Sexually Transmitted Infections
Most STIs don’t have any symptoms that you would notice. If you think you might have one, it’s recommended that both you and your sexual partner(s) get tested right away.
Get to know your body
One of the best ways to take care of yourself is to know what’s normal for you. That way, if something changes, you can have it checked right away. Get to know how your genitals look, feel and smell. Take a good look down there, using a mirror if it helps. Take note of the colors, textures, and size of your stuff. Use your hands to explore and your eyes to see.
What to look for
Check for an unusual color or rash, strange discharge from your penis* or vagina*, or bumps or sores in and around your genitals.
Useful Tips
Get to know your body
One of the best ways to take care of yourself is to know what’s normal for you. That way, if something changes, you can have it checked right away. Get to know how your genitals look, feel and smell. Take a good look down there, using a mirror if it helps. Take note of the colors, textures, and size of your stuff. Use your hands to explore and your eyes to see.
What to look for
Check for an unusual color or rash, strange discharge from your penis* or vagina*, or bumps or sores in and around your genitals.
Useful Tips
- If you’re sexually active, get tested regularly for STIs even if you feel fine. Ask your health care provider about what you should be tested for and how often you should be tested.
- Some STIs like herpes and warts can only be diagnosed when symptoms are showing. This means that to be diagnosed, you must be seen by a health care provider before the symptoms go away.
- Remember, the sooner you are tested and treated, the sooner your symptoms can be cured or controlled.If you have questions about this topic, feel free to contact one of our peer educators. [Link]
- Try to remember that it’s quite possible that your symptoms are caused by something other than an STI. Even if it is an STI, the sooner you get tested, the sooner you can begin medications or treatments.
TRANSMITTING STIs: AN UNWELCOME GIFT
There are a lot of myths about how STIs are transmitted. This page provides the facts.
Test your knowledge about STIs with this True/False Quiz:
1. Fluid Transmission (most common)
If you have questions about this topic, feel free to contact one of our peer educators. [Link]
*We know that these aren’t the words everyone uses for their bodies (eg. trans folks), and support you using the language that feels best for you.
There are a lot of myths about how STIs are transmitted. This page provides the facts.
Test your knowledge about STIs with this True/False Quiz:
- You can get an STI from hugging someone or sitting on a toilet seat. False
- You can get an STI from having sex with someone who is already infected with an STI. True
- You can get an STI from shaking someone’s hand. False
- You can get an STI from passing sex toys back and forth with an infected person. True
- Condoms can protect you from STIs. True
- The birth control pill can protect you from some STIs. False
- Having only one partner can protect you from STIs. False
1. Fluid Transmission (most common)
- Most STIs are passed on when an infected person’s vaginal fluid, anal fluid or semen enters your body through mucus membranes in your vagina*, penis*, anus (butthole), or mouth.
- Some STIs, such as HIV and hepatitis A and B, are also passed on when an infected person’s blood gets inside your bloodstream through mucus membranes or open sores, cuts, tiny scratches, or through sharing injection or snorting drug equipment.
- Herpes, molluscum, HPV, and parasitic STIs are passed on through skin-to-skin contact, such as when your genitals or your mouth touch an infected person’s genitals or mouth.
- Sometimes, STIs are passed on by sharing sex toys with an infected person if the toy hasn’t been disinfected or if a new condom isn’t used when a new partner uses it.
- Some parasitic STIs, such as scabies and pubic lice (crabs) can live outside the body for a short period of time and can be spread by sharing a bed, clothes, or towels.
- A pregnant person can pass on an STI to their baby before and during childbirth.
If you have questions about this topic, feel free to contact one of our peer educators. [Link]
*We know that these aren’t the words everyone uses for their bodies (eg. trans folks), and support you using the language that feels best for you.
STI Assessment
STI Quiz
Definitions
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