Sexual health is an important part of your overall health and well-being. At Maven Centre, we believe in empowering women with the tools and knowledge to keep their sexual lives healthy, confident and safe.

That means knowing about sexually transmissible infections (STIs) — what they are, how to protect yourself, and when to reach out for help. Let’s break it down…

What Are STIs?

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are infections that can be passed between people during vaginal, anal or oral sex — and sometimes by sharing sex-toys or through skin-to-skin contact. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother to baby. Many STIs can cause disease without causing any symptoms at all.

Common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and trichomoniasis. While each STI behaves slightly differently, approaches used to prevent them often overlap.

Why Prevention Matters

You might think “I’ll just treat it if I get something” — but there are good reasons to aim for preventing an STI in the first place, including:

• Many STIs are asymptomatic, meaning you may have one and not know it. Untreated infections can lead to serious health issues later in life, such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and complications in pregnancy.
• When you protect yourself, you protect your partner(s) too.
• Prevention supports your sexual freedom — you don’t have to constantly worry.

Smart Prevention: the basics

Here are practical steps that every sexually active person should consider, to reduce the risk of getting an STI.

Barrier methods and safe sex

Always use a new condom for vaginal and anal sex, unless you’re in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has recently tested negative for STIs. Water- or silicone-based lubricants can help reduce condom breakage. Avoid sharing sex-toys unless you’re using fresh condoms each time, and cleaning the toy thoroughly between use.

Communicate openly

Talk with your partner(s) about sexual health, testing history, and boundaries. Consent, comfort and respect should always guide sexual activity.

Get vaccinated

Vaccines exist for some infections:

• HPV vaccine protects against the strains of HPV most likely to cause cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV vaccination is part of the Australian immunisation schedule, so all 12 – 13yo teenagers (female and male) should be encouraged to complete this vaccination. If you missed this vaccination, you can have a ‘catch-up’ schedule of HPV vaccinations up until the age of 26yo for free. After 26yo, you will need to pay out-of-pocket to have the HPV vaccination.
• Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV) is also part of the Australian immunisation schedule: babies should receive three doses in the first six months of life. Some adolescents and adults need ‘catch-up’ doses, if they missed their baby HBV vaccinations and / or are found (with blood tests) to be susceptible to hepatitis B.

Get tested regularly

Testing isn’t just for when you have symptoms. Because many STIs are silent, regular checks can catch infections early. The Australian STI guidelines recommend asymptomatic screening for the following people, amongst others:

• Anyone who requests testing
• Anyone who has a new sexual partner
• Anyone who is living or travelling to areas of Australia or overseas with higher prevalence of STIs
• Anyone who recently had sex with someone known to have an STI
• Anyone with a history of an STI in the previous 12 months
• Pregnant women

Partner notification

If you’re diagnosed with an STI, your sexual partner(s) need to know, so they can be tested and treated. There are online notification services, where you can let a previous sexual partner know that they need to be tested, without revealing your name or mobile number. For example: LetThemKnow.org.au

Special Considerations for Women

As a gynaecologist, I often see how STIs uniquely affect women’s health:

• Some infections can affect fertility (e.g. untreated chlamydia or gonorrhoea causing pelvic inflammatory disease, which can block the Fallopian tubes and make it harder to conceive naturally in future)
• Pregnancy adds layers of importance: some STIs (e.g. syphilis) can harm unborn babies if not treated promptly
• Screening, contraceptive choice and sexual health counselling often overlap — so it’s wise to discuss STI prevention alongside other women’s health issues

What to Do If You’re Concerned

If you think you might have been exposed to an STI or have symptoms such as unusual vaginal discharge, pain, vulval sores, or bleeding after sex, here’s what to do:

• Arrange a sexual health check, for example with one of Maven Centre’s fabulous women’s health GPs, Dr Phillippa Wootton or Dr Amy Sinclair-Thomson . There are ‘HealthEngine’ links on our website, which you can use to schedule an appointment with Phillippa or Amy, at a time that is convenient for you.
• Bring up your concerns: let your doctor know about any partner changes, condom breakages, or symptoms.
• Testing may include: a urine sample; vaginal, anal and / or throat swabs (depending on sexual activity); and / or blood tests.
• Follow up. If you’re diagnosed with an STI, complete treatment, notify and partners, and complete follow-up (or ‘test-of-cure’) testing if asked to do so.
• Review prevention. Talk with your doctor about how to strengthen protection going forward (e.g. vaccines, using condoms every time, regular testing).

Living a Healthier Sexual Life

Prevention doesn’t mean stress or avoiding intimacy. Think of it like safe driving: wearing a seatbelt, staying alert, getting your car serviced regularly. The goal is to enjoy your sexual life with less worry and more freedom.

Choose methods that work for you: frequent condoms, conversations with partners, regular testing. Let your healthcare team support you in creating a sexual health plan that fits your life.

Final Thoughts

STI prevention and awareness are part of regular health care, just like having your blood pressure checked, or completing cervical screening tests and mammograms. At Maven Centre, we’re here to help you with confidential, non-judgemental care that supports your choices and protects your health.

If you’d like to talk about testing, sexual health, vaccinations or how to build your sexual-health plan, please book a consultation with one of our women’s health GPs. Healthy, informed sexual living is possible — and empowering!