Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the MOST COMMON STI among teens; so common that nearly all sexually active men or women get it at some point.

How: Unprotected skin-to-skin contact, genital rubbing or touching, vaginal, anal, or oral sex, or sharing contaminated sex toys.

Symptoms: The majority of HPV infections don’t show any symptoms and clear up within 2 years. In serious cases it can cause warts or cervical cancer.

Treatment: There is no test or treatment for HPV. Getting the HPV vaccine before you become sexually active is the best protection against the virus.

* YOU DON’T NEED TO HAVE INTERCOURSE TO GET HPV OR SPREAD HPV
* THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) RECOMMENDS HPV VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 11 YEARS OLD

Chlamydia (klah-MIH-dee-ah) a.k.a. the ‘silent STI’ because there are usually no symptoms and it is the MOST COMMON STD in the U.S.

How: Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia, or if you get infect- ed fluid on your hands and touch your eyes. Condoms offer good protection.

Symptoms: Usually none. Sometimes yellowish discharge with a strong, unusual smell.

Treatment: Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics. You and your partner must both be treated before having sex again. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues: infertility, pregnancy problems, etc.

* 70-95% OF WOMEN WITH CHLAMYDIA HAVE NO SYMPTOMS
* 90% OF MEN WITH CHLAMYDIA HAVE NO SYMPTOMS
* 4-8 MILLION NEW CASES OF CHLAMYDIA OCCUR EACH YEAR

Trichomoniasis (trick-oh-mo-NEYE-ah-sis) a.k.a. “Trich” is a common STD, often has no symptoms & is easily spread. But it is also easily treated. Condoms offer good protection.

How: Vaginal sex, sharing sex toys, and mutual masturbation if fluids from one partner are passed to the genitals of the other.

Symptoms: Typically none. Sometimes frothy, smelly discharge, itchiness around vagina, swelling in groin, urge to urinate frequently.

Treatment: Prescription medication for you and your partner; if you are not both treated you can be reinfected by your partner.

* MORE THAN 8 MILLION AMERICANS GET TRICH EACH YEAR, 24 A BUT ONLY 30% DEVELOP ANY NOTICEABLE SYMPTOMS

Genital Herpes caused by herpes simplex type 1 or type 2 is a common STD that often has no symptoms and is easily spread with or without symptoms.

How: Unprotected anal, vaginal, oral sex, brief skin-to-skin contact. Fluids found in a herpes sore carry the virus so contact with the fluids can cause infection.

Symptoms: Blisters, open sores, pain, itching, fever and chills, general achy flu-like feelings.

Treatment: There is no cure for herpes, once you get it you have it for life. But there are medications to manage herpes outbreaks.

* IN THE U.S., ABOUT 1 IN 6 PEOPLE AGE 14 - 49 YEARS HAS GENITAL HERPES
* MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THEY HAVE HERPES

Gonorrhea (gon-o-RHEE-a) a.k.a. “the clap” or “the drip” is a com- mon STD that often has no symptoms and is easily spread. But it is also easily treated. Condoms offer good protection.

How: Unprotected anal, vaginal, and oral sex. It can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, or even the throat.

Symptoms: Usually mild; most noticeable being burning when urinating or yellowish penile discharge.

Treatment: Easy to treat with antibiotics. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues: infertility, pregnancy complications, arthritis.

* 4 OUT OF 5 WOMEN WITH GONORRHEA HAVE NO SYMPTOMS
* 1 OUT OF 10 MEN WITH GONORRHEA HAS NO SYMPTOMS

Syphilis (SIF-uh-lis) is a very easy to treat STI which can cause blindness, paralysis, or permanent brain damage if left untreated.

How: Unprotected anal, vaginal, and oral sex. Direct contact with syphilis sores on genitals, anus, lips, or mouth can easily spread the disease.

Symptoms: Syphilis symptoms are rare but can be painless sores that develop into patchy, white, body rashes.

Treatment: Super easy to treat with antibiotics when caught in early stages. Also important for your partner to be treated as well so you don’t pass the infection back and forth.

* 4 OUT OF 5 WOMEN WITH SYPHILIS HAVE NO SYMPTOMS
* 1 OUT OF 10 MEN WITH SYPHILIS A HAS NO SYMPTOMS

HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It damages your immune system, making it easier for you to get sick.

How: Unprotected anal, vaginal, and oral sex. Direct contact with syphilis sores on genitals, anus, lips, or mouth can easily spread the disease.

Symptoms: HIV weakens your body. When HIV damages your immune system, you can get really sick and even die from infections

Treatment: that your body could normally fight off. Once you have HIV, the virus stays in your body for life. There’s no cure for HIV, but medication can help you stay healthy longer and lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.

* THERE ARE NEW TREATMENTS FOR HIV BEING DEVELOPED EVERYDAY. IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR HIV, CHECK YOUR OPTIONS WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

Hepatitis B is the virus that causes liver infection. It can be spread through sex. You can protect yourself by getting the hepatitis B vaccine and using condoms.

How: Very contagious. Transmitted through protected anal, vaginal, oral sex, sharing needles, toothbrushes or razors with blood. Hepatitis B can also be passed from mother to baby during birth.

Symptoms: General achy flu-like feelings, feeling really tired, body pain, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and pale clay-colored poop. Symptoms typically last for a few weeks, or months.

Treatment: Hep B can’t be cured, but it almost always goes away on its own. There are medications that can help treat long-lasting infections.

Pubic lice — a.k.a. “crabs” are small parasites that attach to the skin and hair near your genitals. Crabs aren’t dangerous, and they’re usually pretty easy to get rid of, but they are really itchy and annoying.

How: Crabs are usually spread through sex, because they like to live in pubic hair. Pubic lice move easily from one person’s hairs to another when their genitals touch or are very close to each other.

Symptoms: Lots of itchiness, super small whitish-gray bugs in pubic hair. Tiny clumps of yellow or white oval lice eggs, dark crab bite spots, feeling feverish, rundown, or irritable.

Treatment: Pubic lice treatments are easy to use and come in gels, shampoos, liquids, and foam sold in drugstores.

People can correlate having an STI with being sexually overactive and that just isn’t the case.
STIs can happen to anyone.