Let’s Talk About Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Written By Wendy Ramsay

As a longtime sexual health educator, I can understand why people have a hard time trusting information they get related to health. In the past, sexual education and awareness efforts in this country have not been completely honest or accurate. For many years public health announcements skewed information and used scare tactics in the hopes of discouraging people, especially teens, from engaging in sexual behaviors. Schools often avoided discussing sexual health with the assumption that talking about sexual behavior might put the idea into someone’s head and actually encourage it. If sexual behavior actually did get discussed in schools, they used similar scare tactics and shame to try to discourage sexual behavior. As time went on, we learned that these tactics not only didn’t work, they actually made it worse. This month’s column looks at what we have learned over the years. ‍

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are very common

The CDC estimates indicate about 20 percent of the U.S. population – approximately one in five people in the U.S. – had an STI on any given day. Chances are, if you have engaged in sexual behavior that involves your mouth, penis, vagina, or anus, you have had an STI at some point in your lifetime. We don’t realize how common STIs are because people generally don’t share that information with others. Shame and stigma keep us in the dark.

We should not exaggerate when we talk about STI symptoms

In many health classrooms in the past and some still today, teachers show students pictures of extreme STI symptoms. These photos are not typically what most people experience if they get an STI. In real life, most people have no noticeable symptoms. If they do get symptoms, they are usually subtle.

The photos they share are likely pictures of people who have damaged immune systems. Showing people these photos and telling them these are typical makes it less likely that they will get tested regularly or recognize symptoms when they do have them. They may think it’s a regular blister, ingrown hair, pimple, or rash. They think they don’t need to get tested to find out if they have an STI because it would be extremely obvious. ‍ ‍

Even if they do not have noticeable symptoms, the STI can still be damaging their immune, reproductive or nervous symptoms over time. If they don’t get tested, they won’t get treated. If they don’t get treated, they may continue to spread the infection to other people and damage their body. That brings us to the next point.

‍ All STIs have treatments, even if some are not curable

Most types of common STIs can be cured with medication. For those that cannot be cured, there are treatments available to manage the infection and decrease symptoms. STIs that are caused by viruses typically cannot be cured. Sometimes the body’s immune system can keep the virus in check and eventually take care of it over time. Other times, a person may be living with an infection throughout their life.

The quicker you get treated, the less likely you will spread the infection and the healthier you will be as well. For example, people who are living with HIV and get regular treatment and care can decrease the amount of HIV infection in their bodies to the point that it is undetectable through testing. They are not cured. They are still infected because if they stopped taking medication, their HIV levels would start to increase and be detectable again. If their levels are undetectable, they cannot spread HIV to another person sexually. If you are infected, the earlier you get treated the more healthy you will be in the long run.

People should get tested – the earlier the better

You can’t get treatment if you don’t get tested.

You definitely want to get tested if you are engaging in sexual behaviors and notice any discomfort, sores, blood, unusual discharge from your penis, anus, vagina, or groin. This also includes your lips, mouth, or throat if you are engaging in any oral sex.

However, remember that typically people do not notice symptoms. So, it’s a good idea to get tested regularly even if you don’t think you have symptoms. Experts recommend that people engaging in vaginal, oral, or anal sex get examined/tested:

  • At least once a year

  • Before engaging in sexual behavior with a new partner
    (and they should get tested too)

  • Every 3 months if engaging in higher risk behaviors such as having sex with people you don’t know, combining sexual behaviors with drugs to get high or stoned, or using needles for drug use.  

Low Cost/Free & Confidential STI Testing and Treatment:

While you can typically get STI testing and treatment from your family’s doctors or OB/GYN,  I am a big fan of sexual health clinics. They are typically on the forefront of sexual health research. They are really good at protecting confidentiality with young people who may still be under their parent’s insurance. They typically offer their services on a sliding scale basis. That means that if you don’t have a lot of money, they will reduce the cost or offer their services for free.

Here are some other resources about STIs to check out:

STI Jeopardy!

The American Sexual Health Association has a fun page dedicated to April being STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) Month. You can quiz yourself on how much you know at: https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/april-is-sti-awareness-month/

The History of Sex Ed
Want to know more about the history of Sex Education? Check out this publication created by The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, or SIECUS. https://siecus.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-SIECUS-History-of-Sex-Ed_Final.pdf

Wendy Ramsay
Next

Bi+ Health Awareness Month 2026