Lesson video

Hi everyone, and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Ms. Wittams-Howarth.

Today we're gonna be learning about sexually transmitted infections or STIs for short.

Some parts of the lesson might be upsetting or a little bit uncomfortable.

You are required to be accompanied by a trusted grownup.

If at any stage you feel uncomfortable or upset, you should close the screen and speak to about adult.

Let's get started.

So the outcome of today's lesson, I can describe what STIs are, how they are transmitted, and ways to prevent them.

Before we get going, let's have a look at some ground rules.

Laura is first and she says, "Listen to others.

It is okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

When disagreeing, challenge the statement and not the person." Next we have Andeep, and he says, "Respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but do not use names or descriptions that identify anyone including ourselves." A good top tip would be to say, my friend, and then we don't know whether you are talking about your friend.

We don't know whether you are talking about a relative, something that you've seen on TV.

It's entirely anonymous and much safer for everybody.

Then Jacob says, "There are no judgements.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without the fear of being judged." And that means too that there are no silly questions.

If you've got a question, I can almost guarantee that there'll be other people who have exactly the same one.

So do feel free to ask those questions.

And then lastly, Izzy, "You have the right to choose your level of participation.

You can choose whether you don't wanna answer a question or to join in the discussion.

No one is gonna be put on the spot." And that includes your trusted grownup.

Let's have a look at some keywords.

You'll see that they're highlighted in bold throughout the lesson, so you'll spot them easily.

The first one is symptom, and that means a physical or mental sign that indicates a condition or disease.

Secondly, we have asymptomatic, and that means there are no signs or symptoms of infection.

And then we have transmission.

In this case, we're talking about the act of passing an infection from one person to another.

And here's our lesson outline.

So first of all, we're gonna talk about what are STIs.

Then we're gonna have a look at the different symptoms of STIs.

And then lastly, we are going to have a think about how STIs might be prevented.

So let's start with the first part of the lesson.

STIs are sexually transmitted infections.

And here is how they can be spread.

STIs can be spread through the exchange of bodily fluids, for example, semen or vaginal fluids or blood.

They can also be spread through skin to skin contact.

Now is for certain STIs like genital watts or herpes.

There are other STIs like thrush, for example, that might be passed through sexual contact, but also can come on their own.

Let's check how well were you listening? True or false? STIs are only spread through the exchange of bodily fluids.

For example, semen, vaginal fluids or blood, true or false? Have a little think and we'll take some feedback.

If you ticked false, you'd be right.

Let's find out why.

So remember, some STIs like genital warts or herpes can also be spread through skin to skin contact.

Great work well done if you got that right.

So STIs are caused by different types of pathogens, including bacteria.

So some STIs are bacterial and they would be things like chlamydia or gonorrhoea or syphilis.

Some are viruses.

For example, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV for short, genital herpes, and the Human Papillomavirus or HPV.

Lastly, we have parasites like trichomoniasis for example.

So there are three main types of pathogens that can cause STIs.

How well have you been listening? All STIs are caused by bacteria, true or false? Have a little think.

We'll take some feedback in a moment.

So if you ticked false, you'd be absolutely right.

Let's find out why.

STIs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

And that's important because the treatment for bacteria, viruses and parasites will all be slightly different and they'll have slightly different symptoms to.

So can STIs harm your health? STIs can harm your health if they are left untreated.

For example, you may end up having fertility issues and that might mean that later on if you want to have children that you might struggle to do so.

Also, infections can spread.

Many STI however, can be cured completely with the right treatment.

So how are STIs treated? Firstly, there's often things like antibiotics, and they can be used to treat bacterial STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Secondly, there are antiviral medications and they can help manage viral STIs like genital herpes, and that reduces the symptoms, but it can't cure the virus.

So for example, there's not a cure either for HIV at the moment, but it can be undetectable in the bloodstream.

There's also things to help with parasites too, like trichomoniasis.

So there's treatments to help manage all of those conditions.

Where can you get help? For example, you can go to your local sexual health clinics and they have free private, confidential testing and treatment.

In most places they have youth clinics as well, which would be suitable for you to go to.

You can just drop in without an appointment.

You could also go and see your GP or a general practitioner.

They can provide tests and treatment.

And then lastly, there are also online services.

So some services offer at-home testing kits, especially for things like chlamydia.

So let's do a check.

If you are worried about your sexual health.

Which of the following options can provide support, tests or treatment? A, local sexual health clinics, free, private and confidential.

General practitioners or GPs can provide tests and treatment also free.

Online services, some services offer at-home testing kits.

Or D, all of the above can provide support.

What do you think? Take some time.

Make your choice.

We'll take some feedback in a moment.

So if you said D, you'd be absolutely right.

Well done.

All of the above can provide information, advice, support, and usually testing to.

Great work.

Well done.

So let's do some practise.

David has some worries about STIs.

For each of David's concerns, write some helpful advice for him.

So here's David and he's got three concerns about STIs.

Firstly, he wants to know if there are different types of STIs.

