Almost anyone who is sexually active can be at risk of exposure to an STI, it doesn’t matter what age that person is.

Some STIs including chlamydia and syphilis will have symptoms that come and go throughout the course of the infection. While the symptoms may clear, this infection will still be present in the body and can still be passed on through unprotected sexual contact. This is why, if you notice unusual sores, discharge or other symptoms around the penis, anus, or vagina, it's important to get tested right away and seek treatment as directed by a healthcare provider.

Condoms are typically used to cover the penis during sexual activity, they are a safe and effective way of preventing the transmission of STIs during sexual activity. Safe sex is the responsibility of everyone involved in sexual activity. It is a good idea to always carry condoms if you are expecting to engage in sexual activity, no matter your gender. If you can't afford condoms then SWAMS offers free condoms in many of its clinics, located discretely in the bathrooms at these clinics.

Oral contraceptives do not provide protection against STIs, the most effective way to prevent STIs is by using condoms and dental dams during sexual activity, accompanied by regular STI testing, at least once every 6 months or after each new sexual partner.

Many common STIs can remain asymptomatic, meaning no symptoms develop from these infections, including syphilis. The best way to know if you have an STI is through regular sexual health checks, at least once every 6 months or after each new sexual partner.

A dental dam is a very thin, soft plastic sheet, roughly 15cm by 15cm in size. It acts as a barrier to help prevent STIs passing from one person to another by covering the vagina or anus during oral sex.

Several STIs can be transmitted via oral sex including syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and HPV. To reduce the risk of transmission of STIs during oral sex you should always use a condom or a dental dam which covers the penis, vagina, or anus during oral sex.

Chlamydia cannot be passed through casual contact. This includes kissing or hugging as well as from toilets or on public transport seats. Chlamydia is typically transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, typically anal, vaginal, oral, or any other contact of genitals with your partner.

Although being in a monogamous long-term relationship or limiting your number of sexual partners can reduce STI risk, this doesn’t guarantee that you won't contract one. Many STIs can still be passed on even when you're in a relationship, so it's important to get tested regularly.

Regular sexual health checks are an important part of maintaining your health even if at your last sexual health check nothing was detected. You may have had a new sexual partner since your last check or it may have been more than 6 months since your last sexual health check. Many STIs can go undetected without symptoms so it’s important to maintain regular sexual health checks.

If you have recently undergone a test for chlamydia, it does not mean you were also tested for other STIs such as syphilis. To undergo a syphilis test you must specifically ask your doctor or nurse that you wish to be tested for syphilis. This will require a sample of blood be taken, rather than urine which is what is typically taken when undergoing testing for other STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Following exposure to syphilis it can take from 10 to 90 days for the infection to be detected in a blood test.

Some clinics, including the SWAMS Bunbury Clinic, now offer point of care syphilis testing. The test takes a small drop of blood from a finger prick and will have a result for you within 15 minutes of testing.

Syphilis is very easy to treat, it just takes an antibiotic injection administered by a doctor or nurse following your diagnosis. It is important to remember to avoid sexual activity for the 7 days following treatment however, as you may still be infectious in that time.

If left untreated over a long period of time, an individual infected with syphilis can develop what is known as tertiary syphilis. This is where the bacteria spreads throughout the body and infects major organs including your brain. Individuals with a syphilis infection in their brain can experience headaches, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting. Sometimes there can also be loss of vision or hearing.

Western Australia has experienced a recent increase in notification rates of syphilis. These rates have reached epidemic levels in Aboriginal communities in regional WA. Infections of syphilis are also increasing among heterosexual men and women throughout WA. This is why Are you STI Aware? was created to stop the ongoing spread of this preventable and treatable STI.