1. Sexually Transmitted Infections
The Silent Epidemic
Sexually Transmitted Infections

2. Sexually transmitted Infections
Any disease/infection that spreads from one person to another during sexual intercourse

3. Myths and Facts Myth- teens seldom get STIs
Fact- Hundreds of thousands of teens get STIs each year!
Myth- A person can’t get an STI by having sex only once
Fact- It takes only one sexual encounter with and infected person to get and STI

4. Myth- Anyone who has an STI will show signs of it.
Fact- Many STIs have no symptoms early in the infection. Others have symptoms that come and go. Symptoms of AIDS may not show up for ten years or more
Myth- A person can’t get more than one STI at a time
Fact- It’s possible to have many

5. Myth- There are vaccines to prevent STIs
Fact- The only STI’s for which there is a vaccine is hepatitis B and genital warts
Myth- If a person gets and STI once, he or she can’t get it again
Fact- There is no immunity against STIs. People can get STIs again and again with equal severity

6. Myth- If the symptoms of an STI go away, a person doesn’t need to see a doctor
Fact- The disappearance of the symptoms of an STI doesn’t mean that the disease is over. Only a doctor can tell whether or not a person is still infected
Myth- STIs can enter the body only through the genitals
Fact- The pathogens that cause STIs can enter the body through openings of the body or cuts or sores in the skin

7. Concerns about STIs STIs is an epidemic
An unusually high occurrence of a disease in a certain place during a certain time period
STIs is very serious for several reasons
When ignored, STIs can be very damaging
Untreated, infertility may likely occur
Infertility- The reduced ability to have children

8. Some STIs can cause cancer
Immunity is not possible to STIs
Some STIs can be cured, but then re-infected
Some STIs have no cures and can be fatal
Expensive to have
Health care costs are over a billion dollars a year

9. Why are STIs an epidemic?
Many young people are having sex at a young age and with many partners
The more people you have sex with, the more likely you are to get an STI
Many sexually active people don’t take precautions against infection
They don’t think they’ll contract an STI
People don’t get medical help if they have an STI, or don’t even know they have one.

10. One 18 year old boy… Had sex with 10 women and effected 208 people.
Some states have laws that state one can’t have sex with someone without telling them you’re infected.
100 million HIV virus particles would fit on your pinky

11. The good news about STIs!
They are preventable!
If you are Knowledgeable!
STIs are transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse, body fluids, and blood of an infected person

12. Abstinence 100% guarantee that you will not get an STI
Don’t have sexual intercourse until you are ready to commit yourself to a long-term, caring relationship, such as marriage

13. Sexual Fidelity
“Practiced when both partners in a caring, committed relationship, such as marriage, agree to have sexual intercourse only with one another” (Pruitt, Crumpler, 550)
The only way to be sure that both partners are not infected is to have a medical checkup

14. Precautions
If you are sexually active, there are some devices available to help PREVENT STI’s from spreading. These are NOT 100% safe.
If you are sexually active, you need to find out about these devises and how to use them to protect yourself from an STI that could last a lifetime

15. Avoid drug use Some STIs can be transmitted by blood to blood contact
Don’t use drugs, and don’t use drugs that are injected
There is a direct link of dirty needle use and STI and Aids
Don’t use alcohol because it affects your inhibitions

16. Healthy Choices
If you think you may be infected, stop being sexually active
If you are a high risk taker, get checked every six months
Tests are confidential
Information about clinics =
If you are infected, tell the people you’ve been active with to get checked

17. Kinds of STIs Bacterial (Can treat) Gonorrhea Clamydia Syphilis
Viral (Can’t treat)
Herpes
HPV (warts)
Hepatitis
HIV/AIDs

18. Activity Group activity For this activity, your group should get:
Definition, other names used, symptoms, treatment, consequences if NOT treated, and a fact or statistic on the rate of this infection or something else that surprised you.