He wants to know how STIs are treated.

And he wants to know where he could get support with his sexual health.

So have a little think.

You might want to stop the recording while you have a go at this practise task.

See if you can write advice for those three different questions that David has.

We'll take some feedback in a few minutes time when you've had a go.

Great work.

Well done.

There's lots to have a think about there.

Let's see what you might have included in your response.

So his first question, are there different kinds of STIs? Yes, there are.

Now if you manage to remember that there are bacterial and viral STIs as well as those caused by parasites, that's really great extra detail, well done.

His next question was, how are STIs treated? So if you wrote down anything about antibiotics being used for bacterial STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, great.

You might also have remembered about antiviral medication to help manage viral STIs.

For example, herpes or genital warts.

And if you manage to remember about treatments for parasites too, even better.

Really well done.

His last question, where could I get help with my sexual health? So you might have mentioned local sexual health clinics, your GP, you might even have remembered online testing kits too.

So well done for all of that and all of your thinking.

Let's move on to the next part of the lesson.

So the next part is, what are the different symptoms of STIs? So how might someone know whether they have got an STI? Great question David.

He wants to know whether all STIs have the same symptoms. So let's take a look and find out.

Bacterial infections, so for example, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, there are lots of others too.

So these symptoms might include pain when you urinate or wee, unusual discharge from the penis or vagina.

So here it's really important to know what's normal for you.

So if you notice that there's discharge that is different to normal, might be a bit of a funny colour, might be frothy or green for example, it might not have a great smell, then they might be signs or symptoms that you have an STI.

And lastly, pain in the lower abdomen.

So kind of low down in your tummy that also might suggest that you have an STI.

So that's for bacterial infections.

Let's have a look at viral infections now.

So for example, herpes or HPV.

You might notice that you have blisters or sores around your genitals or around your mouth or inside your mouth.

And you might notice warts or lumps or bumps on your genitals or the surrounding areas.

So again, they are symptoms that you might wanna go and get checked out.

Parasites, so sometimes the symptoms of parasites might include itching or irritation in the genital area you might have a foul smelling discharge.

So again, knowing what's normal for you, it smells bad, is probably worth getting checked out.

So blisters or sores around the genitals or mouth might be a symptom of a bacterial infection, a viral infection or a parasite.

Have a little think.

How well were you listening? So if you said a viral infection, you'd be absolutely right, really well done.

So there are also other general symptoms that might be a sign of an STI and they can include unusual bleeding.

So maybe bleeding between periods or menstruation or after sex.

If there's pain during sex or sexual activity or swelling or redness around the genitals.

Now all of those things are worth getting checked out.

Might not be anything at all, but it's always worth speaking to a health professional.

And this last point is really, really important.

Some STIs might not show symptoms right away.

They are asymptomatic, but they can still cause long-term health problems. So for example, chlamydia is a really common one that is maybe nothing obvious symptom-wise and yet can have a fairly big impact on your health and fertility.

So it's really important to get yourself checked out regularly.

So when should you start testing for STIs? Well, you should start testing for STIs as soon as you become sexually active.

And you should get tested regularly whenever you have a new partner.

It keeps you and your partners safe, even if you feel fine, many STIs are asymptomatic, so it's really important to get checked out.

And GP clinics and sexual health clinics are really used to this and they will make you feel at ease as they can and it's really important to do.

So true or false, how well have you been listening? If you have an STI? You always have symptoms, true or false? Let's have a think and then we'll take some feedback.

So hopefully you answered false.

Let's find out why.

Some STIs might not show symptoms right away or even at all.

They are asymptomatic, but they can cause still long-term health problems. Great work well done if you got that right.

So let's do another practise task now.

And what I'm gonna ask you to do is to match the symptom to the type of STI.

So first of all, we've got bacterial infections, for example, chlamydia and viral infections, for example, herpes.

So you have to match the symptom to the type of STI.

We've got pain during urination.

Warts on the genitals or surrounding areas.

Blisters or sores around the genitals or mouth.

Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina.

And pain in the lower abdomen.

So which ones of those are from bacterial infections and which ones of those are from viral infections? Have a little look.

We'll take some feedback shortly.

Have a go at this task.

Okay, so what should your answers include? Hopefully you've got some of these matched up correctly.

So bacterial infections cause pain during urination when you go for a wee.

Viral infections can cause blisters or sores around the genitals or mouth.

They can also cause unusual discharge from the penis or vagina.

Bacterial infections can also cause that too, so that unusual discharge.

And bacterial infections can cause pain in the lower abdomen.

Really important thing to remember is that not all infections have symptoms. Sometimes they're asymptomatic.

So well done if you got those right.

Great listening, great work.

Let's move on to the second part of the practise task.

Ethan is confused about STIs.

See if he can rewrite Ethan's response so it's correct.

Ethan says, "I saw on social media that you don't need to get checked for STIs unless you have symptoms." Where's he gone wrong with that? See if you can rewrite it to make it correct.

Have a go.

