SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
There are a range of bugs and viruses that you can catch during sex. Learn about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), how to prevent them, how to diagnose them and how they are treated.
)
Shigella
What is it?
Shigella is a group of bacteria which cause an infection in your bowel.
How do you get it?
Shigella is highly infectious. You can get shigella by ingesting trace amounts of shit. When it comes to sex, going from being fucked by someone to then sucking their cock, rimming their arse, touching sex toys, handling used condoms, or fingering/fisting and then touching your mouth are all ways to get trace amounts of shit in your mouth.
What are the symptoms?
Some people don’t have symptoms when they get shigella, which means you can have shigella and not know about it. If you do get symptoms, they can appear around one to four days after exposure.
Common symptoms may include:
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness when standing up
Diagnosis and treatment
A doctor diagnoses shigella by taking a swab from your arse or taking a stool sample (a piece of your shit) for laboratory testing.
Shigella can usually clear by itself. Treating symptoms involves keeping hydrated, staying rested and eating healthy solid foods. In severe cases, treating shigella sometimes involves a course of antibiotics. In complex cases, your doctor may discuss alternative treatment options.
How do you prevent it?
Apart from not having any sex, the most effective way to prevent shigella is to use condoms, dams and gloves during sex. However, shigella can still spread even when these barriers are used. Wash your hands after sex and after handling used condoms or sex toys.
Avoid rimming or any other activity which could involve getting trace amounts of shit in your mouth.