STIs/STDs
- Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases
Are You at Risk?
Are you sexually
active?
Have you or your
sexual partner had other sexual partners?
Have you changed
sexual partners since you were last tested for STI’s?
Have you ever had oral
or anal sex?
Did You Know?
- 19
million new infections occur each year.
- Half of
all STI’s occur in people ages 15-24.
- One in
four teenage girls has an STI.
- STIs
often have no symptoms.
- Infection
with an STI is possible without intercourse.
- When
you have sex with someone, you are exposing yourself to their sexual history
and the sexual history of all their partners for the past ten years.
- It
takes only ONE sexual partner to be at risk if that partner has had one or more
other sexual partners.
What Causes STIs?
- STI’s
can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites.
- Chlamydia
is the most common bacterial STI.
- Human
papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral STI.
How Do You Get STIs?
- Any
sexual activity including vaginal sex, oral sex and anal sex.
- HPV and
herpes can be spread by contact with infected skin.
- You can
get STI’s from a person who has no symptoms.
What Are Some Symptoms of an STI?
STIs
often have no visible symptoms, so you or your partner may not even know you
are
infected. Some common symptoms include: pain or burning while urinating,
rashes, sores, blisters, itchiness, unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
and pain during sex.
What Are Some of the Possible Complications?
- Pelvic
Inflammatory disease
- Ectopic
Pregnancy (pregnancy somewhere other than the uterus)
- Cervical
Cancer or Penile Cancer
- Miscarriage
or Stillbirth
What are the Available Treatments?
- Most
bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics and cured.
- Treatment
does not reverse any damage that may have already occurred.
- Viral
STIs can be treated for symptoms, but not cured.
- An HPV
vaccine has recently become available and is recommended for young women but it
does not protect against all types of HPV that cause cancer and warts.
How Can I Prevent Myself from Getting an STI?
The
only way to be 100% safe from STIs and HIV/AIDS is to abstain from all sexual
activities
until you and your uninfected partner can remain faithful to each other for
life.
Correct
and consistent condom use can reduce, but will not eliminate, your risk of
getting
most
STIs.
Consistent
and correct condom use during vaginal sex reduces your risk for;
- Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes and Syphilis by about 50%
For
more information:
STI/STD
Fact Sheets from the Center for Disease Control
Bacterial
Vaginosis
Chlamydia
Genital
Herpes
Genital
HPV - Human papillomavirus
HPV and
Men
Gonorrhea
PID -
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
STDs
and HIV
STDs
and Pregnancy
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
Medical
Institute for Sexual Heath STI Fact Sheets
Center
for Disease Control CDC STD Pages
If you
think you may be infected with an STI see your healthcare provider right away.
Sources:
The
Medical Institute for Sexual Health
http://www.medinstitute.org
(Accessed
March 2, 2009)
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/std
(Accessed
March 2, 2009)
National
Institutes of Health
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/sexually_transmitted_diseases.cfm
(Accessed
March 2, 2009)