Safe Sex: STI Prevention Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

What is an STI? An STI is a sexually transmitted infection STIs are caused by germs that are passed through sexual contact The only way to protect against STIs is by using condoms Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Many people have STIs and don’t know it!! Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

If They Are Not Treated, STIs Can Cause Serious Problems Pain and discomfort Men and women might not be able to have children (infertility) Babies can be born too early, sick, or dead A person can even die Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

How STIs Are Spread The germs that cause some STIs are on the SKIN and are passed by touching during sex Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

How STIs are Spread The germs that cause other STIs live in the LIQUIDS of the body and are passed during sex Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

How STIs are Spread The germs that cause STIs can be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Condoms are the only way to protect against STIs! It is very important to use condoms every time someone has sex. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Special Concerns for Women Both men and women get STIs, but a woman gets infected from a man more easily than a man gets infected from a woman Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

If a person cheats on their partner with someone who has an STI, they can infect their partner with that STI Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A person may have an STI if he or she has one or more of these signs: • an unusual or bad-smelling vaginal discharge itching or painful genitals sores or blisters on the genitals pain in the stomach pain during sex Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Sometimes STIs do not have any signs at all! A person can feel healthy, but actually may have an STI Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Even if a person does not have signs, he or she might have an STI if: His or her partner has signs of an STI. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A person has sex with more than one other person. The more people someone has sex with, the greater the chance of getting an STI. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A person thinks his or her partner is having sex with other people. I wonder if my partner has other partners….. A person thinks his or her partner is having sex with other people. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

If someone thinks they might have an STI, he or she should go to the doctor as soon as possible! The doctor will test blood or urine to see if the person is infected. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

It is very important to go to the doctor as soon as possible if a person thinks she or he has an STI If a person doesn’t get medicine early he or she can have serious problems later and can give the STI to his or her partner. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

If a person has an STI it is very important to take all the medicine the doctor says Even if he or she does not feel sick anymore, a person will not be cured until all of the medicine has time to work For some STIs, a person has to take medicine for the rest of his or her life Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A dangerous infection that harms the liver Hepatitis B A dangerous infection that harms the liver Signs: fever, no appetite, tired and weak feeling, pain in the belly Sometimes there are no signs even if a person has Hepatitis B Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Hepatitis B A person can get Hepatitis B During sex By using unclean needles or knifes for circumcisions or tattooing A mother can give Hepatitis B to her child during childbirth Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

HIV/AIDS Another very serious STI is HIV/AIDS Many people get sick with and die from AIDS every year The only way to protect from HIV/AIDS is to use a condom every time during sex Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Staying Safe Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

It is important NOT to have sex when either person has signs of an STI Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Other Ways to Be Safer Dry sex is dangerous- when the vagina is dry, it tears more easily, and it’s easier for STIs to get into the body Using saliva or lubricant can make the vagina less dry Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Remember, using condoms every time someone has sex is the ONLY way to prevent STIs Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Where to get it? A person can buy CONDOMS at most stores. They can get them for free at some clinics. Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

A person has the right to protect themselves from getting an STI! Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

It’s very important to share this information with your friends, family, and community members so that everyone can be healthier! Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs