Sexually Transmitted Infections

How People Get STIs

People get STIs from other people during unprotected sexual contact (without a condom). Sexual CONTACT...not just sex. You can catch some STIs just by touching or kissing an infected area. But the biggest risk is from penis-in-vagina or penis-in-anus intercourse without a condom. You can also catch some of them, like HIV, by sharing needles while shooting up drugs.

Some STIs can be cured (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), but others are viral and stay in your body for a long time. Some may go away and come back over and over again, and others you might be stuck with forever.

But STIs are easy to prevent using condoms, so it's your responsibility to protect yourself! Here are a few pointers to help:

• Latex condoms are your best defence against STIs...and they're also really effective at preventing pregnancy, too.
• Don't have sex with someone who has a lot of partners.
• Avoid having sex when you're drunk OR ON DRUGS. when your heads not right, it's easy to make decisions you'll regret.

 

Last Modified: January 28, 2008