1. Safe Sex: STI Prevention
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2. 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
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3. Many people have STIs and don’t know it!!
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4. 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
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5. How STIs Are Spread
The germs that cause some STIs are on the SKIN and are passed by touching during sex
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6. How STIs are Spread
The germs that cause other STIs live in the LIQUIDS of the body and are passed during sex
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7. How STIs are Spread
The germs that cause STIs can be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby
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8. Condoms are the only way to protect against STIs!
It is very important to use condoms
every time someone has sex.
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9. 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
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10. If a person cheats on their partner with someone who has an STI, they can infect their partner with that STI
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11. 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
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12. Sometimes STIs do not have any signs at all!
A person can feel healthy, but actually may have an STI
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13. 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.
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14. 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.
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15. 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.
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16. 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.
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17. 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.
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18. 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
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19. 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
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. Staying Safe
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23. It is important NOT to have sex when either person has signs of an STI
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24. 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
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25. Remember, using condoms every time someone has sex is the ONLY way to prevent STIs
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26. Where to get it?
A person can buy CONDOMS at most stores. They can get them for free at some clinics.
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27. A person has the right to protect themselves from getting an STI!
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28. It’s very important to share this information with your friends, family, and community members so that everyone can be healthier!
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