The New Zealand AIDS Foundation is a registered charitable trust which works to prevent the transmission of HIV (with particular regard to gay and bisexual men and other high-risk groups), and supporting all New Zealanders living with or affected by HIV, irrespective of age, race, gender or sexual orientation.

Visit the NZAF website

The New Zealand Herpes Foundation was founded in 1994 by a group of patients and health professionals in response to the need to provide support and education to people diagnosed with genital herpes. We aim to:

• provide support, compassion and education for people with herpes.
• increase public awareness and thereby reduce ignorance and prejudice
• improve the medical management of people with herpes simplex

Visit the NZ Herpes Foundation website

The NZ HPV Project aims to:

• To provide support and education for people with human papillomarvirus (genital warts and/or HPV).
• To educate the public about this common infection, particularly its transmission, symptoms and management.
• To work alongside medical and health professionals to ensure people with HPV receive optimal management.

Visit the NZ HPV Project website

The New Zealand Sexual Health Society (NZSHS) Incorporated is a group of professionals working or interested in the field of Sexual Health. Membership is multidisciplinary and includes doctors, nurses, counsellors, educators, health promoters and others in Public Health working in the field of sexually transmissible infections, including HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health.

Visit the NZ Sexual Health Society

OUTLine NZ is a national telephone counselling and information support service for the Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Takataapui and Bisexual people of New Zealand. It operates from 10 am to 10 pm Monday to Friday and 5 pm to 10 pm on weekends. Call from Auckland 09 309 3268 or outside of Auckland 0800 OUTLINE (0800 6885463)

Visit the OUTLine NZ website

We are a group of young people who run an organisation providing support, contact and education for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Fa’afafine and Takataapui youth. So what does it mean if you like someone who’s the same sex as you? What if you think you might be Gay? Or Lesbian? Or maybe Bisexual? Well that’s why we’re here.

Our aim at Rainbow Youth is to help young people to discover who they are and find strength in that. We can answer questions, provide information or get you in touch with our social groups Identity, Generation Q and Gender Quest.
We’ve been operating since 1989, talking to young people and schools about:

• Coming out to family and friends
• Being safe if you’re having sex
• Plus healthy relationships

“We’re in every job, we’re every colour, we’re not out to take over the world, just live in it.” Amanda Bearse, Married with Children.

Visit Rainbow Youth website

Youthline offer a range of services for young people and their families across New Zealand. Their Youth Help Line 0800 376633 is available 24 hours a day as well as free text support on 234, and email, talk@youthline.co.nz. Youthline also offer face to face, pregnancy and family counselling, training and youth development programmes, seminars, youth work services, information and referrals.

Visit the Youthline website or visit the urge website.

Family Planning works to promote a positive view of sexuality and to enable people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being. We have 32 clinics nationwide offering a full-range of sexual health services including contraception, Sexually Transmissible Infection checks and treatment, menopause, cervical screening, vasectomy, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, pregnancy testing and advice and many others...

Visit the family planning website

Healthpoint is a tool that allows patients to access local information about what to expect prior to, during and following a referral to specialist medical healthcare services.
The information is approved, regularly reviewed and updated by clinicians.

Visit the Healthpoint website

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria (bugs) that are normally only present in the vagina in small numbers. When these bacteria are present in large numbers they may cause symptoms such as an abnormal discharge or odour. 
Bacterial vaginosis is sometimes called non specific vaginitis or Gardnerella vaginitis. Read more about Bacterial Vaginosis.

This condition, often known as thrush, is caused by an overgrowth of, or an allergic reaction to a yeast called Candida albicans. This yeast is usually found in many areas of the body and is not considered to be a sexually transmissible infection. Candidiasis is very common. A range of factors may possibly trigger an attack of candidiais although often there is no obvious cause. Read more about Candidiasis.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. In males it infects the urethra (tube inside the penis) and in women it infects the urethra and cervix (neck of the womb). It can also infect the rectum and sometimes the eyes and throat. Read more about Chlamydia. 

If you have sexual intercourse and you do not use contraception, you may become pregnant. You may also need emergency contraception if you have missed pills or a condom breaks.

