A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection you can get during:

• Vaginal Sex: The penis enters the vagina
• Oral Sex: The mouth makes contact with the vagina, penis, or anus
• Anal Sex: The penis enters the behind/anus
• Touching each other's private areas/
  intimate touching: You can get certain STIs
  through genital-to-genital skin contact

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• These are bacterial STIs that are passed through vaginal/anal sex. They can also be passed from the throat to the genitals during oral sex. Both infections are completely curable with antibiotics.
• In Males:
• Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea can lead to…
  • Swollen, painful testes (balls)
  • The building of scar tissue in the sperm duct, preventing the man from being able to make a woman pregnant
  • Most men have no symptoms, but possible symptoms include:
    
    • Unusual discharge from the urethra (opening of the penis
    • Burning sensation upon urination
    • Pain in the scrotum (skin that holds testicles)
• In Females:
• Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea can lead to…
  
  
  • PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), which causes scarring in the fallopian tubes. This scarring often makes it impossible for a woman to have children.
• Most women have no symptoms, but possible symptoms include:
  
  • Unusual discharge, i.e. fluid that women notice in their underwear (different color, odor)
  • Burning sensation upon urination
  • Pain during sex/pain in the lower stomach area

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• One of the most common STIs, Herpes is a virus passed through all kinds of sex, including skin-to-skin sexual contact.
• There is no cure for Herpes, but it can be treated to limit outbreaks - herpes can be passed even when a person has no sores!!!
• In Males & Females:
  • Herpes causes painful fever blisters and/or sores
  • Having Herpes makes it easier for a person to get HIV
  • Symptoms occur in this order:
    1. Itching/pain in genital area
    2. Sores may appear a few hours after sex, or days later. Sores start out as red bumps and then turn into watery red blisters
    3. Sores open up, bleed or ooze, and heal within two to four weeks; flu-like symptoms may be present

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• Hepatitis is a virus that attacks the liver
• There is no cure for Hepatitis
• Hepatitis A is passed through the feces of an infected person:
  • Through mouth-to-anus contact during sex
  • When touching a used condom after anal sex
  • If someone doesn't properly wash their hands after using the bathroom and then prepares food, drinks, etc.
• Hepatitis B is passed through
  • bodily fluids like semen
  • blood
  • vaginal secretion
• Everyone should all be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B so that we can't get these diseases.
  
  Free Hepatitis B vaccines are available at the  Health Department's Free and Confidential clinics.

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• One of the most common STIs, HPV is a virus passed through all kinds of sex, including skin-to-skin sexual contact
• There is no cure for HPV, but genital warts can be removed - just because a person has no warts does NOT mean the person does not have HPV.
• There is no HPV test for males
• In Females
  • HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer in women. Find out where to get the free vaccine against HPV to help prevent cervical cancer.
  • Women over 18 MUST get yearly PAP smears at the gynecologist to monitor cervical health.

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• HIV is a viral infection that targets the immune system and destroys T-cells that fight infections in the body.
• There is still no cure HIV, but new medications help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives
• AIDS is caused by HIV in advanced stages.
• HIV is transmitted through:
  • Blood
  • Semen
  • Vaginal Secretions
  • Breast Milk
  • Contaminated needles

Come to our free and confidential HIV/STI testing centers and get tested!

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• Pubic “crab” lice are not a disease.
• They are tiny blood sucking bugs (pubic lice) that live in pubic hair Pubic “crab” lice can be passed through skin-to-skin contact during sex, even when condoms are used.
• Crabs cause intense itching.
• Special creams can be used to get rid of crabs.

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• A SERIOUS bacterial STI passed through all sex, including oral
• Treated and cured with antibiotics
• In Males & Females:
  • Untreated syphilis can cause heart, brain damage, and possibly death.
  • Symptoms occur in this order:
    1. A painless sore appears,lasts a few weeks and then fades
    2. Flu-like symptoms
    3. Body rashes (on the back, hands, bottom of feet)

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• A bacterial STI passed through vaginal/anal sex
• Treated and cured with antibiotics
• In Males:
  • Untreated Trichomoniasis can increase the chance of contracting HIV
  • Many men have few to no symptoms, but if present, symptoms include a clear discharge from the tip of
    the penis
• In Females
  • Untreated Trichomoniasis can lead to PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), which causes scarring in the fallopian tubes. This scarring often makes it impossible for a woman to have children
  • Many women have few or no symptoms, but if present, symptoms include abnormal discharge (gray or yellow/green) and itching/irritation around the vagina

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