2. Questions  What is your STI?  Is it viral or bacterial? What does that mean in terms of a cure?  How is your STI contracted? Can it be contracted more than 1 way?  Does it have any symptoms in females, males, both? How long can they take to show up?  Is it curable? What medication can be taken?  Does it have complications if left untreated?  Does it have any prevention methods?

3. Most STIs get “outbreaks.” These can be rashes, infectious sores, etc that show up on your skin to make you aware that you still have the virus. Occur AT ANY TIME! No set schedule!!

4.  What is a symptom? An indicator to let you know you are getting sick and/or have a virus/disease. Ex: Before getting the flu, you might get a migraine/runny nose/sore throat Something that might occur if you don’t medicate or you ignore symptoms Ex: A burning feeling during urination goes un-treated for a month  What is a complication?

5. Syphilis  Bacterial….treatable with antibiotics! Can be cured unless it is “too late.”  Spread through genital to genital contact with open sores, vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and mother to baby during pregnancy/childbirth.  Symptoms: reddish-brown sores on opening of genitals, rashes, flu-like symptoms.  Complications: heart disease, brain damage, blindness, death, higher risk of contracting HIV.  Prevention methods: Abstinence, contraceptives, discussing STIs with partner, and GETTING TESTED!

6. Chlamydia The “SILENT” infection!  Bacterial…treatable with antibiotics! Can be cured unless it is “too late”. (very common)  Spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and from mother to baby during childbirth.  Symptoms: SOMETIMES MAY NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS, unusual discharge from penis and vagina, burning during urination.  Complications: severe harm to reproductive organs, infertility, PID, and ectopic pregnancies.  Prevention methods: Abstinence, contraceptives, discussing STIs with partner, and GETTING TESTED!

7. HPV (Human Papillomavirus)  Viral…virus itself not curable, but symptoms sometimes are if they are caught early enough.  Spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, mother to baby during childbirth, and skin contact with sores.  Symptoms: BIGGEST SYMPTOM: Genital Warts! DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE SYMPTOMS…small, bumpy warts (all sizes) on genitals or anus.  Complications include more rapid production of warts and spreading to more areas, CERVICAL CANCER “Gardasil” vaccine for cervical cancer (both males and females)

8. Gonorrhea  Bacterial…treated with antibiotics. Can be cured unless it is “too late.”  Spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, a deep kiss, and mother to baby during childbirth.  Symptoms: MAY NOT SHOW SYMPTOMS, unusual discharge, burning during urination, and abdominal pains.  Complications: harm to reproductive organs, infertility, heart trouble, skin disease, arthritis.  Prevention: abstinence, discussing STIs with partners, staying monogamous, and GETTING TESTED!

9. Genital Herpes (HSV-2) (HSV-1 = cold sores)  Viral…Virus itself not curable, but symptoms can be cured/treated.  Spread through vaginal, anal, oral sex, direct contact with sores, and mother to child during childbirth.  Symptoms: small painful blisters on genitals or mouth, flu-like feelings, most of the time THERE ARE NO SYMPTOMS.  Complications include severe outbreaks, and severely painful sores on genitals, hands, and/or feet, and emotional disturbances.  Prevention is KEY for this STI. Know your partner, know your body, and know your limits!

10. Pubic Lice “Crabs”  Parasites…treated with special lotions/creams, washing all clothing/bedding!  Spread through close physical contact, using bedding/towels, etc. of infected person.  Symptoms: itching, lice in hair, pin-sized blood spots on underwear (both males and females)  Complications are severe itching, infections, sores, higher risk of contracting HIV  Prevention: avoid contact with people who have lice/are itchy a lot. Abstinence and being careful. Do not share towels!

11. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease “PID”  Bacterial…can be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, however, it’s too late to treat.  Infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other reproductive organs.  Is the result of not treating STIs such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.  Complications include infertility, and permanent damage to reproductive organs.  Prevention methods: ABSTINENCE, use of contraceptives, getting TESTED!

12. HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)  Viral…as of now, there is no cure. Can take medication to keep virus under control; can take AIDS cocktails (tons of meds in 1 dose)  Can be severely fatal. Destroys T-cells which help fight diseases/infections.  HIV turns into AIDS. Nobody starts out with AIDS!  Symptoms: Sometimes take years to show up. Tiredness, fever, night sweats, weight loss, swollen glands, white spots in mouth.  Spread through vaginal, anal, oral sex, sharing needles, mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, and breast feeding.  Complications include: weak immune system, cancer, pneumonia, and death. Must be taken seriously.