them from becoming infected with HIV. When used correctly PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV infection.

Condoms are worn during sexual activity to prevent sexually transmissible infections and as a contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy.  A condom is a physical barrier that stops body fluids (e.g., semen, vaginal fluids) from passing between sexual partners. There are two different kinds of condom available, the external (male) condom and the internal (female) condom. HOW DO EXTERNAL CONDOMS WORK AND WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF? External condoms are made of thin, strong latex rubber or polyurethane. HOW DO YOU USE THEM? They are used by being rolled onto the erect penis before vaginal, anal,...

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, or GSM is a term used to describe the changes that can occur in the vulva, vagina, urethra, and bladder when you reach menopause. These changes are common. Up to 80% of people have GSM following menopause, and more than 50% experience symptoms. Symptoms of GSM can occur following natural menopause or surgical menopause. Unlike other symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes and night sweats, which can improve over time, symptoms of GSM usually persist and may possibly worsen. GSM can cause significant discomfort and distress, and it is important that it...

WHAT IS HERPES?  Herpes is a skin condition caused by a very common virus called the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV: HSV 1 and HSV 2. HSV 1 causes almost all oral herpes (cold sores) and about half of genital herpes. Infection with HSV 1 tends to be milder and doesn’t usually require treatment. HSV 2 causes about half of genital herpes. It rarely causes oral herpes. Infection with HSV 2 is more likely to have recurrences and to need treatment but can also be quite mild. Both HSV types can have no symptoms and many people who have HSV do not know that they have it. HOW...

WHAT IS THE VULVA? The vulva is the part of your genitals that you can see. The vulva includes the mons pubis (the mound above the rest of the vulva), the inner and outer labia (lips), the clitoris, the opening of tube leading to the bladder (the urethra), and the opening to the vagina. The vagina is the tube that leads from the outside (the vulva) to the uterus (womb). The vagina is not part of the vulva. TAKING CARE OF THE SKIN OF YOUR VULVA The skin of the vulva is delicate and taking care of it is an important part of your health care. There are a few key factors to consider with vulva...

WHAT IS A COPPER IUD? An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small plastic device that is inserted into the uterus (womb) and is used to prevent pregnancy. IUDs are a highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive. There are two different types of IUDs- hormonal and copper. The copper IUD is an IUD that has copper wrapped around its stem and arms. It does not contain any hormones. HOW DOES IT WORK? The copper IUD works mainly by preventing fertilisation. It does this by being toxic to the egg and sperm and by interfering with sperm movement. It also prevents the implantation of a fertilised...