Q|Belize - Website for the LGBT Community in Belize

• discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
• itching or soreness around the genitals or anus
• a lump or rash on the genitals, anus or mouth.

If you suspect you may have a sexually transmitted disease, you should see your doctor or clinic straight away. You can find the telephone number of your nearest clinic by looking up 'special clinic', 'venereal disease' or 'VD' in the telephone directory, or by phoning your local hospital. You will be tested as quickly as possible, and if the test is positive, you will be advised to contact your recent sexual partners, as they too may need treatment. Avoid sex until you are clear of the disease.

Transmission of STDs

The organisms which cause these diseases (except for crabs and scabies) usually enter the body through mucous membranes, such as the warm, moist surfaces of the:

STDs can be caught through intimate contact with someone who is infected, especially during:

AIDS & HIV

HIV

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus may be passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membranes (found in/near the mouth, eyes, nose, genitals, rectum). In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.

AIDS

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which is a disease is caused by the human immune deficiency virus, known as HIV. Once it is inside the body, this virus invades the white blood cells, which normally fight off disease, then it multiplies and destroys them. It also breeds inside the brain. Between 1 in 10 and 1 in 3 of those infected with HIV are likely to develop AIDS. Three to four years normally elapse between infection with HIV and any subsequent development of the symptoms associated with AIDS. As yet there is no cure for AIDS which usually progresses through various infections and stages of increasing debility to the eventual death of the sufferer.

As AIDS develops the body's natural defenses become depleted, and the AIDS patient is increasingly likely to contract diseases that a healthy body would normally ward off.

• semen
• blood
• saliva

Sometimes AIDS patients are attacked by several infections at once such as:

1. The most common way of contracting the disease is through anal intercourse with an infected partner
2. The second most common way of contracting the disease is through infected blood:

How to avoid AIDS

• Always use a condom
• Avoid anal sex
• Do not share needles, toothbrushes, razors, or any instrument that might transfer blood from cuts or abrasions

Herpes (Oral & Genital)

The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) most often shows up as small blisters or sores on either the face, mouth (cold sores or fever blisters) or genitals.

There are two types of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): 

• Type 1 (HSV-1) and
• Type 2 (HSV-2)  

HSV-1 or mouth herpes are commonly in the form of cold sores on and around the mouth. HSV-2 or genital herpes is a much more intense strand, commonly found on the genitals. However, BOTH types can be found on the mouth or genital areas.

Transmission:

- HSV can be passed on when one person has the virus present on the skin or mucosa and another person makes direct skin-to-skin contact with the live virus.

- The virus is likely to be present on the skin from the first sign of prodrome (tingling or itching where the outbreak usually occurs), until the sores have completely healed and new skin is present.

- There are likely to be certain periods of time (possibly only a few days out of the year) when the active virus might be on the skin, even though there are no obvious signs or symptoms.

- Always using latex condoms may possibly reduce the risk of transmitting the virus at these times.

- Herpes is very frequently transmitted by infected persons who do not know they are infected. 

- Once diagnosed, a person generally is able to take the simple precautions necessary to protect partners - avoiding contact during prodrome or an outbreak and practising safer sex when no symptoms are present.

Treatment

THERE IS NO CURE FOR HERPES! There are medication that help control the virus.

Genital Warts

Genital warts are unpleasant but painless and can be treated quite easily. An association has been identified between genital warts and cervical cancer, so it is important to get rid of them as soon as possible, and to have regular cervical smears.

• small lumps that appear on the penis, vulva, or anus which are mildly contagious

• painting the warts with a preparation called podophyllin
• freezing the warts off with liquid nitrogen

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium gonococcus, which cannot survive outside the body and is transmitted only by sexual intercourse, and never (as is sometimes imagined) on toilet seats or towels.

Symptoms:

In men:

• the urethra along which urine passes from the bladder is infected
• pain on urinating
• thick discharge from the penis within a week after infection

• the rectum may be infected
• irritation and discharge from the anus

• the cervix, urethra and rectum may be infected as with men
• discharge
• pain on urinating
• if infection spreads to the uterus there is a 10% chance that the fallopian tubes may be blocked causing sterility

• Men may suffer epididymitis (pain and swelling in the testicles)
• women may suffer peritonitis (inflammation of the membranes of the abdomen).

Pregnant women with gonorrhea may pass it on to their babies who can be born with gonococcal opthalmia (an acute inflammation of the eyes).

Syphilis

Although Syphilis is quite rare today there are still cases. It affects women less than men and its main victims are gay men.

Symptoms

Symptoms appear between 10 days and 12 weeks after infection.

• In the primary stage of the disease a small hard sore or chancre appears on the penis, vagina or rectum. It is painless and usually disappears very quickly.

• Until the advent of antibiotic tertiary syphilis used to be quite common, with patients eventually suffering from dementia and dying a slow, agonizing death.

Treatment

The disease is curable with antibiotics, but if for some reason it should not be treated, serious complications will develop many years later.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs and is caused by a bacterial parasite called chlamydia trachomatis.

Symptoms

In Men:

• whitish yellow discharge from the penis
• frequent burning urination
• redness at the tip of the penis

• discharge
• frequent need to urinate
• mild discomfort often mistaken for vaginitis or menstrual cramps

• eye infections
• pneumonia

Candida/Thrush & Yeast Infections

Candida/Thrush is a fungal infection that develops in certain conditions in the vagina. It is sometimes linked to taking the Pill, and if it recurs frequently, a different method of contraception may be advisable.

Symptoms:

A man may carry thrush, though he usually manifests no symptoms.

In Women

Thrush causes:

• vaginal soreness and itching
• a thick white discharge

• anti-fungal cream to be used by both partners
• vaginal peccaries
• natural yogurt in the vagina can be effective

• hot baths
• nylon underwear
• tight jeans
• wearing tights

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is one of the most common and least serious of all sexually transmitted diseases and may be passed on by bad hygiene practice in the use of towels as well as by sexual contact. It can exist in a symptom free form and some people act as passive carriers for the disease.

Symptoms:

• discharge
• pain in urinating

• Several drugs are available for treatment and their success rate is high
• Always use a condom

Nonspecific urethritis (NSU)

These are infections of the urinary tract that may not be linked to any particular disease but will cause uncomfort.

Symptoms

Nonspecific urethritis or NSU can be identified by:

• lumps
• soreness or itching around the genitals, anus or mouth
• a discharge from the vagina or penis

Where To Get Tested

Here is a list of clinics and medical laboratories where you can get either free, low-cost, or full-cost (private) STD testing.

Note that all district hospitals provide low-cost STD testing by way of their medical laboratories. Some government clinics in the towns and larger villages may also provide testing services. There are also smaller private medical laboratories throughout the country that provide STD testing.

Free Testing

Low Cost

Private