Feeling good: Burning love; The grim reality of coping with sexual infection is shown in a dramatic TV ad campaign from Health Scotland.

SEXUALLY Transmitted Infections took centre stage this summer in a major new Health Scotland TV campaign. The advertisement turned the spotlight on STIs, an often neglected health issue, but one that affects the lives of more than 20,000 people in Scotland every year.

The 40-second mini-drama graphically depicted the burning anxiety that can follow unprotected sex.

The 19-year-old `hero' is shown in the lonely days after a sexual encounter.

We are never sure if his upset comes from having given his girlfriend an STI or from having been infected himself.

But we are in no doubt about the fear caused by unprotected sex.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the risks associated with unprotected sex and to reduce complacency. The risk of acquiring STIs can be reduced substantially by thinking more deeply before embarking upon sex and by adopting safer sex practices.

This protection can take many forms, with different individuals making their own decisions to suit their own circumstances.

These choices include reducing the number of new partners, having regular check-ups, using a condom or making the decision not to have sex at all.

The picture of STIs in Scotland is complex. Figures for some STIs such as gonorrhoea, syphilis and herpes fell during the 1990s, but these have made a comeback since 2000.

However, other newer STIs such as chlamydia have made severe inroads into the population in the last five years.

This is due partly to improved detection rates, but mainly because of increased risky sexual behaviours leading to widespread concern about the rapid spread of infection.

The campaign aims to try and reverse this trend and the new advert `Spoiled' targets all 16 to 20 year olds in Scotland.

It is the most recent stage of the `Think About It' teenage health campaign and the first new ad to go on air with the new name, Health Scotland.

Remember, too, that you should not have sex if you don't want to. It's entirely up to you to decide. It's also illegal to have sex if you are under the age of 16.

Early treatment is vital so it is important to recognise the signs and symptoms of STIs.

CHLAMYDIA: THE majority of men and women infected with chlamydia will not know as symptoms can often be silent.

However, women may experience discharge, frequent or painful urination, pain during sex and irregular periods.

Men may experience discharge and pain or burning when urinating.

Chlamydia can be treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but it is also important that sexual partners are seen and treated too. Long-term medical consequences of chlamydia include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and ectopic pregnancy (fertilisation outside the womb). Infection can also be passed on from mother to baby.

GONORRHOEA: THIS infection can also go unnoticed as the symptoms can sometimes be silent.

However, if symptoms are present women may experience discharge, pain or burning sensation when passing urine.

Men may experience a yellow or white discharge or inflammation of the testicles and prostate gland. Gonorrhoea can also be treated with a course of antibiotics and sexual partners should be seen and treated too.

However, the incidence of drug resistant gonorrhoea is rising in Scotland. Again, mother to baby transmission can occur at the time of birth.

HIV TO give it its full name, Human Immunodeficiency Virus can damage the body's defence system so that it cannot fight off certain infections.

When a person with HIV goes on to get certain serious illnesses, the condition is called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Most people with HIV look and feel healthy for a long time so you can't tell who has the virus just by looking at them.

Help, advice and information is available from GPs, Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics, the Sexwise phoneline on 0800 282 930 and the National AIDS helpline on 0800 567 123.

You can also access information from www.hebs.com and www.healthy-respect.com