| STI |
What does it feel like? |
How do I know for sure? |
Prevention/Treatment |
What can happen? |
|
Chlamydia
(The "Clap")
|
Many people have NO SYMPTOMS! You may have bleeding between periods, yellow/green vaginal or penile discharge (fluid), or a burning pain when you urinate.
|
Go to a Clinic!
Some clinics will test your urine; occasionally a pelvic exam is needed.
|
Condoms can prevent it.
It is curable with antibiotics.
No sex until 1 week after both you & your partner receive treatment!
|
Without treatment, women may become infertile (unable to get pregnant) and/or develop chronic pain.
It can be passed to the child during birth.
|
|
Gonorrhea
(The "Drip")
|
Some people have NO SYMPTOMS! You may have bleeding between periods, yellow or bloody vaginal discharge (fluid), yellow penile discharge (fluid), a burning pain when you urinate, and pain during sex. |
Go to a Clinic!
Some clinics will test your urine; occasionally a pelvic exam is needed.
|
Condoms can prevent it.
It is curable with antibiotics.
No sex until both you and your partner receive treatment!
|
Without treatment, women may become infertile (unable to get pregnant) and/or develop chronic pain.
It can be passed to the child during birth.
|
|
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
|
Caused by untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia
Lower belly/back pain, vomiting, fever, pain during sex, abnormal discharge (fluid) in between normal periods.
|
Go to a Clinic!
Pelvic exam and other tests are needed.
|
Condoms can prevent it.
It is curable with antibiotics, BUT without treatment or with an infection, that you have for a long time, it can lead to infertility (inability to get pregnant).
No sex until both you and your partner receive treatment!
|
It can be very serious, and even require hospitalization.
Can cause infertility (not being able to get pregnant).
|
|
HIV/AIDS
|
Usually won't have any symptoms for years.
Eventually, symptoms may include: extreme fatigue (tiredness), rapid weight loss, frequent fevers, night sweats, frequent yeast infections, red, brown or purplish blotches under the skin or inside the mouth, nose or eyelids.
You can get HIV through oral, anal or vaginal sex, also by sharing needles.
|
Go to a Clinic!
You may receive a mouth swab or blood test.
A positive test will be re-checked with a 2nd test.
If you are having sex, you should get an HIV/AIDS test every year.
|
Condoms reduce the risk.
There is no cure, but people with HIV/AIDS can live a long time, IF they receive treatment.
|
Once you have HIV, you will have it the rest of your life.
You may need to take a lot of medication to keep yourself healthy and to prevent other serious infections.
It can be passed on to your baby during birth and through breastfeeding.
|
|
Trichomononiasis ("TRICH")
|
Women: smelly, foamy yellow, green or gray vaginal discharge (fluid); pain during sex and urination;
iritation of the vagina; occasional abdominal pain.
Men: usually no symptoms.
|
Go to a Clinic!
May give you a pelvic exam or have you insert a swab into your vagina.
Trich can be seen under a microscope or diagnosed by special tests.
|
Condoms can prevent it. |
It is curable with antibiotics.
Uncomfortable symptoms will continue.
Men usually don’t have symptoms but can pass it on.
|
|
Bacterial Vaginosis
|
Not always sexually transmitted.
Fishy smelling vaginal discharge (fluid)'
vaginal itching, pain when urinating.
|
Go to a Clinic!
May do a pelvic exam or have you insert a swab into your vagina.
Can be diagnosed by examining the discharge from the swab under a microscope.
|
Condoms may prevent it. |
It is curable with antibiotics.
Will have continued vaginal irritation, IF not treated.
|
| Genital Herpes
|
No symptoms in between outbreaks.
During an outbreak:
small painful bumps, blisters, or open sores on sex organs,
vaginal discharge, fever, headache, muscle aches, itching or burning in genital area.
Symptoms will come and go
|
Go to a Clinic!
They may do a special test on the fluid from the blister.
|
Condoms are NOT reliable in preventing Herpes; if you have Herpes, it is important to abstain from sexual activity when you are having a break-out.
You CAN pass this to your partner without having an outbreak.
|
There is NO cure.
Antivirals can decrease severity of outbreaks.
You CAN pass this to your partner without having an outbreak.
It can pass from genitals to the mouth with oral sex.
It can be passed to the child during birth.
|
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
|
Warts: flat or raised, alone or in groups, small or large, cauliflower-shaped non-tender flesh colored bumps in genital area some forms can cause cervical cancer. |
Go to a Clinic!
Have a pelvic exam, with PAP smear, 3 years after the onset of sexual activity (unless history of suspicious bumps occur earlier) and then every year to check for early signs of cervical cancer,
|
Condoms are NOT reliable in preventing HPV.
Some types of cervical cancer can be prevented by the Gardasil vaccine, if the vaccine is given before you become infected by HPV.
Warts or abnormal cervical cells may require surgical removal.
|
Certain types of HPV can cause changes in cervical cells that lead to cancer, IF not detected early, by obtaining a PAP smear.
Women may not be able to carry a baby to term, after the removal of abnormal cervical cells.
|
| Syphillis
|
Early: a single, painless sore usually in the genital area.
Next stage: skin rash on the hands & feet that usually doesn't itch and clears on its own. Fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, tiredness.
Hidden stage: symptoms listed above disappear, but can come back.
Late stage: damage to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints.
|
Go to a Clinic!
Through a blood test.
|
Condoms may not prevent transmission. |
It is Curable with antibiotics, IF treated in time.
Without treatment, you can develop brain damage, blindness and death.
It can be passed to a baby during birth, causing serious birth defects.
|
| Hepatitis B
|
Some have no symptoms,
flu-like symptoms,
nausea or vomiting, diarrhea
dark-colored urine and pale stool.
Also yellow skin and eyes.
|
Go to a Clinic!
Through a blood test.
|
Condoms may not prevent infection, but there is an effective vaccine available that is required by most schools. |
It sometimes can be cured. Can cause permanent liver damage and death.
It can be passed to a baby during birth.
|
|
Pubic Lice
(“crabs”)
|
Severe itching of pubic hair. |
Go to a Clinic!
Your health care provider will look at the problematic area.
|
Condoms may not prevent transmission. |
It is curable.
Without treatment, the uncomfortable symptoms will continue and you can give it to other people.
|