You might wanna pause the video while you have a go at that.

And we'll take some feedback in a couple of minutes time.

Okay, so this is what your response might have included.

I saw on social media that you don't need to get checked for symptoms unless you get symptoms. Why is he wrong? STIs can be asymptomatic.

So you may have an STI without having any symptoms. Therefore it's important to have regular STI tests if you are sexually active, great work, well done if you managed to rewrite that correctly.

That's awesome.

So let's move on to the third part of the lesson, which is how might STIs be prevented? So there are many ways to prevent the transmission of STIs.

Let's talk them through.

Firstly, condoms, so using internal or external condoms during vaginal, anal, or oral sex is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of STIs.

They work because condoms act as a barrier preventing the exchange of bodily fluids that can carry infections.

And they are really, really effective at doing that.

True or false, condoms act as a barrier to prevent the transmission of STIs.

True or false? Have a little think.

And if you ticked true, you'd be absolutely right.

It's also worth saying here that sometimes people have a latex allergy, which is what condoms are made from, and you can get latex free ones.

So no one needs to worry about having an allergic reaction.

Next thing you can do is regular testing.

Regular STI testing helps people know their status, which just means whether or not they have an STI.

And it ensures early detection and treatment if needed.

So it's really important to get yourself tested.

Anyone who is sexually active should get tested regularly, especially if they have new or multiple partners or they experience any symptoms. Next, avoid sharing needles.

So people should also avoid sharing needles as this can spread (indistinct).

Another way of preventing STIs is to avoid sharing needles.

People should avoid sharing needles as this can spread blood-borne STIs, for example, HIV and hepatitis.

So there it's a really dangerous thing to do if someone is an injecting drug user.

Avoid sharing needles and syringes.

The HPV vaccine protects against the most common types of HPV, which can cause genital warts and also certain types of cancers.

The hepatitis B vaccine protects against the hepatitis B virus, which can be spread through sexual activity.

Another thing you could do is avoid alcohol or drugs before sexual activity.

Alcohol and drugs can impair judgement leading to risky decisions for example, unprotected sex or maybe the improper use of condoms. So really important, make sure that you've got sound judgement so you can think carefully about how you can look after yourselves.

Staying clearheaded helps people make safer choices around sex.

Let's do a check.

How can alcohol and drugs affect decision making in relationships? Do they A, improve your ability to make careful decisions? B, have no effect at all on your decision making.

C, impair judgement and lead to risky decisions.

Or D, they make you much less likely to take risks.

Which of these do you think is true? So if you ticked C, you'd be absolutely right.

They impair your judgement and they can lead to risky decisions.

Well done if you've got that right.

Great listening.

And now let's do a task.

How might STIs be prevented? So the first part of the task list different ways in which STIs might be prevented.

And then secondly, the second part of the task is, for each idea you have listed, write a short explanation as to why it helps reduce the transmission of STIs.

So you might wanna pause the recording while you have a go at this task and then we'll take some feedback shortly.

Off you go.

Let's take some feedback.

So for part one, you might have included these things in answer to list different ways in which STIs might be prevented.

So your list might have looked a little bit like this.

It might say use condoms, get regular testing, avoid sharing needles.

Consider having specific vaccinations.

And avoid alcohol or drugs before sexual activity.

Well done if you've got any of those included in your list.

And for part two, for each idea you've listed, write a short explanation as to why it helps to reduce STIs.

So you might have included these.

Firstly, use condoms. So they act as a barrier method, preventing the exchange of bodily fluids that can carry infections, great work.

You might have also mentioned internal and external condoms. Next, get regular testing.

So that means that people know that HIV status and they don't pass on an infection to another person.

Avoid sharing needles.

Sharing needles can cause the transmission of bloodborne infections like HIV and hepatitis.

Vaccinations.

So the HPV virus and a Hepatitis B vaccinations can provide protection against certain STIs.

And then lastly, avoiding alcohol or drugs before sexual activity.

These can impair a person's judgement and can lead to risky decisions.

So well done if you got any of those right.

Great work.

Let's have a look at a summary of what we've covered today.

STIs are sexually transmitted infections.

There are different types of STIs.

There's viral, bacterial, and parasitic.

Different STIs have different symptoms and require different treatment.

There are some general symptoms such as unusual bleeding, pain during sexual activity or swelling or redness around the genitals.

Some STIs can be asymptomatic and they can have long-term effects.

Therefore, it's really important to be tested regularly when someone is sexually active.

And lastly, there are ways of preventing the transmission of STIs, including using barrier methods of contraception and regular testing.

And this last slide.

So here are some suggestions of where you might want to get support with any of the material from today's lesson.

You might wanna have a look at the NHS website and its section on STIs.

It also has information about preventing them and how to access support and services.

Also, you might wanna have a look at Childline, and that's a website and a phone line, which can offer confidential advice.

Thank you for choosing to learn with me today.

Great work.

Thank you for all of your contributions.

Take care of yourselves.

And I look forward to seeing you again soon for another lesson.