1. Itching & Scratching
All About STIs

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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!

11. 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

12. 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!

13. 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

14. 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