STI Prevention Health HIV AIDS Grade 8 Chlamydia Protection Gonorrhea Intercourse Herpes Protection Gonorrhea Health Testing HPV STI STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection. All of these terms relate to STIs. HIV Syphilis Hepatitis B AIDS Risk Prevention Abstinence Grade 8

What is an STI? A contagious or infectious condition passed from one person to another during the exchange of body fluid or through intimate skin to skin contact. STIs are Sexually Transmitted Infections that are passed from one person to another through exchange of body fluids (i.e., semen, vaginal secretions, and blood) or skin to skin contact in the genital area (boxer short regions). You may have heard the old term STD. STIs is more appropriate because infections often have no symptoms for years or mild symptoms that can be overlooked.

Common Sexually Transmitted Infections Chlamydia Caused by bacteria Can be cured Gonorrhea Herpes Caused by virus Can not be cured Can treat only the symptoms There are many STIs, some are more common than others We will be reviewing some of the most common STIs STI’s are caused by either a bacteria or virus Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are caused by a bacteria and these infections can be cured with medication (i.e., antibiotics) Herpes, genital warts (HPV), Hepatitis B and HIV are STIs that are caused by a virus – cannot be cure, but symptoms can be treated with medication Genital Warts (HPV) Hepatitis B HIV

Don’t Pass It On! We are going to play a game called “Don’t pass it on”. You will each get a piece of paper and you will need a pen or pencil- don’t lose your paper! Teacher will: Distribute the pieces of paper with the letters to all students in the class. Students DO NOT know what the letters stand for at this time. Give the ‘P’ card (pregnant) to a male student who is not easily embarrassed Give the ‘D’ cards (disease) to students of either sex who are not easily embarrassed Students are to interact/mingle with a minimum of 2 different people (6 different people total) and ask them a specific question (3 questions total). The following slides will guide you in the activity.

Don’t Pass It On Ask 2 different students: What are 2 symptoms of an STI? Students are to discuss the 1st question, What are two symptoms of an STI?, with 2 students. For each person they interact with they are to discuss possible answers and have the person WRITE THEIR NAME on their slip of paper.

Pain during/after intercourse Symptoms Bumps Deep abdominal pain Pain/swelling of the testicles Burning/pain when urinating Itching Unusual bleeding (women) There are different STIs…some are more common than others. They present with different symptoms, (review symptoms on power point); also some STIs have NO symptoms and some may take a long time before symptoms are present. The important thing is to know your body, including the genital area. Know what is normal and what is not normal. If you notice something has changed, then you need to seek medical care. It may not even be an STI, but you will not know until you get checked. Unusual discharge Sores Rash Pain during/after intercourse

You cannot always tell if someone has an STI You can’t tell just by looking at someone or talking to someone that he or she has an STI. Somebody can look totally healthy, they can be the smartest or most popular person at school, and still have an STI- they may not even know that they are sick The only way to be sure is to be tested. If you are sexually active or starting a sexual relationship with someone new, you and your partner should both be tested for STIs - before having sex, and then again three to six months later. It is important not to think that being infected is a disgrace or that you are unclean in any way. Anyone who is sexually active can become infected if precautions aren’t taken. Having a STI is a medical problem, not a moral one. Every individual has an obligation to protect themselves from STIs, and to avoid passing along an infection to a partner.

Don’t Pass It On Ask 2 different students: How can someone get/give an STI? Students are to discuss the 2nd question, How can someone get/give an STI? with 2 different students. NOTE: Make sure students understand they are not to ask same students as previous For each person they interact with they are to discuss possible answers and have the person WRITE THEIR NAME on their slip of paper. You should have 4 different names on your paper.

How are STIs spread? Intimate sexual contact Through infected blood vaginal, oral, anal, intimate genital touching with an infected partner Through infected blood sharing needles (IDU) sharing personal care articles From infected mother to baby pregnancy breastfeeding childbirth Reinforce that some STIs are passed when infected body fluids of one person enter another person’s body. Transmission can also happen through skin to skin intimate genital contact. Some transmission has happened through receiving blood transfusions (before 1985) Sharing personal care articles is low risk for transmission for certain STI’s, however, it is good personal hygiene practice to use your own articles. Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HPV, HIV can all be passed to infant during childbirth and HIV through breastfeeding. Doctors and midwives in Canada are very good at keeping babies safe from STIs. If a female is pregnant and has an STI she needs to let her doctor or midwife know, and they will work together the keep the baby safe.

