If you are sexually active, it is important to monitor your sexual health.

There are a number of infections that can be caught and passed on through sexual contact with men or women. Although some are quite serious, most can be easily diagnosed and treated.

Some common symptoms include a pus-like discharge from the eye of your penis (cock), an itching or burning sensation inside your penis, a burning pain when pissing, sores on your cock or anus (arse), and itchy skin around your cock and arse.

Some infections may not have any obvious symptoms, but can still lead to serious health problems if left undiagnosed and untreated. If you are sexually active, it is a good idea to go for regular Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) check-ups.

Vaccines are available for both Hepatitis A and B. These infections are more common among gay men and can result in serious illness, so it is a good idea to ask your doctor about being vaccinated against them.

It is important to be upfront with your doctor about what sexual activities you have engaged in. This might sound embarrassing, but most doctors, especially in sexual health clinics, or doctors who have a lot of gay patients should be non-judgemental and are bound by law to respect your confidentiality. Sexual health clinics are free and you don't have to use your real name.

If you'd like to know more about sexually transmitted diseases, there are a range of information resources available from doctors, sexual health clinics and the AIDS Action Council of the ACT.

The AIDS Action Council and community health centres can also provide advice about doctors and sexual health clinics. See the Contacts section of this website for details..

We hope this has given you some ideas about what is available to you. Take your time in deciding what feels right for you. If you decide to access a service, join a group, or attend a workshop, don't be afraid to ask if it's a confidential service, particularly if this is important to you. If you try one place and it doesn't feel right for you, don't panic ... give another place a try. It's important that you trust the person you talk to - and only you can decide that.