- "A sexually transmitted infection (STI), also referred to as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and the older term venereal disease (VD), is an infection that is spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, or oral sex."
The different types of STIs, their symptoms, how they are spread, and how to prevent them.
STI Basics: An overview of what STIs are, how they are transmitted, and the importance of prevention.
Contraception: Information on various methods of contraception and how they can be used to prevent the spread of STIs.
Symptoms: Common symptoms of STIs, such as discharge, rash, and pain during sex, and how to recognize them.
Testing: The different types of STI tests available, including blood tests, urine tests, and swab tests, and how to obtain them.
Transmission: How STIs are transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Prevention: Methods to prevent the transmission of STIs, including condoms, vaccination, and abstaining from sex.
Treatment: Various treatments available for different STIs, such as antibiotics, antivirals, and topical creams.
Myths and Misconceptions: Addressing common myths and misconceptions about STIs, such as the belief that only certain people are at risk.
Communication: How to communicate effectively with sexual partners about STIs and prevention methods.
Risk Factors: Factors that increase the risk of contracting an STI, such as having unprotected sex, having multiple sexual partners, and engaging in sexual activity at a young age.
Social Stigma: The social stigma surrounding STIs and how it can affect individuals who are diagnosed with an STI.
Personal Responsibility: Taking personal responsibility for one's sexual health and the impact that individual choices have on preventing the spread of STIs.
Sex Education: The importance of comprehensive sex education in schools and other settings to provide accurate information about STIs and prevention methods.
Relationships and STIs: How STIs can affect sexual and romantic relationships, and strategies for managing STIs within relationships.
Global STI Epidemic: An overview of the global STI epidemic, including the impact of STIs on marginalized communities and the need for increased awareness and prevention efforts.
Chlamydia: An STI caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that can cause genital infection, urethritis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Gonorrhea: An STI caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae that can cause genital and rectal infections, and infections of the throat and eyes.
Herpes: An STI caused by the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores or blisters around the mouth or genitals.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus/AIDS: HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system leading to AIDS, a disease that results in the destruction of immune cells in the body.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): An STI caused by the human papillomavirus that can cause warts in the genital area, as well as cervical, penile, and anal cancers.
Syphilis: An STI caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, that causes sores and rashes on the genitals and can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
Trichomoniasis: An STI caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis that can cause vaginal infection and discharge, as well as infection in the urethra and prostate gland.
Hepatitis B: A viral infection that affects the liver and can be sexually transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids.
Hepatitis C: A viral infection that affects the liver and can be sexually transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids.
Pubic Lice (Crabs): An STI caused by tiny insects that attach themselves to the pubic hair and can cause itching and irritation.
- "STIs often do not initially cause symptoms, which results in a risk of passing the infection on to others."
- "Symptoms and signs of STIs may include vaginal discharge, penile discharge, ulcers on or around the genitals, and pelvic pain."
- "Bacterial STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis."
- "Viral STIs include genital herpes, HIV/AIDS, and genital warts."
- "Parasitic STIs include trichomoniasis."
- "STI diagnostic tests are usually easily available in the developed world, but they are often unavailable in the developing world."
- "Some vaccinations may also decrease the risk of certain infections including hepatitis B and some types of HPV."
- "Safe sex practices, such as use of condoms, having a smaller number of sexual partners, and being in a relationship in which each person only has sex with the other also decreases the risk of STIs."
- "Comprehensive sex education may also be useful."
- "Most STIs are treatable and curable; of the most common infections, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis are curable, while HIV/AIDS and genital herpes are not curable."
- "In 2015, about 1.1 billion people had STIs other than HIV/AIDS."
- "About 500 million were infected with either syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis."
- "At least an additional 530 million people have genital herpes."
- "290 million women have human papillomavirus."
- "STIs other than HIV resulted in 108,000 deaths in 2015."
- "In the United States, there were 19 million new cases of STIs in 2010."
- "Historical documentation of STIs in antiquity dates back to at least the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BCE) and the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (8th/7th centuries BCE)."
- "There is often shame and stigma associated with STIs. The term sexually transmitted infection is generally preferred over sexually transmitted disease or venereal disease, as it includes those who do not have symptomatic disease."
- "Comprehensive sex education may also be useful."