Emergency contraception is available from (cost vary, please contact services directly)

Family Planning 0800372546   

Contraception Clinic in ADHB:   0800 527 200 (0800 LARC00)

Pharmacies

General Practitioners / Primary Health Care

Youth Services

Community accident and emergency

Sexual Health Clinics

Auckland Sexual Health  - 0800739432

Almost all conditions affecting genital skin will benefit by simple changes to routine skin washing:

• Avoid soap (use soap substitutes).
• Keep to short, warm, not hot showers, and bathing. (too hot will increase itch, too long causes more dryness).
• Plain or salt water (1/4 teaspoon/1 cup or 1-2 teaspoons/litre of warm water). This is especially good if various creams and lotions have irritated the skin.

Read more about genital skin.

Neisseria Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. In males it infects the urethra (tube inside the penis) and in women it infects the urethra and cervix (neck of the womb). It can also infect the rectum and sometimes the eyes and throat. Read more about Gonorrhoea.

Hepatitis is the name given to different illnesses which cause inflammation of the liver.

Hepatitis can result from viral infections including Hepatitis A, B and C which can sometimes be sexually transmitted. Information about hepatitis can be found at The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand www.hepatitisfoundation.org.nz.

Information about HIV can be found at the NZ Aids Foundation website www.nzaf.org.nz

Information about Human Papilloma Virus can be found at the NZ HPV Project website www.hpv.org.nz

Information about Herpes Simplex Virus can be found at the NZ Herpes Foundation website www.herpes.org.nz

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection caused by a pox virus. It appears as small firm flesh-coloured bumps with waxy white centres. These can appear anywhere on the body but are common on the genital area, thighs or lower abdomen. Because of their appearance they can be confused with genital warts or pimples. Read more about Molluscum.

PID is the term given to infection of the female reproductive system (the tubes, uterus or womb and ovaries). It is a common and potentially serious complication of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Occasionally PID can occur after certain gynaecological operations. Read more about Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

Pubic lice are tiny parasites, which can cause itching in the genital area. The lice use their claws to grab and hang on to pubic hairs while feeding on blood. Read more about Pubic lice.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium (bug) called Treponema pallidum. It enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin- mainly in the genital area or the mouth. Read more about Syphilis.

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a very small parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis, called "Trich" for short (sounds like trike). World-wide, it is one of the commonest sexually transmitted infections (STI?s) but it is uncommon in New Zealand. The infection is most commonly diagnosed in sexually active females between 16-35 years. It is caught during sexual contact with an infected person. It can be passed by using sex toys, e.g. vibrators. Read more about Trichomoniasis.

Urethritis affects mainly men and means inflammation of the urethra (the urine and semen passage).The urethra can be affected by various sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The most common causes are infection with gonorrhoea and Chlamydia however other bacteria or viruses may be involved. If tests for gonorrhoea and Chlamydia are negative then the urethritis is usually called non-specific (or NSU for short). Read more about Urethritis. 

Yaws is a skin infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum pertenue. Treponema pertenue is not found in New Zealand. Until 1961 it was common in the Pacific islands. Between 1959-1961 people from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and Tokelau Islands were given injections of penicillin as part of a special World Health Organisation (WHO) campaign to stop the disease. Yaws has not come back in these islands but people who were born before the WHO campaign may still have signs of past infection in their blood and this can be picked up on a blood test. Today Yaws is still seen occasionally in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. 

Read more about Yaws.

Auckland Sexual Health Service provides education for Health professionals. We offer the following study days:

• An introduction to sexual health for health professionals
• Sexually transmitted infection screening in pregnancy for midwives

View upcoming Study Days

We also provide targeted sessions for groups. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

These Best Practice Guidelines have been produced by NZSHS, with funding from the Ministry of Health. Every effort has been taken to ensure that the information in these resources is correct at the time of publishing.

NZSHS Best Practice Guidelines

These reports summarise the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for the year, and examines recent trends.

Using data from sexual health clinics, family planning clinics, student and youth health clinics, and diagnostic laboratories, these reports cover the STIs of public health importance, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, genital warts, syphilis, non-specific urethritis, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum.
Possible factors underlying the observed distribution and trends in STIs are discussed.

View the Annual ESR STI Reports

The Sexual Health Registrar can be contacted on the following number:

021 883 703