There are several good reasons or going to a family planning clinic to
get contraceptive advice. You will have to opportunity to talk to a medical
specialist about the wide range of methods on offer, and get to see, touch
and feel these products and discuss their use. In addition, some contraceptives,
male condoms for example, are available free.
This page contains a chart which highlights the major features of 12
methods of contraception. They are grouped under short-term methods (which can be stopped quickly or immediately) and long-term or permanent methods (which require time to be stopped or cannot be
reversed at all).
STD/STI |
Information |
Chlamydia |
What causes it: |
|
Bacteria |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Vaginal or anal intercourse, from infected mother to newborn during
birth |
Symptoms: |
|
Mostly go unnoticed but it may cause NSU in male partner. Some
increase in vaginal discharge may be noticed |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
By smear from infected site
(Antibiotics) |
Consequences: |
|
PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) and Infertility in women |
|
Genital Warts |
What causes it: |
|
Wart virus |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Sexual contact |
Symptoms: |
|
Appearance of warts around the genitals and anus |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Clinical inspection (Removed by a doctor) |
Consequences: |
|
Different types of HPV virus have been associated with pre-cancerous
changes to the cervix |
|
Gonorrhea |
What causes it: |
|
Bacteria |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Vaginal, anal sex, oral/genital contact or from mother to baby |
Symptoms: |
|
Women: Often no symptoms but may be extra vaginal discharge, burning
urination. Men will notice yellow or white discharge from the penis
or pain during urination |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Laboratory test (Antibiotics) |
Consequences: |
|
PID in women, severe pain and possible infertility in men |
|
Herpes |
What causes it: |
|
Virus |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Oral, anal or vaginal with an infected partner |
Symptoms: |
|
Appearance of genital sores |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Clinical examination of sores
(No cure but recurrence can be reduced by tablets) |
Consequences: |
|
Lifetime disease with flare-ups |
|
HIV/AIDS |
What causes it: |
|
Virus |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Sex involving vaginal or anal intercourse, sharing of hypodermic
needles, from infected mother to a newborn |
Symptoms: |
|
Not possible to diagnose from symptoms |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Blood tests
(No cure, some treatments may slow progress) |
Consequences: |
|
Life threatening disease |
|
HPV-Human Papilloma Virus |
What causes it: |
|
Virus |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal or (rarely) oral sex |
Symptoms: |
|
Growths, bumps or skin changes on or near your penis, vagina, vulva,
or anus. Unusual itching, pain or bleeding |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Clinical examination
(No proven benefit to treating subclinical HPV, but doctor can watch
for precancerous changes on the cervix) |
Consequences: |
|
Different types of HPV virus have been associated with pre-cancerous
changes to the cervix |
|
Non Specific Urethritis |
What causes it: |
|
Bacteria |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Sexual contact |
Symptoms: |
|
Found in males only. Slight white or cloudy discharge. Some may
be asymptomatic |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Smear from the penis
(Antibiotics) |
Consequences: |
|
Can spread to the prostate or testis |
|
Pubic Lice |
What causes it: |
Crab like lice |
How is it transmitted: |
Sexual contact or contact with bedding or towels |
Symptoms: |
Itching in genital area |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
Inspection
(Special Solutions) |
Consequences: |
Very annoying |
|
Syphilis |
What causes it: |
|
Bacteria |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Contact with rash or sores during intimate sexual contact |
Symptoms: |
|
Easy to go unnoticed. A painless sore in the area of contact 2-5
weeks after infection which clears up. In second stage a rash on
hands may appear |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Blood tests or swabs from the sore
(10-15 day antibiotic course) |
Consequences: |
|
Can seriously affect all organs of the body |
|
Thrush |
What causes it: |
|
Fungus |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Not usually picked up during sex, but can be transmitted |
Symptoms: |
|
Women: abnormal white or yellow discharge, red inflamed skin around
vagina and anus and itching. Men: Itchy rash |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Normally by symptoms or by microscope
(Anti fungal creams) |
Consequences: |
|
It's too itchy to leave untreated |
|
Trichomo-niasis |
What causes it: |
|
Bacteria |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Vaginal intercourse |
Symptoms: |
|
Women: Fishy smelling vaginal discharge which may be frothy. Vaginal
opening and lips may be itchy. Men: often without symptoms may have
some discomfort urinating |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Microscopic examination of discharge
(Tablets) |
Consequences: |
|
Discharge is impossible to ignore |
|
Vaginosis |
What causes it: |
|
Bacteria |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Not sexually transmitted |
Symptoms: |
|
a strong fishy smell, especially after sex, white or gray discharge,
watery or foamy discharge |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
By microscope or symptoms
(Tablets) |
Consequences: |
|
No long term problems, can cause infections in the mother's womb
or fallopian tubes |
|
Viral hepatitis |
What causes it: |
|
Virus |
How is it transmitted: |
|
Hepatitis B-Sexual contactor body fluids Hepatitis A contact with
faecal matter |
Symptoms: |
|
May be asymptomatic or mild flu like symptoms. Sometimes yellowing
of eyes |
Diagnosis (Treatment): |
|
Blood tests
(No cure exists, high protein diet to repair damaged cells and a
high
carbohydrate diet to protect the liver) |
Consequences: |
|
Serious liver disease if unresolved |
|
