Get the facts!
STI EDUCATION: THE BASICS
What are STIs?
STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are infections that can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Many STIs can be cured with medication, while others can be managed but not cured.
The term "STD" is outdated. Health officials now typically use “STI”.
How STIs Spread
STIs are most commonly spread through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral).
Some can also spread through skin-to-skin contact (like herpes and HPV).
Sharing needles or syringes can also transmit certain infections, like HIV and hepatitis B or C.
A pregnant person with an STI can pass it to their baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
Symptoms Aren’t Always Obvious
Many people with an STI don’t have symptoms and may not know they’re infected.
When symptoms do appear, they can include pain during sex or urination, unusual discharge, sores, itching, or rashes.
Because symptoms aren’t always visible, regular testing is the only way to know for sure.