Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) & Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs)
What is an Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI)?
STI is short for sexually transmissible infection – an infection you can get from having sex with someone who has that infection.
Common STIs in remote communities are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas and syphilis. HIV is also an STI.
STIs affect young people especially people aged 15–34 years and are very common in many remote and isolated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
You can have an STI and not know it, because many STIs have no signs or symptoms—that’s why it is important to get tested regularly.
Even if you are feeling well, it can be causing damage to your body. You can also pass the infection on to people you have sex with even if you feel well and don’t have symptoms.
STIs can be very dangerous for pregnant women. They can harm both the mum and baby. Testing as soon as you know you’re pregnant and during pregnancy is super important.
Facts About Sexually Transmissible Infections
STIs are really common in our youth. It’s important that all our mob know about them, so we can protect ourselves and our communities. Watch this video to get the facts.
STI Fact Sheets
Click here for some factsheets about STIs.
What is a Blood-Borne Virus (BBV)?
A BBV is a blood borne virus — a virus you can get if the blood, semen (cum) or vaginal fluid from someone with that virus gets into your blood. This can happen during sex or by sharing drug injecting equipment.
HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are BBVs.
You can also have a BBV and feel well, with no symptoms. The only way of knowing you have a BBV is to get tested.
Getting tested is easy.
There are also treatments for BBVs.
STI and BBV testing is about respecting yourself, your partner and your community. It’s all about being young deadly and free!
BBV Fact Sheets
Click here for some factsheets about BBVs.
Young Deadly Free is a project by the University of Queensland Poche Centre for Indigenous Health (formerly the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute). © UQ POCHE 2024