HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN STI?

STIs often have no symptoms, so you must get tested to find out if you have been infected. STIs won’t just go away on their own and can lead to serious problems if untreated.

WHY SHOULD I GET TESTED?

If you have an STI or suspect that you have one, going to a doctor or licensed medical provider will allow you to get what you need to clear up a bacterial infection, control the symptoms of a viral infection, or understand your infection. Even if your symptoms disappear, follow the full treatment cycle to avoid re-infection or infection of your partners.

WHAT IS SAFER SEX?

Safer sex doesn’t start in the bedroom—it begins in coffee shop conversations with friends, in your doctor’s office and in the library. It begins when you decide to protect yourself. By following these four steps you can make sex safer: 1. know your risks; 2. communicate with your partners; 3. have regular check-ups; 4. wrap it up with gloves, dental dams and/or condoms.

KNOW YOUR RISKS

Some forms of sex are higher risk than others. Knowing how risky a behavior is can help you decide what types of sex you’re most comfortable with. Think about what turns you on and what makes you uncomfortable. Don’t forget that drugs and alcohol can alter your ability to make good decisions. In addition, sharing needles is a means for transmitting some STIs, including HIV. Although we don’t usually think of touching skin as a risky sexual behavior, it is possible to have tiny cuts on your skin that make it possible to transmit certain infections. You can do a quick test by soaking your fingers in some lemon juice. If you feel a burning sensation, it means you have small cuts that make some  behaviors (such as vaginal fingering or fisting) more risky.

Some STIs are easier to transmit than others. HPV and herpes, for example, can be transmitted through unprotected oral sex and touching the sores or rash of an infected person, as well as through bodily fluids and vaginal and anal sex (including sharing sex toys). Scabies can be transmitted just through sharing a bed, clothing or household with an infected person.

HIV, on the other hand, cannot be transmitted through clothing, bedding or skin-to-skin contact that does not involve bodily fluids. HIV is only transmitted when infected vaginal fluids, blood, semen, and/or breast milk comes into contact with another person’s bodily fluids, including mucus membranes (lining found in the mouth, nose, vagina, etc). Hugging, masturbating and dry kissing on the lips or cheek are the least risky behaviors. You can find more details on the STI table.