If you think you may have an STI, ask your general practitioner or municipal public health service (GGD) for help. STIs should be treated to avoid negative effects on your health. Talk to your general practitioner or the health professional at the health centre of the asylum seekers’ centre so that he/she can give you the right treatment.
Follow the treatment in the way that the doctor tells you. Continue the treatment even when the symptoms have disappeared.
There are different types of STIs. These do not always have symptoms. Ask your general practitioner or the health professional at the health centre of the asylum seekers’ centre for advice. Every STI is treated differently.
Treatment for bacterial STIs
STIs caused by bacteria, include:
- chlamydia;
- gonorrhoea; and
- syphilis;.
Bacterial STIs can be treated with antibiotics. You need a prescription from the doctor. Then you can buy the medicines at a pharmacy.
During treatment, avoid sex while you still have symptoms or use a condom to lower the risk of infecting someone else.
Treatment for viral STIs
STIs caused by a virus:
- HIV;
- hepatitis B;
- herpes; and
- genital warts.
Some viral STIs cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be treated.
- Hepatitis B: get enough rest. If necessary, the doctor can prescribe you medicines.
- Herpes: if necessary, the doctor can prescribe medicines for treating the blisters.
- Genital warts: the doctor can prescribe a cream to apply to the warts. If necessary, the doctor removes the warts by cutting them away or freezing them.
Treatment for parasitic STIs
STIs caused by a parasite:
- scabies;
- trichomoniasis; and
- pubic lice.
Scabies:
- The doctor can prescribe a cream to apply to your skin.
- Wash your underwear, clothes, pyjamas, bed linen and towels every day at a temperature of at least 60°C.
Trichomoniasis:
- Can be treated with antibiotics.
- You need a prescription from a doctor to get the medicines.
Pubic lice:
- The doctor can prescribe a cream to apply to your skin in the places where you have lice.
- Wash your underwear, clothes, pyjamas, bed linen and towels every day at a temperature of at least 60°C.
Talking with your partner
If you have an STI, talk to your partner. If you have certain STIs, your partner needs to be tested and treated as well.
By warning your current partner you also protect yourself. If your STI has been cured and you have sex again with your partner who has not been treated, he or she can infect you again.
Do not have sex during STI treatment or use a condom to reduce the risk of infecting your partner.
Do not only warn your current sex partners, but also ex-partners and other sexual contacts. They can also be infected and pass the STI on to their partner(s) without noticing. By warning your sex partners, you help to prevent STIs spreading further.
Consult the doctor or nurse to find out how far back in time you need to go when it comes to warning sex partners. If you do not want to tell your partner or ex-partners you have an STI yourself you can also warn them anonymously, without mentioning your name. For this, you can visit the website https://partnerwaarschuwing.nl/hoe-vertel-ik-het-mijn-ex-partner This website is available only in Dutch.
Ask your general practitioner or a nurse at the municipal public health service (GGD) for advice.
