Prevention

What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and HIV. Many of these diseases have no symptoms for a long time. Even without symptoms, they can still do harm and can be spread during sex.

How are STDs spread?
You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has one of these. Any sexually active person can get a sexually transmitted disease. You don’t even have to go through sexual intercourse (having anal or vaginal intercourse) to get an STD. This is because some of these diseases, like herpes and HPV, are spread through skin-to-skin contact.

How common are STDs?
STDs are common, especially in young people. Each year there are about 20 million new cases of STDs in the United States. About half of these infections occur in people ages 15 to 24. Young people are at higher risk for STDs for several reasons:

⦁ The body of young women is biologically more prone to STDs.
⦁ Some young people do not get recommended STD tests.
⦁ Many young people are reluctant to talk openly and honestly about their sex lives with a doctor or nurse.
⦁ Not having insurance or transportation can make it difficult for young people to access STD testing.
⦁ Some young people have more than one sexual partner.

What can I do to protect myself?
⦁ The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not have sex. This means not having any vaginal, anal, or oral sex (“abstinence”). Must. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to have sex.
⦁ If you decide to have sex, both you and your partner should be tested for STDs first. Make sure you and your partner use a condom from start to finish every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to get condoms and ⦁ how to use them correctly. It is not safe to stop using condoms unless you have both been tested for STDs, know the results, and are in a mutually monogamous relationship.
⦁ Mutual monogamy means that both you and your partner agree to have sexual contact only with each other. This can help protect against STDs, as long as you’ve both been tested and know you don’t have any of these diseases.
⦁ Before having sex, talk to your partner about how you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you should be ready to protect your body, too. You should also talk to your partner first about what you will or will not do sexually. Your partner should always respect your right to say no to anything that makes you uncomfortable.
⦁ Make sure you get the medical care you need. Ask a doctor or nurse about STD testing and HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines.
⦁ Girls and young women may have additional needs to protect their reproductive health. Talk to your doctor or nurse about regular cervical cancer screening tests and tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. You may also want to talk about ⦁ unplanned pregnancy and birth control.
⦁ Avoid combining alcohol or recreational drug use with sexual intercourse. If you use alcohol and drugs, you’re more likely to engage in risky behavior, like not using a condom or having sex with someone you wouldn’t normally have sex with.

If I have an STD, how will I know?
Many STDs don’t cause any noticeable symptoms. The only way to know for sure if you have an STD is to get tested. You can get an STD by having sex with someone who doesn’t have symptoms. Like you, that person may not even know that they have a sexually transmitted disease.

Where can I get tested?
There are places that offer free, confidential STD testing for teens. This means that no one has to know that you have been tested. Visit the Get Tested page to find an STD testing site near you.

Can STDs be treated?
Your doctor can prescribe medicine to cure some of the sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Other STDs, like herpes, can’t be cured, but you can take medication to help manage symptoms.

If you are ever treated for an STD, be sure to finish all of the medicine, even if you feel better before you’ve used it all. Ask the doctor or nurse about tests and treatment for your partner, too. You and your partner should avoid having sex until both of you have been treated. Otherwise, they could continue to pass the STD from one to the other. It’s possible to get an STD again (after you’ve been treated) if you have sex with someone who has one of these diseases.

What happens if I don’t get treatment for an STD?
Some curable STDs can be dangerous if left untreated. For example, if left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can make it difficult or even impossible for a woman to get pregnant. You also increase your chances of getting HIV if you have an untreated STD. Some sexually transmitted diseases, like HIV, can be deadly if left untreated.

What if my partner or I have an incurable STD?
Some sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes and HIV, are incurable, but the doctor can prescribe medication to treat the symptoms.
If you have an STD, it’s important to tell your partner before you have sex. While you may feel uncomfortable talking about your STD, talking openly and honestly can help your partner make informed decisions to protect their health.

If I have questions, who can answer them?
If you have questions, talk to a parent or a trusted adult. Don’t be afraid to be open and honest with them about what’s bothering you. If you ever feel confused or need advice, ask them first. After all, they too were once young.

Talking about sex with a parent or another adult doesn’t have to happen just once. It is better to leave the door open for future conversations.

It’s also important to talk openly with a doctor or nurse. Ask them which STD tests and vaccines they recommend.
A CDC analysis

What are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
STDs are diseases that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and HIV. Many of these diseases have no symptoms for a long time. Even without symptoms, they can still do harm and can be spread during sex.