Don’t Pass It On Ask 2 different students: How can you prevent getting an STI? Students are to discuss the 3rd question, How can you prevent getting an STI? with 2 different students. NOTE: Make sure students understand they are NOT to ask any of the same students as previous For each person they interact with they are to discuss possible answers and have the person WRITE THEIR NAME on their slip of paper. You should have 6 different names on your paper

STIs are preventable! Sexually Abstain Always use condoms One uninfected partner Both partners get a health check first Reduce number of sexual partners Get vaccines available QUESTION: How can someone prevent themselves from getting an STI? ANSWER: If you DO NOT have sex with someone you cannot get an STI. This is called abstaining or abstinence. Use a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. Condoms are not 100% effective but protect you somewhat from STIs. Do not reuse a condom or use 2 condoms at a time as there is a high chance that the condom will rip. Reduce the numbers of sexual partners or one uninfected partner as this decreases your risk. Before being sexually active, both you and your partner should get a health check-up. You may think that your partner is free of STIs but some people do not have symptoms with STIs and it is difficult to tell if you or your partner is infected. There are vaccinations that can protect you from getting an STI (i.e., Hepatitis B – vaccinated in grade 7, Human papillomavirus (HPV) – vaccinated in grade 7 for 9 types of HPV strains – including the ones that can cause warts and cervical cancer.

STIs are preventable! Beware of other’s blood Do not share needles Be careful when doing first aid Do not share personal care articles Always be aware of other’s blood and that it is not entering your body in the following ways. Intravenous drug users share needles that may have blood on the needle. If you do first aid on someone it is best to wear gloves and if no gloves are available use something as a barrier between you and the blood. DO NOT share personal care articles i.e., toothbrushes, lipstick etc. as you may have a cut on your mouth or gum. Always go to a reputable tattoo or body piercing establishment that sterilizes their equipment properly.

Sources of Support Parents School Nurse Teachers Health Care Provider Trusted Adult Health Care Provider Sexual Health Centre QUESTION: If you noticed changes on your body in the genital area, where could you go for help? ANSWER: There are people/places that can help; get good, reliable information and review the sources that the student mentioned. Add the additional ones on the list. If you go to a DSBN high school you will have access to a school nurse who can provide a number of services including sexual health counselling, STI testing, pregnancy testing, and birth control. All NCDSB high schools have a school nurse who can speak with students about sexual health or relationship issues. Your school nurse in high school is an excellent resource for you in the future if you have any questions or concerns about your sexual health. Walk-in Clinic Child youth worker Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Wrap up Don’t Pass It On! Refer to activity instructions for details. Have the students look at the letter on their slip of paper Follow instructions – see Stage 2 – The Path of the Disease/STI in Don’t Pass It On activity outline

How did it feel to find out that you had been exposed to an STI? Summary How did it feel to find out that you had been exposed to an STI? QUESTION: How did it feel to find out that you had been exposed to an STI? ANSWER: Shocked, humiliated, sick, defensive and how could this happen to me etc. STIs are not transmitted through casual contact. In order to get an STI, one person who has the infection must share infected fluids (with the exception of HPV which can be transmitted through skin to skin contact with an infected partner) You cannot always tell who (including you) has the STI.

How did it feel to find out that you had exposed others to an STI? Summary How did it feel to find out that you had exposed others to an STI? QUESTION: How did it feel to find out that you had exposed others to an STI? ANSWER: Guilty, disbelief, sad, shocked etc. IMPORTANT: When you have unprotected intimate sexual contact (e.g. vaginal/oral/anal, genital touching) with someone, you are exposing yourself to any infections from anyone and everyone they have had unprotected intimate sexual contact with.

Summary For those of you that were able to sit down, and know that you were safe from an STI, how did that feel? QUESTION: For those of you that were able to sit down, and know that you were safe from an STI, how did that feel? ANSWER: Relief, happy, fortunate etc. The good news - you can protect yourself from STIs by remaining abstinent, setting limits; communicating them to your partner and sticking to them; and not engaging in high risk behaviours (i.e., using injectable drugs, drinking alcohol and using drugs etc.).

Don’t make a permanent decision for your temporary emotion TITLE Don’t make a permanent decision for your temporary emotion All decisions have consequences, good or bad, but it is important for all of you to know that there is always help, there is always hope, and you are not alone!