Sexual Health Care Center
General STI information
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are predominantly spread through unprotected sexual contact. STIs are preventable and many are curable. You need to know to protect yourself and your partner(s) from STIs by using condoms, having sex with only one partner, and getting recommended vaccines to help prevent hepatitis B and HPV.
- STIs include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, hepatitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and trichomoniasis.
- Many STIs have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include unusual discharge from vagina, penis, or anus; pain when urinating; warts, blisters, or other sores in the vaginal or anal area; itchy genitals; or unusual vaginal bleeding.
Knowing your STI status is crucial to stopping STI transmission. Ask your provider for STI testing if you are sexually active. Tell your partner to get STI testing as well. If you or your partner have an STI, you both need to receive treatment at the same time to avoid reinfection. For information on who should get tested and when, review CDC guidelines.
- All adults ages 13 to 64 should be tested for HIV at least once.
- All sexually active women younger than 25 should be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year; women over 25 who have multiple sex partners or a partner with an STI should also be tested yearly.
- Every pregnant person should be tested for HIV and syphilis in the first and third trimesters and for hepatitis B and C early in pregnancy.
All sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men should be tested:
- Yearly for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. If you have multiple sex partners, you should be tested every 3 to 6 months.
- Yearly for HIV
- Yearly for hepatitis C if living with HIV.
Anyone who shares injection drug use equipment should be tested for HIV at least once per year. People who have oral or anal sex should speak with their provider about throat and rectal testing options.
HIV
Do you have HIV? Are you at risk? Do you have any of the signs and symptoms? HIV does not have a cure, but there are steps you can take to live a healthy life with HIV.
Syphilis
Syphilis is an STI than can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Infection develops in stages and each stage can have different signs and symptoms.