How are STDs spread?
You can get an STD by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has one of these. Any sexually active person can get a sexually transmitted disease. You don’t even have to go through sexual intercourse (having anal or vaginal intercourse) to get an STD. This is because some of these diseases, like herpes and HPV, are spread through skin-to-skin contact.

How common are STDs?
STDs are common, especially in young people. Each year there are about 20 million new cases of STDs in the United States. About half of these infections occur in people ages 15 to 24. Young people are at higher risk for STDs for several reasons:

⦁ The body of young women is biologically more prone to STDs.
⦁ Some young people do not get recommended STD tests.
⦁ Many young people are reluctant to talk openly and honestly about their sex lives with a doctor or nurse.
⦁ Not having insurance or transportation can make it difficult for young people to access STD testing.
⦁ Some young people have more than one sexual partner.

What can I do to protect myself?
⦁ The surest way to protect yourself against STDs is to not have sex. This means not having any vaginal, anal, or oral sex (“abstinence”). Must. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to have sex.
⦁ If you decide to have sex, both you and your partner should be tested for STDs first. Make sure you and your partner use a condom from start to finish every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Know where to get condoms and ⦁ how to use them correctly. It is not safe to stop using condoms unless you have both been tested for STDs, know the results, and are in a mutually monogamous relationship.
⦁ Mutual monogamy means that both you and your partner agree to have sexual contact only with each other. This can help protect against STDs, as long as you’ve both been tested and know you don’t have any of these diseases.
⦁ Before having sex, talk to your partner about how you will prevent STDs and pregnancy. If you think you’re ready to have sex, you should be ready to protect your body, too. You should also talk to your partner first about what you will or will not do sexually. Your partner should always respect your right to say no to anything that makes you uncomfortable.
⦁ Make sure you get the medical care you need. Ask a doctor or nurse about STD testing and HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines.
⦁ Girls and young women may have additional needs to protect their reproductive health. Talk to your doctor or nurse about regular cervical cancer screening tests and tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. You may also want to talk about ⦁ unplanned pregnancy and birth control.
⦁ Avoid combining alcohol or recreational drug use with sexual intercourse. If you use alcohol and drugs, you’re more likely to engage in risky behavior, like not using a condom or having sex with someone you wouldn’t normally have sex with.

If I have an STD, how will I know?
Many STDs don’t cause any noticeable symptoms. The only way to know for sure if you have an STD is to get tested. You can get an STD by having sex with someone who doesn’t have symptoms. Like you, that person may not even know that they have a sexually transmitted disease.

Where can I get tested?
There are places that offer free, confidential STD testing for teens. This means that no one has to know that you have been tested. Visit the Get Tested page to find an STD testing site near you.

Can STDs be treated?
Your doctor can prescribe medicine to cure some of the sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Other STDs, like herpes, can’t be cured, but you can take medication to help manage symptoms.

If you are ever treated for an STD, be sure to finish all of the medicine, even if you feel better before you’ve used it all. Ask the doctor or nurse about tests and treatment for your partner, too. You and your partner should avoid having sex until both of you have been treated. Otherwise, they could continue to pass the STD from one to the other. It’s possible to get an STD again (after you’ve been treated) if you have sex with someone who has one of these diseases.

What happens if I don’t get treatment for an STD?
Some curable STDs can be dangerous if left untreated. For example, if left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can make it difficult or even impossible for a woman to get pregnant. You also increase your chances of getting HIV if you have an untreated STD. Some sexually transmitted diseases, like HIV, can be deadly if left untreated.

What if my partner or I have an incurable STD?
Some sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes and HIV, are incurable, but the doctor can prescribe medication to treat the symptoms.
If you have an STD, it’s important to tell your partner before you have sex. While you may feel uncomfortable talking about your STD, talking openly and honestly can help your partner make informed decisions to protect their health.

If I have questions, who can answer them?
If you have questions, talk to a parent or a trusted adult. Don’t be afraid to be open and honest with them about what’s bothering you. If you ever feel confused or need advice, ask them first. After all, they too were once young.

Talking about sex with a parent or another adult doesn’t have to happen just once. It is better to leave the door open for future conversations.

It’s also important to talk openly with a doctor or nurse. Ask them which STD tests and vaccines they recommend.
A CDC analysis