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How do people get STIs?
STIs are parasites, bacteria and viruses that live on the human body. If someone has an STI it could live on the skin around their genitals or in some of their bodily fluids (semen, vaginal fluids, blood…). STIs that live on the skin can be shared through skin to skin contact with that person (rubbing genitals together). STIs that live in fluids can be shared through mucus membranes (vagina, throat, anus or through cuts).
How can I protect myself from STIs?
• Choose abstinence
• Engage in no or low risk sexual activities (see STI Risk of Sexual Activities)
• Use condoms and dental dams
• Talk with your partner about testing and safer sex
• Understand the risks.
• Engage in no or low risk sexual activities (see STI Risk of Sexual Activities)
• Use condoms and dental dams
• Talk with your partner about testing and safer sex
• Understand the risks.
Can you have an STI if you’ve never had sex?
Most STIs are passed to people through sexual activity. A person can also get them from sharing needles that are not cleaned properly, (for drug use or amateur tattoos and piercings). Some people will get an STI from their mother during the birthing process. If a person was born with an STI that wasn’t curable (like HIV) she or he would likely learn about it from a doctor or guardian. Some STIs are curable but can leave other effects.
For example Chlamydia can cause blindness for a newborn baby.
People can also get STIs during sexual activities such as oral sex or naked body-to-body contact (check out the list of sexual activities). STIs don’t pop out of nowhere...they are always passed from one person to another. Getting tested with your partner before having any sexual activity will help put your mind at ease.
People can also get STIs during sexual activities such as oral sex or naked body-to-body contact (check out the list of sexual activities). STIs don’t pop out of nowhere...they are always passed from one person to another. Getting tested with your partner before having any sexual activity will help put your mind at ease.
Safer Sex
Movies and television often show sex as something that “just happens” when people are swept up in the passion of their attraction for one another. Being intimate with someone else can be a wonderful experience, but what movies don’t show is the planning and preparation. If you are sexually active or thinking about it, you need to be prepared – both of you.
Having sex is a mutual decision that comes with shared responsibility. Together you can learn about safer sex, decide what options will work best for you, get any supplies you will need, use them and have fun! Sex is WAY more enjoyable when you are not worried about STIs or an unplanned pregnancy.
Some STIs are curable, but others stay with a person for life. STIs can cause permanent damage to people’s immune systems and some can cause infertility.
Whether you are gay, straight, bisexual or queer, and regardless of your gender you need to know about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how to lower your chances of getting one. There are many ways to be intimate and some sexual activities are safer than others. Read through the information provided in this section to learn more about how to protect from STIs and enjoy an active sex life together.
If you are having sex with members of the opposite sex and you do not want a pregnancy, then you also need to think about using contraception. There are various birth control options to choose from. To decide which one is best for you, learn about how they work, their effectiveness and any health risks associated with each method. A lot of birth control methods will help prevent a pregnancy but won’t give any protection against STIs. The best way to protect against pregnancy and STIs at the same time is to regularly use a condom and another birth control method such as the pill, natural family planning, or an IUD.