Itching & Scratching All About STIs

It Can’t Happen to Me! Each year, there are approximately 19 million new STIs, and almost half of them are among youth aged 15 to 24.

What are STIs? Infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate contact. By the age of 21, almost 1 in 5 Americans requires treatment for an STI. STIs can affect guys and girls of all ages and backgrounds who are having sex — it doesn't matter if they're rich or poor. If not treated, some STIs can cause permanent damage, such as infertility and even death

Types of STIs Virus Bacteria Parasite/Fungus HIV/AIDS Herpes Hepatitis HPV Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis Bacterial Vaginosis Pubic Lice Scabies Trichomoniasis Which of types of STIs can be cured? Which can be treated, but can NOT be cured? Which can be prevented with a vaccine?

And the answer is… Curable NOT Curable Vaccines Bacterial STIs, parasites and fungi can all be cured with oral or topical antibiotics or creams in just a few weeks. Viral STIs can be treated to control the symptoms or outbreaks, but once you get infected with the virus, it stays with you for life! Hepatitis HPV: Gardasil is the vaccine that can prevent HPV Vaccines

You can only be infected if you have sexual intercourse. How are STIs spread? You can only be infected if you have sexual intercourse. WRONG! You can get STIs if you have oral, anal or vaginal sex. Viruses and bacteria can enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth, anus, and genitals. A person can get some STIs, like herpes or genital warts, through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area or sore.

Risk Factors for Infection The younger a person starts having sex, the greater his or her chances of becoming infected with an STI. Sex at young age People who have sexual contact - not just intercourse, but any form of intimate activity - with many different partners are more at risk than people who stay with the same partner. Lots of partners Latex condoms are the only form of birth control that lessen your risk of contracting an STI. Unprotected sex How can you prevent STI infection?

Preventing Infection Practice abstinence. The only way to completely prevent STIs is to avoid any type of sexual contact or intimacy. Use latex condoms. If you are sexually active then latex condoms can help prevent transmission. Limit sex partners. The more people you have sex with, the greater the risk of getting an STI. Get regular gynecological or male genital examinations. Doctors can teach about STIs and check for STIs while they're still in their earliest, most treatable, stage.

Sometimes you can tell if you have an STI and sometimes you cannot. In many people, the STI does not cause any symptoms, especially in women. The symptoms may be inside the vagina or anus, where they cannot be seen.

Sores or rashes on or around genitals, mouth or anus Irregular growths, bumps, or blisters Discharge that looks or smells different than usual Itching around genitals or anus Pain or swelling in groin area Pain during intercourse (women) Unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting (women) Pain during urination or bowel movements NOTE: Having any of these symptoms does not mean that you definitely have an STI, but you should be checked by a doctor just in case!

You can transmit the infection to your partner Left untreated, serious health problems can occur including: You can transmit the infection to your partner Pregnant mothers can pass it on to their babies You have a greater risk of getting HIV Causes other infections that damage the reproductive organs Liver damage, heart disease, skin disease, arthritis, blindness, brain damage, cancer Infertility (not able to have children) Death HIV which can pass easily through the sores and breaks in the skin

Get Tested! What Do You Know? What is the best way to know whether you or your partner has been infected with an STI? Get Tested!

HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus The virus that causes AIDS Attacks the immune system HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease. Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome Final stage of HIV infection. Body has a difficult time fighting infection When someone has one or more specific infections, certain cancers, or a very low number of T cells, he or she is considered to have AIDS

About HIV Avoiding HIV: Abstain from sex or use latex condoms HIV is NOT carried in: saliva urine tears HIV is only carried in: blood semen vaginal secretions breast milk Avoiding HIV: Abstain from sex or use latex condoms Do not share drug needles Use latex gloves when touching blood or blood products Risk Behaviors: unprotected sex sharing IV drug needles direct contact with infected blood or blood products