examination when needed, and appropriate laboratory tests.
Knowing what to look for is useful, but it is equally important to understand what symptoms cannot tell you. A person may have an STI without visible signs, and a visible skin change does not necessarily mean an infection was acquired through sexual contact.
Increasing Access to Title X Services for Males Toolkit | Reproductive Health National Training Center
What Are Sexually Transmitted Infections?
STIs are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can be transmitted primarily through sexual contact. Depending on the infection, transmission may occur through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, direct contact with infected skin or sores, or exposure to infected bodily fluids. Some infections can also pass from a pregnant person to a baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, depending on the infection.
Common STIs include:
Chlamydia, a bacterial infection that frequently causes no symptoms.
Gonorrhea, a bacterial infection that can affect the genitals, rectum, and throat.
Syphilis, a bacterial infection that can
develop through several stages and cause a variety of symptoms.
Genital herpes, a viral infection that may cause painful blisters or sores, although many people have mild or unrecognized symptoms.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses that can cause genital warts and, in some cases, certain cancers.
HIV, a virus that affects the immune system and requires specific testing and ongoing medical care.
Trichomoniasis, a parasitic infection that can cause genital irritation or changes in discharge, but often produces no obvious symptoms.
These infections do not all behave in the same way. Some are curable with appropriate medication, while others can be controlled but not eliminated with current treatments. The best way to identify an infection is to use the right test rather than relying on the appearance of a rash or lesion.
