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2024 Elections

STI & Sexual Health Toolkit

Frequently Asked Questions

    • STI stands for "Sexually Transmitted Infection." Also referred to as STD ‘Sexually transmitted disease”. These are either bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can be transmitted through bodily fluids. This most often occurs during sexual intercourse (oral, anal, and/or vaginal), but can also happen due to sharing needles, or by passing along from mother-to-baby.
    • You can get an STI by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has an STI. Anyone who is sexually active can get an STI. You don’t even have to “go all the way” (have anal or vaginal sex) to get an STI. This is because some STIs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-to-skin contact.
      1. Bacterial
        1. Chlamydia
        2. Gonorrhea
        3. Syphilis
      2. Viral
        1. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
        2. HPV & Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
        3. Hepatitis
        4. Herpes
      3. Parasitic
        1. Trichomoniasis
        2. Pubic Lice
        3. Scabies
      1. There are often no signs or symptoms of an STI. Most often, people may have an STI and not even know they are infected. This can risk spreading the STI to partners.
      2. The only way to know 100% if you have an STI is to GET TESTED.
      3. Sometimes, symptoms might include:
        1. Bumps, sores, blisters
        2. Abdominal pain
        3. Pain or burning while urinating
        4. Discharge (greenish/yellowish)
        5. Spotting between periods
        6. Pain during intercourse
        7. Burning, itching, irritation surrounding infected area
      1. When you first contract an STI, your body needs time to recognize and produce antibodies to the disease. During this time period, known as the incubation period, you may not experience any symptoms.
      2. If you test for an STI too early and the incubation period is not over yet, you may test negative for the disease even if you do have it.
      3. It is recommended that you wait 7 days* after exposure to get tested.
      4. *some STI can take weeks or months for symptoms to appear.