1. Sexually Transmitted Infections
Say: Today we will be talking about sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Then we will do some role playing, practicing how to talk about these sensitive subjects with loved ones and peers.
Please remember the rules we all set up at the beginning of the unit. I really want you to feel comfortable asking questions, so everyone needs to be respectful. Make sure you are raising your hands if you’d like to ask a question.

2. Sexually Transmitted Infections
Say: STIs are sexually transmitted infections. Have you heard of these before? Which ones have you heard of? (give students a chance to mention a few, keeping track of any important ones that haven’t been mentioned)
Today we are not going to talk as much about individual STIs, but about how you can get them, how you know you may have one, how you can prevent them and what you can do if you think you have one.
Teacher’s Note: It is important to use language that will make these concepts understandable. With more technical terms, try to use multiple words with the same meaning to try and reach a larger audience. Make sure to stop periodically to check for understanding.

3. Common STIs HIV-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Gonorrhea Chlamydia
1 out of 5 don’t know they’re infected!
Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Most common STI
Trichomoniasis
Herpes
Syphilis
Pubic Lice
HPV (human papilloma virus)
Causing cervical, mouth, and throat cancers
Most common STI among young women
Say: Let’s go over some common STIs that you may or may not have heard about before.
HIV – 1 out of 5 don’t know they’re infected. Why is this important? (Transmission)
Gonorrhea-In 2011, Chicago ranked 1st for highest number of gonorrhea cases.
Chlamydia-The most common STI. In 2011, Chicago ranked 2nd for highest number of chlamydia cases.
Trichomoniasis-Microscopic bugs in the vagina or opening of the urethra-Link:
Syphilis
Stage 1: a painless sore on the genitalia or anywhere else on the body that has come in contact with syphilis. This includes mouth, face, eyes, hands, etc. If it goes untreated it progresses to stage 2 and 3.
Stage 2: Flu like symptoms
Stage three: swelling of the brain results in psychosis and death.
HPV
Fastest growing STI in young women
Cancer causing
Increased rate of mouth and throat cancer in young men. Why?
Multiple strains. Some strains are cancer causing. Others cause genital warts
Gardasil is the recommended vaccine for HPV for young men and women under 26
Protects against the strain of HPV that causes cancer
Does not protect against genital warts

4. Curable Vs. Treatable STIs
Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Trichomoniasis
Syphilis
Pubic lice
Treatable
HIV
Genital warts
Herpes
HPV
Teacher’s Note: The main point of this slide is not to scare the students or to say that their life will be over if they contract an incurable STI. It is also NOT to say that they shouldn’t care if they get a curable STI. Instead highlight the fact that with a treatable STI, they will need to make major life changes. And even though some STIs are curable, if left untreated, these STIs can have long term effects. Help students define and understand the difference between “curable” and “treatable”.

5. Transmission STIs are transmitted through:
Exchange of bodily fluids, such as vaginal secretions or semen.
Vaginal sex
Anal sex
Oral sex
Needle sharing
Skin to skin contact
Genital contact
Non-penetrating sex
Petting or rubbing
Say: How can STIs spread, how can you get one?
Even though we refer to these diseases as sexually transmitted diseases, they are blood and bodily fluid born illnesses. That means you can get them by coming into contact with any bodily fluids that carry the disease. There are large amounts of these diseases in blood , semen, and vaginal secretions. There is not much of these diseases present in saliva (spit), which is why you can’t get HIV from kissing someone. But sharing a needle, whether if for drugs or medications or body piercings, with an HIV positive person exposes you to HIV.
Skin to skin contact can also expose you to STIs. If someone has an open sore, such as a syphilis sore, or genital warts, such as those caused by HPV, they can be spread by touching that area.

6. Some STIs are best transmitted through genital fluids and therefore the risk can be reduced by using a condom:
HIV (requires ejaculation
or blood to blood contact)
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Say: Remember that in the fact and myth game we mentioned that condoms do not protect against all STIs. Condoms can reduce the risk of transmission, but they do not eliminate the risk of transmission. The CDC reports that, “the consistent and correct use of latex condoms reduces the risk for many STIs that are transmitted through genital fluids (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis)”

7. Some can cause sores on the genital area or mouth and can be passed through genital contact:
Syphilis
Herpes
Genital Warts / Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Pubic Lice
Sores and warts associated
with these STIs can spread
infection even with condom
use.
GET TESTED!
Say: Herpes, syphilis and HPV are not spread through genital fluids, they are spread through contact. As you can see in this picture, condoms only cover parts of genitalia, so you are only partially protected from these STIs.
The CDC reports that the consistent and correct use of condoms “reduces the risk of herpes and syphilis when the infected area is protected and may reduce the risk of HPV infection.”
So, TURN ON THE LIGHTS! See what you’re getting into.

8. THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM OF AN STI IS NO SYMPTOM AT ALL!!!
GET TESTED!!!

9. Long term effects Infertility Birth defects Decreased sexual function
Cancer
Dementia
Death
Scarring

10. Your Risk For STIs Increases With:
Know Your Risk
Your Risk For STIs Increases With:
Multiple Partners
Not Knowing Your STI Status
Having Unprotected Sex
Not Knowing Your Partner’s Status
Sharing Needles
Explain: Have students explain why these risk factors increase the risk of STIs.

11. When should you get tested?
Do you know the signs and symptoms of STIs?
How will you know if you have an STI?
What should you look for?

12. When should you get checked?
Every year when sexually active!
Before a new sexual partner
After unprotected sex
With the following signs and symptoms….
Pain urinating
Unusual drainage for females
ANY drainage for males
Warts, blisters or sores
Itching
Unusual or fishy smell in genital area

13. Where to get tested/treated
School based health clinic
Your doctor’s office
Planned Parenthood
Free Clinics through Chicago Department of Public Health
Center on Halsted
Neighborhood clinics
Youth 12 and older do not need a parent or guardian's consent to be tested or treated for STIs and HIV in the state of Illinois.*
Teacher’s Note: Ask the students to try and name places they can go to get tested and treated.
Stress confidentiality of testing. Test results are between the patient and the health care professional.
*Explain: Positive HIV results will be confidentially reported to the health department. The provider may report positive test results to the parent/guardian if they have been unsuccessful in persuading the minor to do so and they believe it is in the best interest of the minor.

14. HIV: Oral swab or blood test
Ways to test for STIs
HIV: Oral swab or blood test
Most other STIs will include a urine sample or a cotton swab from either the vagina, anus or urethra.
Say: What happens when you go into a clinic to get tested? What is the test like?

15. Treatment
Treatments vary depending on which STI is being treated.
When treating an STI ALL of the medication must be taken as prescribed or the STI may return.
An individual CAN spread an STI while they are receiving treatment. Refrain from sexual activity or use condoms while in treatment.

16. Teacher’s Note: This is supposed to be a story that the students find believable. You’ll use it to follow an STI through a group of people having unprotected sex. With each line, click the mouse to reveal a new connection.
This is you..
(click) And this is the girl you have a crush on..
We all have history. You use to date, and had unprotected sex with), this cutie. (click)
Your crush used to date, and have unprotected sex with, this guy. (click)
You’re so lucky, your crush likes you too and you start dating . (click) Eventually you have sex.
She cheats on you with one person. (click)
You break up.
You both end up in a sexual relationship with another person. (click)
**Ask if this is realistic**
Lets pretend that each of these people have had sex with one other person, what would that look like? (click)
Now, lets say that one of these people had an STI. (click) Who has been exposed? (click to reveal that everyone has been exposed)

19. Teacher’s Note: Explain chart
Teacher’s Note: Explain chart. Key point: it can be hard enough trusting one person in a relationship, but when you’re having sex with someone, you are having to trust that everyone else they’ve had sex with had safe sex.

20. Birth control helps prevent STIs

21. Condoms prevent all STIs.
Say: Condoms reduce the risk of STIs passed through genital fluids, reduce the risk of STIs passed from skin to skin contact if the affected area is protected, and may reduce the risk of HPV infection.

22. 1 out of 5 HIV positive individuals do not know they are infected.

23. If you have one STI you can not get another one.
Say: One STI increases your risk for another! HIV lowers the immune system making you more susceptible to other STIs.
Some STIs cause sores and breaks in the skin that give other STIs on easy route into your body.

24. Birth control helps prevent STIs.

25. HIV takes up to 3 months to show up positive on an HIV test.
Say: If you have unprotected sex and go to get tested for STIs right away the practitioner should recommend you return for a follow-up HIV test in 3 months.

26. PROTECT YOURSELF! GET TESTED!
Say: Remember that when you are in a relationship, no matter how much you love someone or how good they’re looking tonight, the #1 person that you have to take care of is you. If you want to be responsible with your health and responsible with your future, protect yourself against STIs and pregnancy. If you want to be sexually active with someone, have a discussion with them and go get tested together. And if that person says to you “baby don’t worry, I’m clean”, do you think they’re hiding something from you or from themselves?