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Types of STIs
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that you can get by having vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who already has an STI. You can also possibly get them from skin-to-skin contact between genitals. STIs are also sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. Whatever you call them, though, they can cause serious health problems. And they happen a lot to young people: Almost half of new infections are among people ages 15 to 24.
There are more than 25 different STIs caused by many types of bacteria and viruses. Each STI has its own symptoms, but some infections have similar symptoms. One thing is clear, though. If you get an unusual discharge, sore, or rash, especially in the pubic area, you should stop having sex and see a doctor right away.
One partner can expose you to many diseases. You are at risk of getting all of the STIs that your partner's past and present partners have had.
Check out the symptoms, tests, and treatments for common STIs below.
| Chlamydia | ||
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Chlamydia (say: kluh-MID-ee-uh) is a very common STI caused by a bacteria. Women who have chlamydia are much more likely to get HIV if they are exposed to it. Also, if it’s not treated, chlamydia can cause serious problems, like not being able to have a baby. | |
| What are some symptoms? | Because chlamydia often doesn’t cause symptoms, experts recommend that teens who have sex get tested for it every year. Symptoms can include:
| |
| How could you get it? | It is passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. A mother also can pass it to her baby when it goes through her vagina. | |
| How do you know if you have it? | A health care provider will test your urine or a specimen (a sample of cells) from your cervix. | |
| How is it treated? | Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. Any of your sex partners should be treated too in case they caught it (and can give it back to you or someone else). Don’t have sex until your treatment is finished. | |
top top | Gonorrhea | ||
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Gonorrhea (say: gon-uh-REE-uh) is caused by bacteria that grow easily in the warm, wet environment of your reproductive system. Having gonorrhea can make you more likely to get HIV if you’re exposed to it. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious problems, including not being able to get pregnant. If untreated, gonorrhea can also spread to the blood, joints, heart, or brain, but this is not common. | |
| What are some symptoms? | Most women have no symptoms or just mild ones. Symptoms can include:
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| How could you get it? | You can get gonorrhea during vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who has it. It also can be passed to a baby when the baby goes through your vagina during birth and can cause serious problems. | |
| How do you know if you have it? | Your doctor will do a urine test or take a specimen (a small sample of cells, such as from your vagina) to test. | |
| How is it treated? | Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. Any partners need to be treated too, or you can pass the infection back and forth. | |
top top | HIV | ||
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Human immunodeficiency (say: IH-myoo-noh-di-FISH-uhn-see) virus, or HIV, is the virus that can cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV and AIDS weaken the body’s ability to fight infections and diseases. Learn more about HIV/AIDS. | |
| What are some symptoms? | Women and girls with HIV may have no symptoms for 10 years or more. Some have flu-like symptoms within the first few weeks or months after they get infected. Other symptoms include:
You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether you have HIV. More than half of young people with HIV don’t know they have it. You have to get tested to know if you have HIV. Get tested if you are pregnant or if you are at high risk for HIV. Things that put you at high risk include having unprotected sex with more than one person and sharing needles, such as those used to inject drugs. Find a safe place to get tested. | |
| How could you get it? | You can get infected with HIV when blood, semen (cum), pre-semen (pre-cum), vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters your body. This can happen during oral, anal, or vaginal sex. It also can happen when these fluids get into an open wound or sore. In addition, you can get HIV from sharing drug needles with an infected person. Babies can get it during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. You can’t get it from casual contact, like sneezing or touching, though. | |
| How do you know if you have it? | HIV tests use blood, oral fluids, or urine. You can ask your doctor or a health clinic about testing. Only two home tests are approved by the FDA: Home Access Express HIV-1 Test System and OraQuick In-Home HIV Test. Be careful: You can buy other HIV home tests online, but they are not approved by the FDA and may give wrong results. | |
| How is it treated? | There is no cure for HIV, but there are treatments that help infected people live longer and healthier lives. It’s important to get treatment early. | |
top | Human papillomavirus (HPV) | ||
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Human papillomavirus (say: pap-uh-LOH-muh-veye-russ), or HPV, is the most common STI in the U.S. Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. It often goes away on its own. A vaccine can help prevent the types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. Ask your doctor about getting vaccinated. | |
| What are some symptoms? | Some women have no symptoms. Symptoms can include:
| |
| How could you get it? | HPV is passed through skin-to-skin contact, like contact between one person’s genitals and the genitals of someone else with HPV. Most often, it’s passed during vaginal or anal sex. | |
| How do you know if you have it? | Your doctor may use a magnifying lens to look for warts. He or she may also put vinegar on the genital area so the warts become white and easier to see. A Pap test can find cervical cell changes early, so they can be treated before they turn into cancer. There is also an HPV test that can find HPV on a woman’s cervix. | |
| How is it treated? | There is no treatment for HPV, but there are treatments for the conditions that it can cause, like genital warts and cervical cell changes. For example, warts can be removed through special medications or through minor surgery. | |
top | Pubic lice | ||
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Lice (a kind of tiny insect) that feed on human blood. Also known as “crabs.” | |
| What are some symptoms? | Symptoms can include:
| |
| How could you get it? | Usually a person gets it through skin-to-skin contact with someone who already has it. It’s also possible to get it from toilet seats, bedding, and clothing. | |
| How do you know if you have it? | You may be able to see the lice yourself, but a doctor can tell you if you have them. | |
| How is it treated? | A prescription or over-the-counter medicine can kill the adult lice and egg lice. You should also wash any sheets and clothes that could have lice in them. | |
top | Syphilis | ||
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Syphilis (say: SIF-uh-luss) is caused by a bacteria. The sores caused by syphilis make it easier to get or give someone HIV during sex. If syphilis is not treated, it can lead to death. | |
| What are some symptoms? | There may not be any symptoms for years. Different stages have different symptoms. Symptoms in the first or primary stage appear 10 to 90 days after getting infected. They include:
| |
| How could you get it? | You can get syphilis through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores usually are on the genitals, vagina, or anus (bottom). Sores also can be on the lips and in the mouth. That means you can get it during vaginal, anal, or oral sex but also by touching a sore with an open cut you have. A pregnant woman also can pass it to the baby she is carrying, which can be very dangerous. | |
| How do you know if you have it? | A health care provider can do a blood test or take a culture (small sample) from a sore to learn if you have syphilis. | |
| How is it treated? | If it is treated early, syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. | |
top | Trichomoniasis | ||
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Trichomoniasis (say: TRIK-uh-muh-NEYE-uh-suhss) is caused by a parasite (a tiny organism that feeds off you). It is sometimes called “trich.” Trichomoniasis is very common in sexually active young women. Having trichomoniasis increases your chances of getting HIV if you’re exposed to it. | |
| What are some symptoms? | Some women don’t have symptoms, but those who do can have symptoms appear between 5 and 28 days after exposure. Symptoms can include:
| |
| How could you get it? | You can get trichomoniasis if semen or vaginal fluids from your partner are passed to your vagina. | |
| How do you know if you have it? | Your health care provider will likely give you a pelvic exam and take a sample of your vaginal fluid to test. | |
| How is it treated? | Trichomoniasis usually can be cured with antibiotics. Your partner should be treated too. You should not have sex until the treatment is finished and you both have no symptoms. | |
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Content last updated January 31, 2013
