07.29
2024

Protect Yourself from STIs: What You Need to Know

Protect Yourself from STIs: What You Need to Know

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect millions of Americans in any given year.

Knowing how to protect yourself from STIs can help you stay healthy. Here are some sexual health tips that can help you reduce your risk for STIs.

What Are STIs?

An STI is an infection you can get through sexual contact. It can happen during vaginal sex, oral sex, or anal sex. Infections may be caused by a virus, parasite, bacteria, or fungus.

Anyone who has sex or genital skin-to-skin contact can get an STI. However, certain behaviors can put you at higher risk.

STI risk factors include:

  • Having sex without a condom
  • Having multiple sex partners
  • Having sex with people you don’t know very well
  • Having sex while using drugs or alcohol

What Are the Most Effective Ways to Protect Against STIs?

The most effective way to protect yourself against an STI is to not have sex. This practice is known as abstinence.

Other ways to reduce your risk for STIs include:

  • Getting the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines
  • Using a condom every time you have sex
  • Reducing your number of sex partners
  • Seeing your provider for STI testing
  • Avoiding sex when using drugs or alcohol

When to Get Tested for STIs

Many STIs do not cause symptoms. This can make it difficult to know if you have one. Here are some instances where you may want to consider STI testing:

  • You had sexual contact without using a condom.
  • You learned that your sexual partner has an STI.
  • You think you were exposed to an STI.
  • You are experiencing symptoms of an STI.

What Are the Most Common STIs and Their Symptoms?

There are more than 30 different STIs, according to the World Health Organization. Here are some of the most common types.

Syphilis

Syphilis can spread when someone comes into contact with open sores on an infected person. Tiny, painless sores are the first symptom of syphilis. Later on, it can cause symptoms including rash, hair loss, and sore throat.

Treatments for syphilis has been in shorter supply recently, which makes being aware of it and doing your best to avoid infection even more important.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported STI in the U.S. It is caused by bacteria and spreads through bodily fluids. Common symptoms are pain during sex and urination.

Herpes

Herpes is caused by a virus. It spreads through bodily fluids when open sores are present. Itching and sores near the genitals are some of the many common herpes symptoms.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be spread when an infected person shares bodily fluids with another. Over time, this virus can turn into AIDS when not treated. Early-stage HIV can feel like the flu, with symptoms including fever, chills, and rash.

HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of around 200 viruses. Nine in 10 cases of HPV go away on their own, but some can turn into cancer. The most prominent symptom of HPV is warts.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea usually spreads at the same time as chlamydia through bodily fluids. Its symptoms include painful urination and discharge from the penis or vagina.

Ask your provider about STI testing if you think you might have an STI. Your provider can talk to you in more detail about testing and sexual health.

Jai Medical Systems can connect you with a health provider today. Contact us at 1-888-524-1999 to learn more about our benefits and services.