What are STI’s? They are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) passed via sexual contact and may not have symptoms you notice.

Reminder - If you have/have had an STI, you are NOT dirty, broken, gross, or less than. Also STI’s are preventable so lets talk about it.

Infections and STI’s

Common STI’s and Symptoms

AKA -what you might notice

how to prevent & treat it

- Most common bacterial STI in youth.
- Often no symptoms.
- May cause discharge, painful urination, or rectal pain.
- If untreated in people with a uterus can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility, ectopic pregnancy.
- Easily treated with antibiotics.
- Regular screening is recommended for sexually active youth.
- Bacterial infection, often occurs with chlamydia.
- May cause discharge, painful urination, rectal symptoms, and sore throat.
- It can spread even without symptoms.
- Untreated can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility, ectopic pregnancy.
- Treated with antibiotics, but some strains are resistant, so follow a doctor’s care.
- Most common STI overall.
- Usually no symptoms.
- Some strains → genital warts.
- High-risk strains → cervical, anal, penile, throat cancers.
- Based on the strain and what parts you are using for sex. Example: oral sex → throat cancer risks
- HPV vaccine protects against the most harmful types.
- Condoms reduce risk but don’t fully prevent HPV spread.
- Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2). - the same that cause “Cold Sores” but in a different location.
- Symptoms: tingling, then painful blisters/sores around genitals, rectum, or mouth (what parts are you using for sex?).
- It can spread even without visible sores.
- No cure — but antivirals medications lower outbreaks and transmission.
- Important to talk openly with partners about status.
- Bacterial Infection with stage
  - Early → painless sore (chancre).
  - Later → rash, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms.
  - If untreated → damage to the brain, heart, nerves.
- Spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
- Curable with antibiotics (penicillin) if treated early.
- Rising rates among young men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Also poses risk to unborn fetus leading to serious complications
- Virus that weakens the immune system untreated leads to AIDS.
- Spread by blood, semen, vaginal/rectal fluids, and breast milk.
- Higher risk with unprotected anal/vaginal sex or sharing needles.
- Often no early symptoms — only testing confirms status.
- No cure, but treatment (ART) allows long, healthy lives.
- Prevention: condoms, PrEP, PEP, and regular testing. PrEP and PEP very good at preventing HIV (99% effective).
- Testing recommended for all adolescents at least once, more if at risk.
- Trichomoniasis (“trich”) is a common, curable STI caused by a parasite.
- It spreads through sexual contact involving genital fluids, including sharing sex toys.
- Many people have no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know for sure.
- Symptoms can include itching, irritation, unusual discharge, or pain when peeing.
- Antibiotics can cure trich, and partners should be treated to prevent reinfection.
- Hepatitis B (HBV) is a viral infection that affects the liver and can be spread through sex.
- It spreads through contact with blood, semen, or vaginal fluids during unprotected sex.
- Most people don’t have symptoms, so testing is important to know your status.
- There’s no cure, but you can prevent it with the Hepatitis B vaccine and safer-sex barriers like condoms or dental dams.
- It isn’t spread by casual contact (hugging, sharing food, etc.).

WHen SHould you get tested?

- Get an HIV test at least once in your teen years.
- If you have new partners or don’t always use condoms/barriers → test more often!
- Get tested every year for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- These are super common and often have no symptoms.
- Still test if you feel fine, early treatment prevents future health problems.
Keep testing if you have new partners, multiple partners, or don’t always use condoms/barriers.
Get tested at least once a year for:
- Chlamydia & gonorrhea (pee test, throat swab, or rectal swab).
- Syphilis (blood test).
- HIV.
If you have many partners, anonymous partners, or group sex → test every 3–6 months.
Tests should match your body parts and the kind of sex you have — not just your gender marker.
- Example: If you have a cervix → you may need a vaginal/cervical swab.
- If you have receptive anal sex → rectal swab.
- If you have oral sex → throat swab.
You deserve care that respects your identity and your body.
- Early in pregnancy, providers usually test for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and hepatitis B/C.
- Some people need retesting later in pregnancy.
- Testing protects both you and the baby.

In some places, you can get birth control, STI testing, or mental health care on your own. The rules change depending on what state you’re in.
In other places, a parent or guardian has to be involved.
Always ask the clinic what’s confidential before you get care.
In lots of states, you can get tested and treated for STIs without needing a parent.
Some places also let you get birth control, HIV testing, or PrEP on your own.
If you’re not sure, ask the clinic if it’s confidential.