STIs FAQ
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How common are STIs?
The United States has an epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Over 70 million Americans currently have an STI. 19 million new cases occur each year. Half of these are people under 25.
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Can STIs be prevented?
Yes, STIs can be prevented. Avoid all sexual activity if you are single or be faithful to one uninfected partner for life. This is the only way to avoid the risk of an infection.
There are also a number of ways to reduce the risk of infection. The fewer people you have sex with, the lower your risk of getting STIs. Correct and consistent condom use can also reduce (but not eliminate) your risk of getting most STIs.
Consistent condom use (100%) during vaginal sex reduces your risk for:
- HIV by 85%
- Gonorrhea by about 50%
- Chlamydia by about 50%
- Herpes by about 50%
- Syphilis by about 50%
- HPV by 50% or less
Few studies have been done to see whether condoms reduce the risk of STIs, including HIV, during oral sex or anal sex. Waiting to have sex until you are in a faithful, lifelong relationship (such as marriage) is the only certain way to avoid being infected sexually.
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What are the complications of an STI?
In women, complications from infection include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubal pregnancy, infertility and cervical cancer. In pregnant women, STIs can lead to miscarriage, stillbirths, preterm delivery and birth defects. In men, HPV infection can cause penile cancer. Some STIs, such as HIV, can be life-threatening.
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How do you get STIs?
You get STIs during sexual activity. This includes vaginal sex, oral sex and anal sex. A few—HPV and herpes—can even be spread by contact with infected skin. Others, such as HIV and hepatitis, can be spread through needle-sharing. You can get STIs from someone who has no symptoms.
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What are the symptoms of an STI?
Most people with STIs have no symptoms. Even without symptoms, they can still pass on the infection. Some STIs cause symptoms such as an abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina, burning sensation when urinating and abdominal pain. Skin changes can also occur; these include rashes, ulcers and warts.
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How can you find out if you have a STI?
Because most STIs cause no symptoms, they are not detected until complications develop. If you or your partner have had more than one sex partner or have ever injected drugs, talk to your doctor about getting tested.
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Can STIs be treated?
Most bacterial STIs can be treated and cured with antibiotics. Treatment does not guarantee that complications have not already occurred. A few viral STIs can be treated and occasionally cured. These are hepatitis C and B. However, other viral STIs can be treated for symptoms, but not cured. These include HIV and herpes. Vaccine research on viral STIs is ongoing. Vaccination for hepatitis B is effective and widely available. An HPV vaccine has recently become available and is recommended for young women. However, this vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV that cause cancer and warts. How long it works is also unknown.
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STD and STI: What is the Difference?
Although the terms "sexually transmitted disease (STD)" and "sexually transmitted infection (STI)" are often used interchangeably, they are by no means identical. STI is by far the more inclusive term. Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an important and scientifically valid term because dangerous pathogenic organisms can be present in the human body without causing disease. It is therefore appropriate to refer to this condition as a sexually transmitted infection.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) result from damage caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that has progressed. Although all STDs are preceded by STIs, not all STIs result in the development of STDs. For instance, about 90% of women who are infected with human papillomavirus clear their infections within two years. Only women with persistent infections are at risk for developing the disease – cervical cancer. It is important to remember that it is not necessary to have a disease, or any symptoms at all, in order to be contagious. Many people who are infected with STIs that have not yet progressed to STDs have gone on to infect other people.
Another reason to learn about the difference between the two terms is that many STDs can be prevented through early screening and treatment of STIs. Since many infections that are highly contagious may be asymptomatic, STI screening should be based on risk behaviors (eg, early debut, multiple partners, anal intercourse) rather than symptoms alone. In this way, infections can be diagnosed and treated before they cause damage and develop into diseases or are spread to others.
