2.  STI is a term applied to a variety of infections that are passed
from one person to another primarily through vaginal, oral, or
anal sex.
This includes:
 Human
Papillomavirus
(HPV)
 Hepatitis B
 Trichomoniasis
 Bacterial Vaginosis

3.  STI’s are spread primarily
through blood, semen,  You can also get
vaginal secretions, and infected through
discharge from sores or contact with sores or
lesions caused by STI’s. lesions on other parts of
the body, or through
sharing razors, needles,
 The most likely way to
or an object like a sex
get an STI is to have
toy, if body fluids from
vaginal, oral, or anal sex
another person are on
without any protective
it.
barrier between the
body parts involved.

4.  Pain or burning while  Symptoms are usually
urinating. found in the genital
 Itching, discharge, or area.
an unusual smell from  They also affect the
the vagina, penis or thighs, throat, and
anus. eyes, mouth, or the
 For women, sharp pains nose or hands.
in the lower belly.  Some STI’s have no
 Growth, bumps, sores, o symptoms (Chlamydia
r rashes. and gonorrhea).
 Flu-like symptoms

5.  Get a diagnosis as
early as possible.
 Try to relieve
discomfort.
 Do NOT have sex or
douche.
Go to..
 Public health clinics
 Family planning
clinics
 Primary care
clinician
 ER

6.  If curable STI’s are not found or treated on time
they can have serious health consequences.
 STI’s that are caused by bacteria, protozoa, and
other microorganisms (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and
trichomoniasis) can be cured with antibiotics or topical creams and
lotions.
 Viral STI’s can be treated but not cured. This includes: herpes,
hepatitis B, HPV, which causes genital warts and other changes in
cervical cells and HIV which causes AIDS.
 Treatment may help relieve the symptoms and slow the progression
of viral infections.
 Take all prescribed medications even if you feel better or the
symptoms go away.

7.  More than 65 million
people in the United  Women can catch an
States currently have STI from infected men
an incurable STI. more easily than men
can from
 Each year, an women, because
additional18 million germs can get inside
people will become our bodies more easily.
infected.
 STI’s may reduce or
 More than half of all endanger our ability to
cases occur in people become pregnant
ages 15-24. and make pregnancy
complications more
likely. They may also
 One in four teen girls infect a fetus or infant.
has an STD.

8.  There is this stereotype that
sluts are dirty and virgins are
clean. Sometimes that’s true
but sometimes it’s not and  The social stigma attached
yet we still make this to STI’s can make it difficult
judgment over and over. to find the care we need.
 Some people still believe
that STI’s are just a
punishment for “immoral”
sex.
 The impact of stigma on the
affected individual can lead
to depression, guilt and
shame.

9. “The best way to deal
with an STI is to avoid
getting it in the first
place.” “Many women now
find that having sex is
an expected part of a
new relationship.”
“Don’t let anyone pressure
you into have sex if you
don’t want to.” “Every woman has a
right to enjoy her
sexuality without fear
of disease.”
What types of myths have you heard
about STDs? What can we do to get
the facts straight?